Funding for Marine Pump-Out Facilities & Pump-Out Boats
Forecasted
Funding for Marine Pump-Out Facilities & Pump-Out Boats supports Rhode Island marinas, yacht clubs, and municipalities in providing sewage collection services to reduce coastal pathogen contamination.
Funder: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Priority) | November 2027 (Final)
Funding Amounts: Up to 75% of eligible project costs, with a 25% grantee dollar match; reimbursement only
Summary: Supports construction, replacement, retrofitting, operation, and maintenance of marine pump-out facilities and boats in Rhode Island.
Key Information: Funded services must be available equally to all recreational boaters, not exclusively marina patrons or club members.
Description
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), through its Office of Water Resources, funds marine sewage pump-out infrastructure that supports the federal No Discharge designation for all Rhode Island marine waters. The competitive program supports qualified marinas, yacht clubs, and municipalities in constructing, replacing, retrofitting, and maintaining land-based facilities and purchasing, operating, and maintaining mobile pump-out boats.
The program’s public-private partnership with the marina industry aims to keep pump-out services accessible to the boating public and in sound operating condition. By supporting sewage collection from recreational vessels, it helps reduce pathogen contamination in coastal waters, including areas near shellfish harvesting and swimming waters. The governing regulations also cover dump stations serving portable toilets carried on recreational vessels.
