Boat Wash Station Guidance

Learn more about what boat wash stations provide and how to implement your own.

Boat wash stations are a tool to clean boats, trailers and other equipment appropriately before utilizing them at another waterbody, to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Though boat wash stations are useful in prevention of all aquatic invasive species, if equipped properly with hot water, they can also effectively prevent the spread of zebra mussels and their veligers. 

Permitting

• A lakeside wash station would require filing a Request for Determination of Applicability or Notice of Intent with MassDEP and the town’s Conservation Commission. If the station is over 100 feet away from the lake and over 200 feet away from a river or stream it may be exempt. Please inquire with your town’s Conservation Agent to understand the filing requirements for your situation.

Power and Running Water is Available at the Site

• Option 1

  • Install some form of structure to house the equipment (shed, metal storage container, etc.). An added bonus is if you install solar panels on the roof of the structure for your power source.
  • Install pressure tank if needed and tankless on-demand water heater (electric, natural gas, or propane- Rinnai or similar).
  • Water temperature needs to be 140 degrees F or above at the nozzle for mortality of microscopic organisms like zebra mussels based on research conducted by MassDEP.

• Option 2

  • Install pressure tank if needed and electric storage tank water heater (A.O. Smith, Rheem, etc.). An added bonus is if you install hybrid heat-pump electric storage tank water heater.
  • Install garden hose and nozzle. Low pressure is best for live wells, bilge areas, and other tight spaces. Low pressure is also OK for larger exterior surfaces as the temperature itself will provide mortality to microscopic organisms and there is usually sufficient pressure to knock loose items such as plant fragments.
  • You may add a standard residential pressure washer to your system if you choose.

No Power or Running Water Available at the Site

• Install some form of structure to house the equipment (shed, metal storage container, etc.).
• Install hot-water power washer (Mi-T-M, Easy-Kleen, Hotsy, Hydro Tek, or similar). These machines typically run on gasoline for the water pump with diesel for the water heater.
• Use a gas-powered pump (Honda or similar) and connect garden hoses from the lake to the pump and then to the hot water washer to pull lake water for your source. This will provide the pressure needed to run the washer. An added bonus is if you use an electric (battery) transfer pump instead. We have had great results with the Milwaukee M18 Transfer Pump.
• You may use the high-pressure wand or simply disconnect the wand (make sure you install quick connects) and just use the handle itself to decontaminate the boat, trailer, and gear.

A Note on Freezing and Soaking

• Some porous items such as wetsuits, ropes, or other items may be hard to decontaminate properly. Remember that freezing can also decontaminate these items. Some people may have space in a chest or other freezer available.
• After initially inspecting the gear and removing any visible plants, mud, or other visible evidence, these items can be exposed to the freezing temperatures for 24 hours to kill any microorganisms.
• If freezing is not available, items can be soaked in a container of the hot water.

A Note on Wash Water Runoff

During the permitting process you may need to address the issue of wash water runoff. Simple boat rinse water without any soap, chlorine, or other additives should have no more impact on the lake than the physical contact of the same boat and trailer that is going into the lake. There are two primary ways this can be done if required. 

• Designate a specific boat wash area that is sloped into a rain garden or an area that can be excavated and filled with a mixture of crushed stone, peat, and other absorbent organic material as required.
• Designate a specific boat wash area that is on a paved pad with a center drain and storage tank. This is a costly method with construction of the system and pumping/disposal of the wash water and should be avoided if possible.

Summary

Every site is unique, and you may have to adjust your plans using a combination of the methods outlined above. We strongly encourage active boat ramp monitoring by paid or volunteer staff for inspections, removal of plants, draining all water, and operation of the boat wash station. Using both methods will ensure you have done as close to everything possible to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species coming into AND leaving your lake. 

“Experience is the greatest teacher of all.”

— Thomas Flannery - DCR Experience