Martin County marks 25 years of free boat pump-out service credited with removing millions of gallons

Martin County presenters highlighted the 25th anniversary of the Martin Ship Pump-Out Program — nicknamed during the meeting as “MS Poop” — and described its environmental purpose and funding.

The hosts said the program began about 25 years ago and provides a free, county-run option to remove sewage from recreational boats. According to the presenters, the program was funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Clean Vessel Act and administered with involvement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

The presenters told listeners that over 25 years the program has removed roughly 2,500,000 gallons of untreated sewage from boats and that the county’s utilities department runs the operation. One presenter said the program was a model that other nearby counties have visited to learn about the service. "It is a free, convenient, and safe and responsible way to remove sewage from boats," one host said during the recap.

The county also worked with local media on a package about the 25th-anniversary celebration. Presenters framed the program as an environmental-protection measure and a long-running public service; they described the milestone as an opportunity to highlight the county’s work to protect waterways.