flow straight to our lakes. That threatens aquatic life and even results in bans on swimming. See the most-recent swimming advisories for local lakes.
Prevent surface water pollution
Fuel Spills
Petroleum spills from boats hurt lake water quality.
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Avoid topping off your tank when refueling your boat
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Ask your fuel dock to install automatic cutoff nozzles
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Install a fuel/air separator to prevent accidental overflows from the tank vent line
Bacteria
Harmful bacteria such as fecal coliform can come from broken or grease-clogged sewer lines on land or from careless boaters.
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Install a Type II Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) and empty it at an onshore pumping station
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Keep your MSD properly maintained
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Reduce the need to pump out your MSD by using onshore restroom facilities when possible
Litter
Litter from boats is not only ugly; it can harm wildlife.
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Dumping garbage from boats is illegal
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Install a garbage can on your boat
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If you see litter in the water, pick it up and dispose of it properly onshore
See a video of lake water sampling and ways you can reduce pollution in our lakes.