Mobile App to Help Boaters Locate Pumpout Services
By Kris Stepenuck, Extension Leader & Associate Director
Recreational boaters on Lake Champlain and Lake George have access to a free digital tool to assist with the proper disposal of boat sewage to help protect water quality. Dumping untreated sewage into the water is not only harmful to the environment–it is also illegal.
The Pumpout Nav: Marina Pumpout Finder app, available for both Android and iOS devices, helps boaters quickly locate the closest sewage pumpout station for their vessels. Using the mobile device’s GPS location, the app displays the nearest pumpout stations as a map or list, helping boaters find the facilities they need. In addition to location information, the app also provides details about each facility, including:
- Operational status
- Cost of service
- Hours of operation
- Marina location information
The app also offers instructions on how to use pumpout stations and provides information about the environmental risks and regulations regarding improper sewage discharge. Additional features allow the user to log pumpouts, create a list of favorite sewage disposal stations, and report mechanical problems and non-functioning stations.
The sewage pumpout locator app was developed by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership as part of a Clean Vessel Act grant provided by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways through the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
Use of the app on Lake Champlain, which was the first water body outside of California to be included in the app, is made possible through a partnership between the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, University of Vermont Extension, SUNY-Plattsburgh, and Ecom Enterprises, Inc.
Boating activities can contribute pollutants to waterways, including sewage, oil and fuel, detergents, solvents, paints, plastics, and other marine debris. By making sewage disposal facilities easier to locate and use, Pumpout Nav helps boaters reduce their environmental impact.
Lake Champlain Sea Grant develops and shares science-based information to benefit the environment and economies of the Lake Champlain Basin.
To learn more about the app or for clean boating educational information, please contact Kris Stepenuck at Kris.Stepenuck@uvm.edu.