Pumpout station at Skipjack Cove Marina in Georgetown. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is currently accepting applications from marinas for grants to support the operations and maintenance of marine sewage pumpout stations. Interested marinas can find the application form on the DNR Boating website. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2026.
The Marine Sewage Pumpout Grant program assists marinas in providing reliable pumpout services to boaters by reimbursing marinas for expenses such as repairs, parts, and staff time. Pumpout stations provide recreational boaters a legally compliant method of disposing of vessel sewage, helping to prevent contamination of Maryland’s waterways. The department actively supports the installation and operation of these stations as part of an overarching strategy to reduce nutrient levels in the Chesapeake Bay.
Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Clean Vessel Act (75%), and the Maryland Waterway Improvement Fund (25%). Boaters provide the grant funding through federal excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, and import duties. Additionally, when titling a boat in Maryland and paying the state’s excise tax, boaters contribute to the Waterway Improvement Fund.
For more information and to apply for the operations and maintenance grant program, marina operators should visit the Department of Natural Resources website or contact the Pumpout Grant Program Manager at [email protected] or 410-260-8772.
