Apply for the Construction and Upgrade Grant

The Clean Vessel Assistance Program's Construction and Upgrade Grants help marinas, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations install new, or replace, repair, or renovate pumpout and dump station facilities to receive sewage from recreational marine vessels.  

Construction and Upgrade Grants provide funding for up to 75% of eligible costs: 

• Up to $40,000 for a new stationary unit, replacement, repair, or renovation
• Up to $80,000 for a pumpout boat

How to Apply: Read through the eligibility and requirements and then complete the application at the bottom of this page. This application includes basic information, a project description and scope, project costs and requested funding information, as well as compliance with program and permit requirements. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Facilities and activities eligible for reimbursement include:

• Construction, replacement, repair, or renovation of stationary and portable pumpout/dump station units, including associated attachments, remote units, docks, and platforms.
• Mobile pumpout vessels, if the sole purpose is pumping out Type III marine sanitation devices.
• Floating restrooms in the water, not connected to land or structures connected to the land, used solely by boaters.
• Equipment associated with the eligible facility, such as equipment for rinsing boat holding tanks and attachments (e.g. wands) for pumping out portable toilets.
• Activities and equipment necessary to hold and transport marine vessel sewage to sewage treatment plants, such as holding tanks, piping, pumps, bleed-in facilities, etc.
• Engineering costs associated with the eligible facility, including planning, design, construction supervision and inspection.
• Other costs directly associated with the eligible facility, including administrative, legal and use of in-house labor.
• Facilities designed to include purposes other than those eligible under the Act shall have the costs pro-rated equitably among the various purposes at EFC’s sole discretion. Assistance funds shall be used only for the part of the activity related to the CVA.

The Application shall include all information required to identify the scope of the project and any auxiliary uses or other on-site impacts to the pumpout equipment or usage.

Public Access: All projects must provide access to the general public and cannot be restricted to members/residents only. 

Rinse Water: Rinse water must be provided within close proximity to the pumpout for boater use in rinsing out the holding tank or other pumpout needs. 

Signs: Signs must be posted that credit the source of grant funding and contain the following information, as applicable: 

• Hours of Operation
• User Fee
• Restrictions, if any (Example: Attendant use only)
• Operating Instructions: Who to contact if there are operational problems 

Note: Signs are information and provided by EFC which allow applicants to fill in required post at their facility. Contact EFC for signage and flags at . 

Flags: Large orange flags are provided to all CVAP pumpout facilities and the flag should be posted near the pumpout station for easy boater recognition from the water. 

User Fees: User fees are allowed, but restricted by Federal Regulation not to exceed $5.00 per pumpout. CVAP Operation & Maintenance Grants are available to assist with routine costs and facilities are encouraged to offer services for FREE. 

Access: A pumpout facility must be accessible to boaters during the hours of operation. The area must be clear, open and devoid of any other permanent or long-term use, such as slippage. Sharing of the pumpout area with other temporary services, such as refueling, is acceptable.

Dump Station/Potty Wand: Pumpouts provided at a location that does not also contain a dump station (for use by boaters with portable toilets) must provide a "potty wand" for use in disposing of septic waste. 

Hours of Operation: A pumpout facility must be available during reasonable hours. If uncertain whether your establishment can provide this, please email [email protected]. 

Attachments: It is expected that all necessary attachments for a boater to use the pumpout facility will be available for use as needed during reasonable hours. 

Recreational Boaters: Projects must focus on recreational boaters, the primary user established in the federal rule. A facility cannot be funded for commercial use.