With summer in full swing, City of Sacramento Department of Utilities staff are reminding boaters how they can help keep local waterways clean.
“Our rivers are great places to recreate but boats are a surprising source of waterway pollution,” said Emma Burke, an outreach specialist that manages the City’s Keep Our Waters Clean program, which helps educate boaters in the region.
“Waste, fuel and oil from boats can harm local wildlife and affect drinking water supplies.”
According to Burke, there are three simple ways boaters can help protect rivers:
- Use public restrooms and dispose of pet waste properly
Waste carries bacteria, viruses and parasites that can threaten the health of humans and wildlife. - Use pumpout stations to remove wastewater from your boat’s holding tank
Improperly dumped wastewater often contains excess nutrients that contribute to harmful algal blooms and can harm fish and wildlife. Boaters can find a list of pumpout station locations on the CA State Parks website. - Recycle used oil and dirty bilge water at designated facilities
Dirty bilge water can contain pollutants, such as oil, fuel and debris, which should never be dumped in waterways. Boaters can find facilities to recycle used oil and dirty bilge water on CalRecycle’s website.
“While these are some of the simplest ways boaters can help keep our waterways clean, they also happen to be some of the most effective.”