Septic Education

Vessel Pump Out

The Vessel Pump Out Program is a cooperative effort between the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), SMLA, and the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission. There is NO COST to boaters for this service.

The Program operates each weekend during an 18-week season from May through September.

Additionally, many local marinas on the lake have pump-out facilities on the lake to accommodate recreational boater waste.

Smith Mountain Lake is a no discharge zone!

It is illegal to discharge untreated sewage from vessels or boats in all Virginia waters. It is also illegal to discharge any treated waste from vessels equipped with Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs). U.S. Coast Guard regulations require all vessels to disable the MSD discharge capability while operating in waters designated as a federally-designated no discharge cone (NDZ).

SepticSmart Week September 14 – 18, 2026

SepticSmart is a nationwide initiative of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to share information on the care and maintenance of septic systems. The program shares how to properly care for these wastewater treatment systems. The…
Use SML shorelines responsibly

Enjoy Smith Mountain Lake’s Shoreline Responsibly

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Thanks to the drought, SML has more shoreline to enjoy. This silver lining to a challenging year for lake levels means that boaters can beach or anchor and use more land areas for recreation. But not all newly exposed beaches are public land…
Vessel Pump Out VPOP 1

TLAC Hiring for Summer Work

The Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC) is hiring staff for the summertime Vessel Pump Out Program (VPOP), a cooperative effort with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and SMLA.  Positions are available for Pump Out Truck…

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