Pumpout Nav App Available for Lake Champlain Boaters

Burlington--Recreational boaters on Lake Champlain now have a new, free digital tool to aid in the proper disposal of boat sewage.

The "Pumpout Nav" app is designed to help boaters locate the closest sewage pumpout station for their vessels. Using the mobile device's location, the app displays the pumpout stations and their operational status as well as the cost, hours and location within the marina. The new app is available for download from both the Android Play and iOS Apple stores.

The San Francisco Estuary Partnership developed the free sewage pumpout locator application. The app was produced as a part of a Clean Vessel Act grant provided by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways through the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

Lake Champlain is the first water body outside of California to be included in the app. This was made possible through a partnership between University of Vermont Extension, the Lake Champlain Sea Grant Program, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the San Francisco Estuary Partnership.

The growing popularity of boating activities on the lake increases the potential impact of boat-related pollutants that can enter aquatic environments. Pollutants may include sewage, oil and fuel, detergents, solvents, paints, plastics and other marine debris. The new app provides recreational boaters with a means to minimize the impact of boat-related pollutants. 

Lake Champlain Sea Grant and UVM Extension develop and share science-based information to benefit the environment and economies of the Lake Champlain Basin and Vermont. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department strives to conserve all species of fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for Vermonters.