2025 Recreational Boating Pumpout Facility Assessment

While the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grant Program helps develop and maintain the statewide infrastructure to support boater stewardship, long-term planning is essential to future efforts.

SB 5200 allocated funds for an updated Washington Recreational Pumpout Facilities Assessment in 2024. The report assessed the waste infrastructure system that supports recreational boating in Washington State. Its recommendations will guide investments in waste disposal infrastructure, boater education and outreach, and legislative engagement.

The assessment is a critical step to informing our state’s investments in recreational boating infrastructure, maintain state eligibility for Clean Vessel Act (CVA) and other grant funds, and improve critical habitat conditions for salmon, shellfish, and other species.

Final Assessment

The completed assessment was released in January of 2026. 

Final Assessment

Summary of Key Issues

Washington’s current vessel waste disposal system faces a range of issues that hinder its effectiveness. These challenges are grouped into six categories: service gaps, lack of restrooms, minimal data from human-powered vessels, gaps in boater awareness, CVA grant fund limitations, and insufficient data. Addressing these issues will require coordinated efforts and improved infrastructure, education, and data collection to support more sustainable boating practices.

Service Gaps

Although most popular boating areas are well-served, several require additional pumpouts, restrooms, or mobile service to meet boater demand. Additional issues include limited access to pumpouts and a lack of adequate maintenance. These service gaps affect boater behavior; survey respondents noted long wait times and inaccessible facilities as key reasons for avoiding pumpouts.

Lack of Restrooms

The lack of adequate restroom facilities also impacts boaters and other recreational users. This is especially notable in remote locations, smaller lakes, and river launches. Additionally, many existing restrooms are aging, non-ADA-compliant, and may be difficult to maintain, especially in remote areas. Data on floating restrooms is incomplete, making it challenging to assess their distribution and condition. There is also a need for better signage to help boaters locate restrooms and pumpout facilities within marinas.

Minimal Data from Human-Powered Vessels

With the increasing popularity of paddle sports, Washington faces a growing challenge managing waste from human-powered vessels. Data on where and how frequently paddlers use waterways is lacking, making it difficult to assess the potential environmental impact of their waste. While outreach efforts have targeted engine-powered and sail vessels, paddlers have received less attention regarding proper waste disposal education.

Gaps in Boater Awareness

Despite various educational resources, boater awareness regarding sewage disposal regulations remains inadequate. According to the boater survey, some boaters remain unsure of where and how to discharge sewage, and illegal dumping continues to occur. More targeted outreach is needed to improve compliance and reduce water quality impacts.

CVA Grant Fund Limitations 

The CVA grant program has been instrumental in supporting pumpout installations, but several limitations may hinder its effectiveness. One issue is the 25% match requirement, which can be a barrier for smaller operators or those facing financial hardship. Additionally, grant restrictions on construction and maintenance projects in aquatic environments that may facilitate adding pumpouts, as well as burdensome reporting requirements, have led to frustration among existing and potential pumpout facility owners. These limitations reduce the potential impact of the CVA program and discourage participation.

Insufficient Data

The lack of reliable and comprehensive data hinders the ability to pinpoint and address challenges in Washington’s vessel waste disposal system. For example, facilities receiving CVA grant funds self-report gallonage, but this data is prone to inaccuracies due to outdated calculation methods and equipment malfunctions. There is also insufficient information on non-grant funded facilities and sewage disposal after pumping out, which obscures challenges with disposal and waste management. Similarly, the location and usage of dump stations are not consistently tracked, and no centralized database exists for restroom facilities across the state. Insufficient data makes it difficult to plan and allocate resources effectively.

Recommendations

• New Disposal Facilities: Target 15 New pumpout Facilities.
• Non-operational Pumpouts: Address non-operational pumpouts in the Puget Sound​. Connect marinas with CVA grant funds when possible.
• Upland Waste Facilities: Add and improve upland restrooms​. Ensure restrooms are easy to find and accessible.
• CVA Grant Strategies: Reduce barriers to CVA grant fund use​. Update and improve CVA data. Increase support for grant recipients.
• Waste Disposal Education: Stand up an educational campaign for boaters​. Update the Pumpout Nav App.
• Human Powered Vessels: Develop an educational campaign targeting non-motorized boaters. Collect data on paddle sport recreation