TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Pumpout Boat Program will continue in 2016, its 19th season.
Since the program began in 1997, more than 65,000 recreational boats have used the free service to empty onboard toilets and tanks, which keeps the waste from entering the bay. More than 1.3 million gallons of effluent has been disposed of properly through this program.
The county Board of Chosen Freeholders is expected to authorize the $120,000 program budget on March 2. The funding covers six boats and their captains, fuel, maintenance, insurance and other incidental costs. The program is vital for the county, which relies on tourism as its economic base.
The boats operate Memorial Day weekend through October each year. For more information about the program, visit www.planning.co.ocean.nj.us/coastal.htm.