Keep Our Waters Clean

Local waterways are a source of drinking water

Lakes and rivers are a source of drinking water for millions of Californians.

To help protect drinking water sources, boaters should always use restrooms, pumpout facilities and properly recycle used oil and dirty bilge water.

Human waste contains viruses and bacteria that can make people sick and harm fish and aquatic life.

Bilge oil from boats and personal watercraft can harm valuable aquatic life and the environment.

Clean, Drain, Dry - to prevent the spread of Golden Mussels

What is the Golden Mussel?

An invasive mussel that was first detected in the Delta in 2024, the first occurrence in North America.
Its microscopic larvae can be transported by either water flow or entrapment in a boat bilge or water storage. This can happen any time the water temperatures are above 60°F, making boating recreation a possible method of spread.
They can change habitats and as a result, the quality of water. This can affect the food web for native and game fish and additionally contribute to harmful algal blooms.
They can foul boat hulls and motors and clog intakes and cooling lines. Colonies can impact water delivery systems (municipal drinking water, hydroelectric, and agricultural) by clogging small-diameter pipelines, screens, and filters.

What can you do to help?

Clean off invisible aquatic plants, animals, and mud from all equipment before leaving the water.
Drain motor, bilge, livewell, and other water-containing devices before leaving water access.
Dry everything for at least 5 days or wipe down with a towel before reuse.
*Dispose, if you are fishing. Dispose of unwanted bait, worms, and fish parts in the trash. When keeping live bait, drain bait containers and replace with spring or dechlorinated tap water. Never dump live fish or other organisms from one body of water into another.

For more information and updates, please visit California’s Invaders: Golden Mussel

What is a pumpout?

A sanitary pumpout is a facility found at many local marinas that is used to remove wastewater from your boat's holding tank.

Always use a pumpout to empty your holding tank, even if you have a Type I or II Marine Sanitation Device (MSD).

Download the free Pumpout Nav app to find the nearest pumpout, dump station and floating restroom.

How to recycle your used motor oil

Did you know that used motor oil never wears out? It just gets dirty but can be recycled, cleaned, and used again.

Find the nearest oil recycling center to you with CalRecycle's map tool.

Preventing pollution

90 percent of the oil in waterways comes from boat bilges, outboard motors, poor fueling procedures, urban runoff and improper disposal of used oil products.

Here are some ways you can help prevent this pollution:

Use drip pans and absorbent pads when draining oil from bilges
Keep engines well-tuned, regularly check for leaks and change oil filters often
Place oil absorbents in the bilge area and recycle or properly dispose of the used absorbent at a certified oil disposal facility
Keep bilges clean, maintained and do not use detergents while cleaning
Don't mix used oil with other substances
Before pumping the bilge use oil/water separators or absorbents to remove the oil from the bilge water
Remove oily bilge water at a bilge water pumpout station

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like to request materials, email eburke@cityofsacramento.org.

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