Grey water?

[Rotorgeek]

So I was wondering if anyone is knowledgeable on rules of grey water rules in the US. I am contemplating putting a sink in my (at this point proposed) camper. I know people wash their hands, dishes and shower outside from portable sources, and as far as I know they are not breaking any laws.
I was thinking of adding a sink that would drain to an external gal container for later disposal away from the campsite. I go to thinking about campers with grew water holding tanks and wondered if by putting it in a container would that make it illegal to empty without a disposal site.
Google search only returns opinions on the matter, so it seems like it is ok? Unless of course specific camp sites prohibit it?

 

[UK4X4]

Not sure on the regulations as such - I'm guessing state by state and even area

I usually use biodegradable soap- filter the water for bits and non bios and dump the rest in a handy ditch- or burry away from the camp

You don't want to be bringing large hairy critters any where near your camp,

or growing mexican pepper plants in idaho

 

[dwh]

The Humanure site has a fairly extensive (though also fairly old) reference. Grey water and composting toilets are often lumped together:

http://weblife.org/humanure/appendix3.html


Car washes are usually required to filter and/or reuse their wastewater. I've dumped the 20g greywater tank in my camper in a bunch of different self-service car washes (and what the hell, might as well hose off the truck at the same time).

 

[pods8]

FWC/ATC/etc. campers free drain the sink to a hose attachment port on the side of the camper. If I'm in the boonies I just route the hose to the ground under the truck, if somewhere that it matters I catch it in a 3gal bucket and then dump it either in a drain or the woods or use it to put out my fire at the end of the night. Note this water is just dish water using camp suds soap and quite consistent with tent campers practices when using a dish tub. On my build I'm planning to put a valved Y fitting with one leg going to a free drain like I've got now and the other to a 5gal container inside the rig (free protection if I want to use the sink in the winter, also doesn't look as tacky for the places I need to use a bucket, etc.)

 

[cnynrat]

I think all developed campgrounds will have a rule not to dispose of grey water from holding tanks in the campsite. This is also the generally accepted rule in the RV/camper world whether you are camping at a developed campsite or out boondocking.

At first impression it would seem there is little difference between that and what any tent camper will do, but on closer examination I think there are some differences. First, a tent camper is typically going to be disposing of a lot less water. I know when we camp in our Horizon we may generate a a couple quarts of grey water from a dishwashing session. Personal hygiene needs (hand & face washing, brushing teeth) generate trivial amounts of grey water. My personal practice is also to scatter my grey water disposal around so that it's not all dumped in one area. For example, I'll walk in a different direction from my campsite each time I need to dump grey water from dishwashing.

When we camp in our Bigfoot camper with sinks and a shower and hot and cold running water we are no where near as efficient in terms of our water usage (habits from home seem to kick in ). When the grey water tank needs to be dumped there are up to 19 gallons that need to be disposed of, which is quite a bit different than the amount that a tent camper will dump at any one time.

Also, bear in mind that it's not just soap that is in your grey water. There are also food particles, disolved grease and oils, and so on from your dishes. All of those smells will attract animals and pests, especially if a large amount is dumped in a single location. I think these are the reasons why it's deemed OK for tent campers to disperse their grey water, but those who have rigs with holding tanks should only dump that water in a dump station or other suitable location.

 

[doug720]

I California, in or on any State park or State lands, it is illegal to drain or dispose of any waste water that is stored in or generated in a any type of vehicle. But, a tent or primitive camper can dispose of personal waste water as generated on the ground.

I have been a volunteer with the State Parks Division for a long time, and have seen many tickets written for this. It's not always enforced and is more based on the circumstances and location of the water disposal. If you should get a ticket, it's over $400.00! This was about 4 years ago a buddy of mine received one at the Hungry Valley SVRA near Gorman, CA.

Best plan is find a approved place to drain it in CA. Seems dumb and overkill in so many ways, but so many people are dumb in so many ways and dump waste water right in the middle of camp grounds...So this is what we all get!

Doug

 

[G35Vortec454]

In the boondocks / offroad backcountry (ie. where there is no sight of any human or civilization) I dump my waste at my discretion. I carry a shovel, among other things, in my mh. In suburban or urban areas, i dump my toilet casette at a gass station or motel restroom toilet and so is my waste water, pumped into a container. I very rarely camp at an RV park so I rarely dump at an RV dumping station.

 

[grizzlyj]

I think all developed campgrounds will have a rule not to dispose of grey water from holding tanks in the campsite. This is also the generally accepted rule in the RV/camper world whether you are camping at a developed campsite or out boondocking.

Hi

I realise this is O/T as far as this thread is concerned, but many UK campsites will ask you to empty your grey tank in the hedge where you're parked, and the UK is not a particularly dry place!

 

[mudmony]

"Best plan is find a approved place to drain it in CA. Seems dumb and overkill in so many ways, but so many people are dumb in so many ways and dump waste water right in the middle of camp grounds...So this is what we all get!"

Correct, seems so simple.. what happened to self responsibility, if you have holding tanks must dump at a station or before you know it, the EPA will create "The Dumping Log", must be turned in annually with a $ 150 fee, be aware of current rules and regs or we will have more!!!

 

[cnynrat]

Hi

I realise this is O/T as far as this thread is concerned, but many UK campsites will ask you to empty your grey tank in the hedge where you're parked, and the UK is not a particularly dry place!

That is interesting. Do they find that they have any issues with the smells attracting animals? That is the most often cited reason why you can't dump your grey water in a campground here in the States.

 

[lostdreamer]

That is interesting. Do they find that they have any issues with the smells attracting animals? That is the most often cited reason why you can't dump your grey water in a campground here in the States.

I'm going to go with 'no', not so much because it doesn't necessarily, but because we simply don't have much in the way of problem wildlife. We don't need to worry about attracting bears/racoons/whatever because there arn't any.

I guess it might encourage rats, but rats are way more likely to end up in the rubbish bins than the hedge.

 

[UK4X4]

"Do they find that they have any issues with the smells attracting animals?"

we ate all our large animals years ago- you are lucky if you see a fox in todays england.

We have badgers which are probably the largest pesky critter we have left and its a protective species and usually only found in old woodlands or national parks.

 

[DesertBoater]

For general washing of hands and whatnot, I usually just wash them over the ground, and the amount of water is so small it doesn't have much of an impact. For disposal of dirty dish water, I have adopted the view that instead of digging a sump hole and then burying it (after straining out the solids) or flinging it as far and wide as possible, to pour it on the road surface (only dirt/gravel not paved...if paved there's a developed sump/drain somewhere) or campfire ring. My perspective is that the road surface/campfire ring is the most highly impacted area of almost any wild-lands we experience. I'd rather continue to impact an area that's already just sand/gravel/coals without anything living there, than dump my soapy, oily, greasy water all over the vegetation. Check out the Leave No Trace website. They have different lists of ethical practices for different bio-regions and climate zones...practices will be different in the Pacific Northwest than in Death Valley...

Cheers,
West

 

[fisher205]

National Parks require that you collect your grey water and dispose of it in acceptable locations. I use a collasible 5 gal. tank hooked up to mine (sink only). If not at national parks I dispose of it in the fire ring or if remote camping disperse it away from the camp site, especially in bear country.

 

[mervifwdc]

I've a 40 litre grey water tank, and it's barely enough. If we park outide someones house for example, it's nice to be able to have 2 showers, and do the washing up without splashing smelly grey water (and lets face it, it can be pretty smelly!). And 40 litres is pretty tight, I guess it's about 7 gallons or so?

If I'm camping genuine wild, I leave the valve open if I'm somewhere the water will drain, or disapate without causing upset to anyone or the environment.

Loads of places in mainland europe to dump such water, and Morocco is easy peasy - the camp sites like to you dump it on the little bit of vegitation they have...

Merv.