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Commissioner John P. Kelly
  Director John P. Kelly has been an Ocean County elected official since 1993. He was sworn into his 11th three-year term on the Board of Commissioners during the Board’s organization meeting Jan. 4, 2023. Read more

Ocean County
  Deputy Director Frank Sadeghi was sworn to his first three year term on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners during the Board’s reorganization meeting Jan. 3, 2024. A successful businessman and a long-time public servant, Commissioner Sadeghi brings years of leadership experience to the Board. Read more

Commissioner Virginia E. Haines
  Commissioner Virginia E. "Ginny" Haines, a lifelong resident of Ocean County, brings years of public service and leadership experience to the Board of Commissioners. She was sworn into her third three-year term on the Board during its organization meeting Jan. 4, 2023. Read more

Ocean County
  Commissioner Robert S. Arace was sworn into his first three-year term on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners during the Board’s 2025 organization meeting on Jan. 6. A lifelong resident of Ocean County, Commissioner Arace is deeply committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and family-friendly community. Read more

Ocean County
  Commissioner Jennifier Bacchione was sworn to her first three-year term on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners during the Board’s Jan. 6, 2025 Organization Meeting. Read more


Michael J. Fiure, County Administrator
101 Hooper Ave. Admin Building
Toms River, NJ 08754
Phone: (732) 929-2147 | Email: MFiure@co.ocean.nj.us


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Pumpout Boat Program



Thank you to all the boaters who use the pumpout boats to keep the Barnegat Bay clean!
The boating season has ended. The pumpout boats will resume operations 2025 Memorial Day weekend.


Ocean County is committed to working to preserve and improve the environmental health of its coastal waters and of the Barnegat Bay Estuary. The County recognizes the direct connection between the environmental well-being of the intercoastal waterways and the quality of life and economic vitality of the region.
This service is provided free of charge.
Download / Print Pumpout Info Rack Card
Visit our pumpout boat page on FaceBook to stay in touch: @pumpoutoceancounty

  • Since 1998, about 2.7 million gallons of concentrated effluent waste have been removed from the holding tanks and portable toilets of about 127,000 boats, that could otherwise have been directly discharged into the No-Discharge Zone intercoastal waters of Ocean County.

  • The boats service recreational boats throughout the Barnegat Bay intercoastal, from the Manasquan River down to the Little Egg Harbor; they service busy congregating areas like Tices Shoal, and respond to requests in open water and in some marinas.

  • The pumpout boats supplement a large number of land-based units now in service in Ocean County waters. Visit www.NJBoating.org for locations and more information.

  • The Ocean County pumpout boats operate weekends from Memorial day through mid-October, typically from 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM, varying by region.

* PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO DIRECT SERVICE TO HOME DOCKS. The boats are limited by the cost of fuel and limited time. We appreciate your cooperation.

How to Contact the Pumpout Boats

The pumpout boats typically operate Memorial Day weekend through the mid-October, depending on weather and budget. During the summer peak, the boats are generally in service Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Labor Day, although days and hours of operation vary by operator. Contact the pumpout boats in your service area for more information.

The boats can be contacted by captains' cells or on the Marine VHF Radio Channel 9 by identifying the boat, its location and service requested. The boats may also be in operation on holidays and special events.

The pumpout boats usually develop a routine schedule and sometimes pumpouts can be reserved in advance.

<< Download and print the pumpout boat rack card.

Boat Fleet & Contact Information

 Bay Sweeper - Serving Southern Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor
The "Bay Sweeper" pumpout boat operates in the southern area of the Barnegat Bay, the Little Egg Harbor and the Great Bay, The boats are owned by the County of Ocean and operated by the Tuckerton Seaport.

Contact:
Bay Sweeper: 609-605-7817

Hours:
The "Bay Sweeper" operates Memorial Day to Labor Day, Friday - Sunday, 8 am - 2 pm and Labor Day - October Sat - Sun, 9 am - 2 pm.

 Waste Knot, Bay Defender and Bay Saver - Serving Northern Barnegat Bay
Due to the high demand for pumpout boat services in the Barnegat Bay, the County has procured a new boat through a CVA grant. This New Boat will join the "Bay Defender" as a full time boat in the northern area of the Bay. The older "Bay Saver" will be operated on a limited schedule and budget as a part time back up boat to support the other boats.

The Brick boats service the high demand of the northern Barnegat Bay from the Toms River Township line north to the Manasquan River. They are operated by the Township of Brick and are berthed at Traders Cove Municipal Marina, adjacent to Mantoloking Bridge County Park.

Contact:
Waste Knot: 732-779-5876
Bay Defender: 732-644-4124
Bay Saver: 609-779-5876 (part-time)

Hours:
The Brick boats operate Memorial Day to Labor Day, Friday - Monday, 9 am - 5 pm and Labor Day - October Sat - Sun, 9 am - 5 pm

 Circle of Life II, Pollution Solution, Water Warrior and Waste Watcher II - Serving Central Barnegat Bay
The central Barnegat Bay is the busiest section of Ocean County's intercoastal. Because of the overwhelming demand and success of the pumpout boat program, two new boats were procured through CVA grants to service the Bay. Seaside Park is operating one of those boats, named after the original "Circle of Life," joining the "Pollution Solution" and "Water Warrior." The older "Waste Watcher II" will be operated as a backup boat part-time during the peak times of the season.

The Seaside Park boats operate from Kettle Creek south to Tices Shoal and the Barnegat Inlet.

Contact:
Circle of Life II: 732-228-3805
Pollution Solution: 732-228-3806
Water Warrior: 732-201-8910
Waste Watcher II: 732-201-8132

Hours:
The Seaside Park boats operate Memorial Day to Labor Day, Friday - Monday, 9 am - 5 pm and Labor Day - October Sat - Sun, 9 am - 5 pm

How to pump out your boat

  1. Remove the cap from the boat's deck waste fitting.
  2. Insert pumpout hose nozzle into deck fitting.
  3. Turn pump on. If there is a hose valve, open it to start suction.
  4. When no waste is seen in "sight glass", close hose valve and remove nozzle from deck fitting.
  5. Put nozzle (with open valve) in bucket of water for 15 seconds to rinse hose.
  6. Rinse boat's tank with water and pump dry, if desired.
  7. Close valve and put away hose. Turn off pump and replace deck fitting cap.

Funding

Of the seven pumpout boats currently operating in the State, the County provides the operational funds and administration for five vessels. The vessels were purchased by the County entirely with grants provided through the Clean Vessel Act Program with Federal and State funds, with the exception of the “Circle of Life,” which was purchased by Seaside Park with the assistance and support of the County. This funding ensures that the pumpout service is provided free of charge.

The County partners with other organizations, including the Ocean County Utilities Authority, which generously contributes half the operating costs annually. The County also participates on the NJ State Clean Vessel Act Advisory Committee and works with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program and other partners towards the goal of a healthy Bay.

New Jersey's Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program

Established in 1994, the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Program uses federal grants to fund 75 percent of the cost to install pumpout stations at marinas and public facilities along New Jersey's coastal waters. The remaining 25 percent is provided by the State of New Jersey through the "Shore to Please" license plate program. As a result of the CVA, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of pumpout stations available to area boaters over the last 10 years.

If a pumpout is installed under the CVA Program, it must be available to the general boating public for no more than $5 per pumpout, for at least 5 years. The program operates under the administration of the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, please call (609) 748-2056.

For more on the NJ Clean Vessel Act Program, all NJ pumpout boats, land-based pumpouts, ramps, and many more resources, visit the online interactive NJ Pumpout Guide at www.njboating.org. To confirm that a marina pumpout is operational, contact the marina or the Marine Trades Asociation of NJ.

No Discharge Zones

In June 2003, Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor Bay were designated federal No-Discharge Zones. While the release of untreated sewage is prohibited within three miles of the coast, it is illegal to discharge even treated effluent in No-Discharge Zones. In the Ocean County area, the Manasquan River, Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor Bay have been designated No Discharging Zones by the US EPA.

Pumpout facilities provide the most effective means for emptying holding tanks and are critical in No-Discharge Zones. About seventy-five marinas in Ocean County now maintain land-base pumpout stations for this purpose. A majority of these were installed as a result of grants from the NJ Clean Vessel Act Program.

Partners

Barnegate Bay PartnershipTownship of BrickCVAMarineTradesNJ Department of Environmental ProtectionSea Grant ConsortiumOcean County Utilities AuthorityTuckerton SeaportBorough of Seaside ParkUS Fish and Wildlife Service