Discharging sewage overboard creates environmental and human health problems, especially in a state with more than four million recreational boaters. To reduce the negative impacts of discharging sewage overboard, all boaters are encouraged to use sewage management facilities, including pumpout stations, dump stations, and mobile pumpout services. Since 2008, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership and The Bay Foundation have monitored public sewage pumpout stations throughout the state. In 2019, Morro Bay National Estuary Program began monitoring sewage pumpout stations within Morro Bay Harbor. All monitoring is funded by California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways through the Clean Vessel Act grant program.
This Pumpout Report highlights findings on the condition and operational status of pumpout stations in 2019.