Coastal Mobile Pumpout Service Suspended for the Season

The Coastal Mobile Pumpout Boat that provides sewage removal from transient or moored vessels by appointment is currently out of commission and service is being suspended for the remainder of 2014.

Boat owners should seek stationary facilities for pumpouts at any of the four locations in coastal NH or at a nearby station in Maine or Massachusetts.

For a complete listing of these sites please visit des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/cva/index.htm and navigate to the Pumpout Map and Directory under Education and Outreach.

Federal law prohibits the discharge of treated or untreated sewage in waters within three miles of the New Hampshire shoreline and three miles surrounding the Isles of Shoals. Discharge is also prohibited in tidal and estuarine waters, including bays and rivers to tidal dams.

Sewage pollution can cause an array of water quality problems including the spread of toxic chemicals and pathogens, shellfish bed closures, excessive algal growth, and oxygen depletion (which can lead to fish kills and other aquatic animal die-offs). Even small amounts of sewage can cause water quality to diminish especially in places such as marinas and harbors, which are shallow and less affected by tides. Ensuring that onboard waste is well-managed is the responsibility of every boater, and helps to maintain the clean waters of New Hampshire’s coastline.

For additional information, contact Melanie Titus at (603) 271-8803 or melanie.titus@des.nh.gov.

Source: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.