NH DES Pauses Royal Flush Pumpout Service, Cites Repair Costs

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services said Thursday the Royal Flush mobile pumpout boat service will not operate during the 2026 boating season.

According to NHDES, the decision follows a series of costly mechanical repairs during the 2025 season and is part of an effort to evaluate future service options.

NHDES said it recognized the Royal Flush provides a convenient and environmentally beneficial service for boaters. According to the department, the decision was made after careful consideration of operational costs and long-term program sustainability.

With the temporary suspension of the mobile pumpout service, NHDES is reminding boaters that all tidal, estuarine and coastal waters within three miles of the shoreline are federally designated No Discharge Areas. The discharge of boat sewage and or graywater in these waters is strictly prohibited under state law, cited by the department as RSA 487: 2,3.

The restriction is tied to the harmful impacts boat waste can have on coastal ecosystems, public health, and water quality. The department directed boaters to use available stationary pumpout facilities while the mobile service is offline.

The listed sites are Great Bay Marine in Newington; Wentworth by the Sea Marina in New Castle; the Great Cove Boat Club in Eliot, Maine; Safe Harbor Kittery Point in Kittery, ME; and Newburyport Harbor Marina in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

NHDES said those locations were available as alternatives for boaters who need pumpout service during the 2026 season.

The pause means boaters who use the mobile service will need to plan ahead before heading onto New Hampshire's coastal and estuarine waters. For 2026, the state's message is that wastewater disposal rules remain in place and stationary pumpout facilities will be the available option named by NHDES.

The announcement did not give a timeline for a final decision on future service options. Boaters seeking more information were directed to contact the NHDES Coastal Clean Vessel Act Program at cva@des.nh.gov.