The Clean Vessel Act (CVA) of 1992 was signed into law to reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges, prohibiting the discharge of raw sewage into fresh water or within coastal salt-water limits. The act established a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which to date has awarded nearly $150 million for states to install thousands of sewage pumpout stations.

Use the interactive map below to find pumpout facilities in Georgia

Clean Vessel Act Grant- Funding Opportunity

Request for Applications- Funding available

The Clean Vessel Act Grant Program was established to provide funding to States to construct, renovate, operate, and maintain pumpout stations and waste reception facilities for recreational boaters and to inform boaters about the use, benefits, and availability of pumpout stations and waste reception facilities. The grant program funds 75% of the project costs. This includes the cost of new equipment, or the renovation or upgrading of existing equipment, as well as necessary pumps, piping, fitting, lift stations, on-site holding tanks, pier or dock modifications, signs, permits and other miscellaneous equipment needed for a complete and efficient station. As a grant recipient, you are responsible for at least 25% of the installed costs and this 25% match can be cash, the fair market value of any labor or materials provided, or a combination thereof.

Eligible Activities

• Programs or projects to construct, renovate, operate, and/or maintain pumpout and dump stations. Eligible grants activities also include activity necessary to hold and transport boater’s sewage to treatment plants, such as holding tanks, piping, hauling costs, and bleed-in facilities.
• Plans for construction and renovation of pumpout stations in the coastal zone necessary to ensure that these stations are adequate and convenient to meet the needs of recreational boaters using coastal waters of the State.
• Programs to identify all operational pumpouts, and surveys of recreational vessels in coastal waters with holding tanks or portable toilets and the areas where those vessels congregate in the coastal zone. Also eligible are costs of developing a list, including chart coordinates, or all operational pumpouts in the coastal zone for submission.
• Educational Programs.

Ineligible Activities

• Activities that do not provide public benefits
• Law enforcement activities
• Construction/renovation of land-based restroom facilities
• Construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of on-site sewage treatment plants, such as package treatment plants and septic systems.

Additional Requirements

• Must be open to the public, where the public has full and reasonable access to pumpout
• Provide signage visible from water to direct boaters to pumpout
• Locate pumpouts so they are easy to access and use by all boats typical to that marina
• Charge equitable fees ($5 max per pumpout, unless a higher fee is justified by applicant and approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service)
• Be open during reasonable hours
• Facilities shall be operated, maintained, and continue to be reasonably accessible to all recreational vessels for their useful life

To Receive Funding

If you have a project that fits in the above eligible activities you can receive reimbursement for 75% of the costs through this program.

Click this link for the CVA Pumpout Grant Application

Please mail completed applications to Steven Partin, grants coordinator, at:

One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520

Phone (office) 912-262-3121

or submit electronically to steven.partin@dnr.ga.gov.