Vancouver is offering a free mobile pump-out service to boaters aimed at helping to improve water quality.

The city and park board say the pilot service will come directly to boats in False Creek to empty their sewage tanks.

A statement said that will make it easier for boaters to pump — not dump — their waste.

According to the city, untreated sewage from boats is the primary source of E. coli contamination in False Creek.

The pump-out service is part of a strategy to make False Creek safe for swimming.

Other measures include dispersing divers to search for pollution sources, updates to health bylaws to better enforce dumping violations and a study of water flow.

With files from CBC News