Toilet is the only drain to black tank

[SlowrideHD]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

It's more than economic reasons. It's good practice. Otherwise when conserving water the black tank winds up the consistency of an outhouse.

You can't just use more water when you flush? Why is that?

[Mr. October]

And to be clear . . RVIA code ALLOWS for one drain other than the toilet to drain to the black tank. It doesn't require it.

[Mr. October]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

You can't just use more water when you flush? Why is that?

We camp a lot at State Parks and boon docking. No hookups so the water in the fresh water tank is limited. Obviously flush enough to do the job but it's nice to be able to balance capacity between kitchen and bathroom sink and still have enough fluid in the black tank to properly dump.

Obviously this is just what we were used to but IMO not a great design and nice to have the flexibility so I'll get this re-plumbed to my satisfaction in the off season.

[rockfordroo]

I've read lots of complaints here about something other than the toilet being plumbed to the black tank.

You're the first to complain that something WASN'T plumbed to the black tank.

[joeuncool]

Before we head out I always dump about 5 gallons of water down the toilet and add whatever chemicals. Then during the trip flush normally. Quick flushes for the liquids, a little longer flushes for the solids. Never had an issue draining the black tank. Now, we don't drain the black tank when leaving the campground. We drain when when we get back in town after many hours on the highway sloshing around. I think that helps the process.

[Mr. October]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I've read lots of complaints here about something other than the toilet being plumbed to the black tank.

You're the first to complain that something WASN'T plumbed to the black tank.

LOL! Well . . I guess it's what we are used to. It was always nice to balance holding tank capacity by choosing which sink to use for dishes, etc.

[Mountndream]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I've read lots of complaints here about something other than the toilet being plumbed to the black tank.

You're the first to complain that something WASN'T plumbed to the black tank.

X2

[Chuck_S]

RVIA Codes and Standards

Got a more detailed reference?

I've yet to see a camper without the RVIA compliance sticker, even those with nothing but the toilet plumbed to the black tank and, consequently, everything else plumbed to the grey.

Either RV manufacturers are deliberately not complying with the "black tank standard" or it doesn't exist -- or has changed. Standards are frequently updated so the date of adoption will influence this.

-- Chuck

[14apex]

...very interesting! Our experience is limited -- Prowler, Casita and now an Apex but all have had only black going to black. Wrapping my head around this and realizing that 90% of our camping is sans hook-ups, I'm having to consider the potential plusses(?). Interesting thread. (We do have an "auxiliary" 50 gal. tank in the truck with fresh water & that helps solve that issue...but, having holding tank room for the "converted" water (& food ) and facing the eventual necessity of dumping calls for innovation. Yep, interesting thread.

[Mr. October]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

Got a more detailed reference?

I've yet to see a camper without the RVIA compliance sticker, even those with nothing but the toilet plumbed to the black tank and, consequently, everything else plumbed to the grey.

Either RV manufacturers are deliberately not complying with the "black tank standard" or it doesn't exist -- or has changed. Standards are frequently updated so the date of adoption will influence this.

-- Chuck

The code ALLOWS for one other drain to go to the black tank. It doesn't REQUIRE it.

[Chuck_S]

OK. The imperative "should" (used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness) is not in the code.

For us, camping on a non-sewer site requires frequent dumping of the black tank into the wheeled tote. Misguided attempts to avoid filling it by minimal use of flush water only result in the construction of a "white mountain" of toilet paper in the tank below the toilet as our tank has hardly any depth in that area. If any grey water flowed into the tank it's fill quicker.

Sewage can be a hobby in itself.

-- Chuck

[Mr. October]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

OK. The imperative "should" (used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness) is not in the code.

For us, camping on a non-sewer site requires frequent dumping of the black tank into the wheeled tote. Misguided attempts to avoid filling it by minimal use of flush water only result in the construction of a "white mountain" of toilet paper in the tank below the toilet as our tank has hardly any depth in that area. If any grey water flowed into the tank it's fill quicker.

Sewage can be a hobby in itself.

-- Chuck

With just my wife and I we've never actually filled the black tank to capacity. One of the things I always like with having the bathroom sink drain to it is before dumping I would turn on the bathroom sink and add another 1/4 of water to it then let it slosh around good on the way to the dump station.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

With just my wife and I we've never actually filled the black tank to capacity. One of the things I always like with having the bathroom sink drain to it is before dumping I would turn on the bathroom sink and add another 1/4 of water to it then let it slosh around good on the way to the dump station.

Couldn't you accomplish the same by holding the flush lever/pedal open on the toilet?

[Mr. October]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Couldn't you accomplish the same by holding the flush lever/pedal open on the toilet?

I could. It was just nice to turn the faucet on and be off doing other pre-departure tasks while the sink ran. As mentioned, I'll get this fixed the way it is useful to me this fall.

[woo10-210]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

The code ALLOWS for one other drain to go to the black tank. It doesn't REQUIRE it.

The standard (NFPA 1192-2018) allows for one additional fixture when the waste vent is used as the drain for the fixture. It allows for two or more vented drains when at least one is wet-vented and each drain is separately connected to the top of the waste tank.

It has more to do with venting than anything else which goes back to cost. Your old lavy was sharing the vent with the waste tank.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

I could. It was just nice to turn the faucet on and be off doing other pre-departure tasks while the sink ran. As mentioned, I'll get this fixed the way it is useful to me this fall.

And that's really what counts.
Doesn't have to suit anybody else one iota!

[gbaldwin]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

I could. It was just nice to turn the faucet on and be off doing other pre-departure tasks while the sink ran. As mentioned, I'll get this fixed the way it is useful to me this fall.

A personal preference thing obviously for multiple reasons.... OP is experienced.... a warning to others.... "Off doing other pre-departure tasks while sink ran" .... I would rather use the toilet foot pedal than risk getting distracted and overflowing my black tank. Seen someone overflow their black tank (thru the flush) due to getting distracted and dump valve not opened. Same could happen here if adding to Black tank and leaving unattended.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

I could. It was just nice to turn the faucet on and be off doing other pre-departure tasks while the sink ran. As mentioned, I'll get this fixed the way it is useful to me this fall.

This can be dangerous. Lots of threads here about folks turning on their tank flush and then doing other "pre-departure tasks," and suddenly discovering a geyser coming out of their black tank vent. Or better yet, the DW decides to use the toilet and gets a very unpleasant shower.

[Dodge Guy]

Personally i would rather have the toilet by itself. When you have no hookups it’s nice to be able to get as much as possible out of the black tank. Gray tank is easy to deal with.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by Mr. October

RVIA Codes and Standards

RIVA means nothing . no codes to speak of for having a sink plumbed into the black tank .