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Below are some of the more frequently asked questions about pumpouts and the Michigan Boating Pumpout Grant Program.<\/p>\n
With more than 3,000 miles of coastline across four Great Lakes, Michigan has some of the best waters for boating of any state in the country. To protect these waterways — whether for drinking water, employment, or the many species that call them home — most of the Great Lakes and associated waterways are designated No-Discharge Zones, which means that discharging boating sewage is illegal. This discharge poses a direct threat to human health for those who drink contaminated water or consume seafood from it. Pumpout stations are present at many marinas around the country to ensure clean water and provide a service to boaters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Depending on your Marine Sanitation Device (MSD), you may have an onboard treatment system that allows you to safely discharge waste. However, most of the waters in the Great Lakes surrounding the state of Michigan are official No-Discharge Zones. This means that even if your MSD treats sewage before you discharge it, it is still illegal to discharge in the water, and boats must hold onto their sewage until they can properly dispose of it at pumpout or dump stations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pumpout stations are machines that pull sewage from a boater\u2019s waste holding tank. Pumping out itself is easy. To pump out, a boater connects a hose from the station to the tank opening on the boat deck. When the pump is turned on, it draws waste out of the boat\u2019s holding tank, through the pump, and into sewer lines under the dock. These lines are then connected to municipal sewer or septic systems where the water is treated normally.<\/span><\/p>\n Section 312 of the Clean Water Act requires any boating vessel with an installed toilet and operating on U.S. waters to have an installed MSD. MSDs are devices that receive, retain, possibly treat, and discharge onboard waste to be disposed of at a later time. Broadly, there are three types of Coast Guard approved MSDs:<\/span><\/p>\n The type of MSD you can install on your vessel is partly restricted by your vessel\u2019s size. Boats greater than 65 feet must install a Type II or III MSD, and those smaller may install any of Types I, II, or III. It may also make sense for smaller watercraft to install portable toilets with self-contained holding tanks, which must be emptied at pumpout stations. However, as the Great Lakes are No-Discharge Zones, even MSDs that treat sewage are required to dispose of it in a pumpout station.<\/span><\/p>\n Several main types of pumpout stations are available: stationary pumpout stations, mobile pumpout stations, remote operated multi-station systems, and dump stations. Many states have begun funding mobile pumpout boats as well. The exact station best for your marina is a subjective judgement and difficult to discuss here. See Additional Resources below for more information on the different types of pumpouts.<\/span><\/p>\n Pumpouts constructed from grants made under this grant program are required to charge no more than $5 per pumpout. If a marina needs to charge a higher fee to cover their costs, then they may be able to receive a waiver if they submit a short explanation along with their application. Privately financed pumpout stations or boats charge rates at the discretion of the owner.<\/p>\n On our <\/span>map.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 to increase the number of onshore sewage disposal facilities in waters frequented by recreational boats, with the primary goal of reducing overboard discharge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service disperses funds to the state from taxes paid on fishing tackle and motor-boat fuels under the Federal Aid in Sport Fishing Restoration Program, also called Wallop-Breaux funds.<\/span><\/p>\n In Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the administration of these funds, providing them to marinas to fund the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout stations, as well as floating restrooms, pump and dump stations, and similar boating sewage machines. The Michigan Boating Pumpout Grant Program has si<\/span>nce been reauthorized into the future and has contributed to the construction of over 50 pump<\/span>outs in Michigan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sort of! Michigan Sea Grant also administers the Michigan Clean Marina program, which is a voluntary program in which marinas pledge to maintain and improve Michigan\u2019s waterways by reducing or eliminating releases of harmful substances and phasing out practices that can damage aquatic environments. For more info on the Clean Marina program, visit this <\/span>link<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n All marinas, public or private, are eligible as long as they are in the state of Michigan and allow reasonable access to the public for the use of the pumpout. For more information, please see the Handbook<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations including floating restrooms used solely by boaters and education\/information programs to educate\/inform recreational boaters about environmental pollution resulting from sewage discharges from vessels. For more information, please see the Handbook<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Examples of eligible costs include engineering, costs of equipment, signage providing instruction and directions to the pumpouts, labor, shipping costs, maintenance and operation for the life of the grant, sewer hook-up costs, and upgrades to existing equipment, just to name a few. For more information, please see the Handbook<\/a><\/span>.<\/b><\/p>\n Expenses ineligible for reimbursement through this grant program include but are not limited to: legal fees, onsite sewage treatment plants, enforcement activities, construction\/renovation of upland restroom facilities, costs incurred prior to entering into a contract with state of Michigan, and any project or activity that does not provide public benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n No, this grant program will cover 75% of the total costs of eligible project expenses; the remaining 25% of costs need to be provided by the marina through matching funds. The matching funds provided by the marina can be either through cash or \u201cin-kind\u201d services such as labor. In-kind services must be documented through, for example, timesheets.<\/span><\/p>\n Any area underserved by nearby pumpouts will be prioritized for construction projects. Additional factors such as sensitive ecological zones and those home to threatened or endangered species are also desirable.<\/span><\/p>\n The total amount of money available through this program varies from year to year. The amount available for an individual project varies as well and is based on several factors, including the merits of the application.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No\u2014grant terms must be agreed to in advance of the construction of the project (except as indicated under prior approved costs). Work cannot begin until a contract is signed with the state.<\/span><\/p>\n It can take up to 3 to 6 months from initial approval by Michigan DNR for a marina to receive funds. In addition, this is a reimbursement grant, which means that marinas will be reimbursed for expenses after they are incurred under the terms of their contract with the state. Once work is complete, the marina will submit for reimbursement with supporting paperwork.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The deadline for submissions is typically one month after the program is opened to applications.<\/span><\/p>\n Approval of applications will be based on the type of marine sewage disposal facility proposed, geographic location, number of boats served, and cost of the facility. Greater priority will be given to projects that provide increased access to pumpouts and dump stations, taking into account cost considerations to provide the highest benefit for the monies spent.<\/span><\/p>\n To ensure reimbursement after completion of projects, all grantees are required to submit a <\/span>Pumpout Grant Program Payment Request Form<\/span><\/a> along with invoice(s) and proof of payment for any expenses incurred. In addition, grantees should submit photos and a brief description of their project to <\/span>KosloskiC3@Michigan.gov<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>MichiganPumpouts@umich.edu<\/span><\/a>. See the Handbook <\/a><\/span>for more details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Additional questions should be directed to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Below are some of the more frequently asked questions about pumpouts and the Michigan Boating Pumpout Grant Program.Pumpout FAQsWhy have a pumpout at my marina?With more than 3,000 miles of coastline across four Great Lakes, Michigan has some of the best waters for boating of any state in the country. To protect these waterways — […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Below are some of the more frequently asked questions about pumpouts and the Michigan Boating Pumpout Grant Program.<\/b><\/p> Pumpout FAQs<\/b><\/p> With more than 3,000 miles of coastline across four Great Lakes, Michigan has some of the best waters for boating of any state in the country. To protect these waterways -- whether for drinking water, employment, or the many species that call them home -- most of the Great Lakes and associated waterways are designated No-Discharge Zones, which means that discharging boating sewage is illegal. This discharge poses a direct threat to human health for those who drink contaminated water or consume seafood from it. Pumpout stations are present at many marinas around the country to ensure clean water and provide a service to boaters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Depending on your Marine Sanitation Device (MSD), you may have an onboard treatment system that allows you to safely discharge waste. However, most of the waters in the Great Lakes surrounding the state of Michigan are official No-Discharge Zones. This means that even if your MSD treats sewage before you discharge it, it is still illegal to discharge in the water, and boats must hold onto their sewage until they can properly dispose of it at pumpout or dump stations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Pumpout stations are machines that pull sewage from a boater\u2019s waste holding tank. Pumping out itself is easy. To pump out, a boater connects a hose from the station to the tank opening on the boat deck. When the pump is turned on, it draws waste out of the boat\u2019s holding tank, through the pump, and into sewer lines under the dock. These lines are then connected to municipal sewer or septic systems where the water is treated normally.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Section 312 of the Clean Water Act requires any boating vessel with an installed toilet and operating on U.S. waters to have an installed MSD. MSDs are devices that receive, retain, possibly treat, and discharge onboard waste to be disposed of at a later time. Broadly, there are three types of Coast Guard approved MSDs:<\/span><\/p> The type of MSD you can install on your vessel is partly restricted by your vessel\u2019s size. Boats greater than 65 feet must install a Type II or III MSD, and those smaller may install any of Types I, II, or III. It may also make sense for smaller watercraft to install portable toilets with self-contained holding tanks, which must be emptied at pumpout stations. However, as the Great Lakes are No-Discharge Zones, even MSDs that treat sewage are required to dispose of it in a pumpout station.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Several main types of pumpout stations are available: stationary pumpout stations, mobile pumpout stations, remote operated multi-station systems, and dump stations. Many states have begun funding mobile pumpout boats as well. The exact station best for your marina is a subjective judgement and difficult to discuss here. See Additional Resources below for more information on the different types of pumpouts.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Pumpouts constructed from grants made under this grant program are required to charge no more than $5 per pumpout. Privately financed pumpout stations or boats charge rates at the discretion of the owner.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> On our <\/span>map<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 to increase the number of onshore sewage disposal facilities in waters frequented by recreational boats, with the primary goal of reducing overboard discharge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service disperses funds to the state from taxes paid on fishing tackle and motor-boat fuels under the Federal Aid in Sport Fishing Restoration Program, also called Wallop-Breaux funds.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> In Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the administration of these funds, providing them to marinas to fund the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout stations, as well as floating restrooms, pump and dump stations, and similar boating sewage machines. The Michigan Boating Pumpout Grant Program has si<\/span>nce been reauthorized into the future and has contributed to the construction of over 50 pump<\/span>outs in Michigan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Sort of! Michigan Sea Grant also administers the Michigan Clean Marina program, which is a voluntary program in which marinas pledge to maintain and improve Michigan\u2019s waterways by reducing or eliminating releases of harmful substances and phasing out practices that can damage aquatic environments. For more info on the Clean Marina program, visit this <\/span>link<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p> Grant FAQ<\/b><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> All marinas, public or private, are eligible as long as they are in the state of Michigan and allow reasonable access to the public for the use of the pumpout. For more information, please see the Handbook <\/span> Construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations including floating restrooms used solely by boaters and education\/information programs to educate\/inform recreational boaters about environmental pollution resulting from sewage discharges from vessels. For more information, please see the Handbook <\/span> \u00a0<\/p> Examples of eligible costs include engineering, costs of equipment, signage providing instruction and directions to the pumpouts, labor, shipping costs, maintenance and operation for the life of the grant, sewer hook-up costs, and upgrades to existing equipment, just to name a few. For more information, please see the Handbook <\/span> \u00a0<\/p> Expenses ineligible for reimbursement through this grant program include but are not limited to: legal fees, onsite sewage treatment plants, enforcement activities, construction\/renovation of upland restroom facilities, costs incurred prior to entering into a contract with state of Michigan, and any project or activity that does not provide public benefit.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> No, this grant program will cover 75% of the total costs of eligible project expenses; the remaining 25% of costs need to be provided by the marina through matching funds. The matching funds provided by the marina can be either through cash or \u201cin-kind\u201d services such as labor. In-kind services must be documented through, for example, timesheets.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Any area underserved by nearby pumpouts will be prioritized for construction projects. Additional factors such as sensitive ecological zones and those home to threatened or endangered species are also desirable.<\/span><\/p>What is the law regarding No-Discharge Zones in the Great Lakes?<\/span><\/h4>\n
What are pumpouts and how do they work?<\/span><\/h4>\n
What are the different types of marine sewage devices?<\/span><\/h4>\n
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What type of pumpout should I install?<\/span><\/h4>\n
How much does it cost to pumpout?<\/span><\/h4>\n
Where can I find pumpout locations in Michigan?<\/span><\/h4>\n
What is the Clean Vessel Act?<\/span><\/h4>\n
Is this program related to the Clean Marina program?<\/span><\/h4>\n
Grant FAQs<\/h2>\n
What type of facility is eligible for funding?<\/h4>\n
What projects are eligible for funding?<\/h4>\n
What types of costs are eligible?<\/h4>\n
What expenditures are ineligible for reimbursement?<\/h4>\n
Does the grant cover 100% of project costs?<\/h4>\n
Are any specific regions targeted for funding?<\/h4>\n
How much money is available for grants?<\/h4>\n
Can I get funding for a pumpout I\u2019ve already built at my marina?<\/h4>\n
How long does it take before I receive grant funding?<\/h4>\n
What is the deadline for applications?<\/h4>\n
How are grant projects selected?<\/h4>\n
How do I get reimbursed for my expenses?<\/h4>\n
Who should I contact if I have more questions?<\/h4>\n
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Additional Resources<\/h2>\n
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