Newport Yacht Club Awarded $3K State Grant For Boat Sewage Removal

NEWPORT, RI — The Newport Yacht Club was one of seven private businesses and communities to be awarded part of the $75,000 grant package the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) awarded to help pump sewage out of harbors and other boating areas.

State officials said the grants, funded by the US Fish & Wildlife Service Clean Vessel Act (CVA), will support five projects in Narragansett Bay, one facility in Point Judith Pond, and one pump-out boat on the Pawcatuck River. Every year, DEM applies for federal funds to buy or replace CVA equipment for use by municipal and private marinas to offer low cost pump-outs. Since 1994, DEM has awarded over $2 million in CVA grants, state officials said.

"Most of us know it's not right to discharge wastewater directly from our boats into Narragansett Bay or the ocean. In fact, it's illegal to pump waste within three nautical miles of the Rhode Island coast," said DEM Acting Director Terry Gray. "DEM works with municipal and marine trades partners to prevent the discharge of boat sewage, which impairs water quality by introducing bacteria and other pathogens and chemicals that are harmful to humans and marine life."

The Newport Yacht Club's grant was for $3,000 and will be used for the maintenance of a stationary pump-out in Newport Harbor.