California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways has opened its annual grant cycle for agencies seeking to install floating restrooms on lakes and reservoirs. The program, which supports cleaner waterways in areas with limited shoreline facilities, offers 1.2 million dollars in combined federal and state funding for the purchase and deployment of approximately four Americans with Disabilities Act compliant units.
These restrooms are designed for bodies of water where traditional land based facilities are difficult to build or maintain. By placing restrooms directly on the water, the state aims to reduce waste that might otherwise end up in lakes and reservoirs heavily used by boaters, paddlers, and anglers. The system prevents sewage from entering sensitive waterways, helping protect both public health and aquatic ecosystems.
As state officials continue to stress the value of these installations, the Department of Parks and Recreation highlights just how essential they are in high-use recreation areas. Kevin Murphy, CIG Information Officer for the department, explained their importance by noting:
“California lakes and reservoirs provide substantial recreational opportunities with some lakes receiving more than 1 million visitors per year. Since 1972, California has deployed floating restrooms in areas too remote to have conventional shoreside facilities and in lakes whose drawdowns make it impractical to build conventional shoreside facilities.
The primary purpose of floating restrooms is to reduce boater sewage from entering California’s waterways. Raw sewage contains pathogens that can make it difficult for aquatic life to survive in addition to creating many health hazards for humans.
Floating restrooms are in high demand by lake managers as well as by boaters who enjoy the convenience of being able to use a restroom without having to leave the lake. The primary users of floating restrooms are boaters without sewage waste devices onboard, including anglers, kayakers and stand up paddleboarders. These restrooms can accommodate up to 1,000 flushes between emptying cycles. With more than 117 units in use statewide, this totals more than a million gallons of waste collected each year.”
Since its launch in nineteen seventy eight, the Floating Restroom Grant Program has distributed about twenty one million dollars to support nearly three hundred installations throughout California. Many of these units remain in operation today. The newest models offered for the 2025 through 2026 cycle were engineered by California State Parks and feature solar powered systems along with holding tanks that can store about five hundred gallons of sewage. The design allows each restroom to be pumped out either on site by pumpout vessels or by towing the unit to shore when needed.
State officials describe the program as one of the most effective tools for reducing water pollution in recreational areas. The units prevent an estimated one million gallons of sewage from entering waterways each year. The grants are open to government agencies that can demonstrate a clear need for a floating restroom and the ability to operate and maintain the unit for at least a decade. Applications will be scored competitively, and the state expects to announce the selected recipients in spring of 2026.
Interested agencies can review eligibility requirements and submit applications online by noon on Monday, December 19, 2025, at dbw.parks.ca.gov/FloatingRestroomGrants.
