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'The Royal Flush' Services Navesink, Shrewsbury Rivers
"The Royal Flush" pump-out boat, which removes waste from recreational boats on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers, is back this summer!
RUMSON, NJ — "The Royal Flush" is back! “The Royal Flush” pump-out boat, which removes waste from recreational boats on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers and is operated by Monmouth County, recently resumed operation this month.
The boat will operate on Fridays and Saturdays until October 12, 2019, weather permitting. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Since 2001, the Royal Flush has serviced over 16,400 boats and properly disposed of over 591,000 gallons of sewage. There is an ongoing problem of recreational boaters discharging their sewage waste into the Navesink River, and as Patch reported, in 2016 the Navesink tested particularly high for levels of human fecal bacteria; the state deemed it unsafe for swimming and shellfish harvesting. However, in 2019 the river is getting cleaner than it has in past years.
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This boat is meant to alleviate that problem.
In 2018, the Royal Flush serviced 683 boats and 23,200 gallons of sewage were disposed.
Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“The Royal Flush is one of the many services that the county offers residents,” said Freeholder Susan M. Kiley, liaison to the Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD). “On behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, I urge boaters to take advantage of this free service instead of dumping waste in no discharge zones.”
Related: High Levels of Human Poop Bacteria Found in Navesink River
The Royal Flush is owned and maintained by the MCHD and operated by the NY/NJ Baykeeper organization through a cooperative agreement established in 2015.
“This free service to our community keeps out waterways clean and safe,” said Christopher P. Merkel, Monmouth County Public Health Coordinator. “The boat is available to all recreational boaters and is not limited to Monmouth County residents.”
Boaters can contact the Royal Flush by radio on VHF Channel 9 or by cell at 732-890-6142 on days the pump out boat is operational. In addition to Fridays and Saturdays, The Royal Flush will serve boaters on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Service will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information, contact the MCHD at 732-431-7456 option three or go to www.VisitMonmouth.com/health
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