Using outside shower blue hose for black tank flush

[Wayne & Kimmy]

I'm looking for some thoughts and advice for using the outside shower blue hose for black tank flush. I have a separate hose that I have used for the flush, and it has worked well for me. But I saw a camper recently that had the blue hose hooked up the the flush. From a convenience standpoint, it seems like a great idea as he can just turn the water on without dragging out another hose, and could even introduce some hot water to the mix. I understand that there may be a drop-off in water pressure compared to being hooked directly to the faucet. My understanding is that the flush has a built-in back flow preventer which in theory should prevent potential contamination of the blue hose.

I welcome any thoughts from the forum!

[Helmsey]

Hmm, I haven't thought about doing that but sounds like a great idea. I'm curious to see other folks thoughts on this and if anyone around here has done it.

[prairiecamper]

Originally Posted by Wswkmw

I'm looking for some thoughts and advice for using the outside shower blue hose for black tank flush. I have a separate hose that I have used for the flush, and it has worked well for me. But I saw a camper recently that had the blue hose hooked up the the flush. From a convenience standpoint, it seems like a great idea as he can just turn the water on without dragging out another hose, and could even introduce some hot water to the mix. I understand that there may be a drop-off in water pressure compared to being hooked directly to the faucet. My understanding is that the flush has a built-in back flow preventer which in theory should prevent potential contamination of the blue hose.

I welcome any thoughts from the forum!

I have done it that way using the hot water, however without actually seeing inside the tank after flushing it's hard to tell how effective it really is! It did seem to bring out more crud with hot than with cold water.

[Old Bones]

Originally Posted by prairiecamper

I have done it that way using the hot water, however without actually seeing inside the tank after flushing it's hard to tell how effective it really is! It did seem to bring out more crud with hot than with cold water.

This is good to know. We are applying for a seasonal site this year and if we get it, one of my concerns was how I was going to flush the black tank. Usually the water spigots are too far away from the site to drag a hose to.

[dbarr]

When you dump your tanks at the dump station and you see the hose hanging from the pole...do you use it to fill your fresh water tank? Same thing.
Keep your fresh water and sewer water separated.
Yeah, I know there's a backflow valve on the flush but what happens when it fails?

[sherdep]

keep in mind this if it is a full hookups site

I always use a separate hose for the black tank flush which happens to be black so I know which is fresh and which is flush

I have a T type fitting on the end of my outside filter housing with back flow preventers on both sides. The campground also has a back flow preventer on there side as well.

after using the tank cleaner I turn the hose off with the valve on the y pipe to minimize any contamination and once I remove the black tank flush hose I run the water on the y pipe to flush it just in case and I never have the camper city water connected while doing this either.

I keep spare back flow preventers in my pack of stuff and wear blue latex disposable gloves when I dump or handle any thing that has to do with waste tanks.

if it is a site I have to dump at a dump station - its the same thing with the black hose for tank flush

[Kaadk]

Wife bought one of those x-hose things for the trailer. Since it's not rated for drinking water (like the white hoses) I use it for the black flush. Goes in the same storage compartment as the Rhino, which is in a completely different area than the white hoses.

I don't know how some people can put their sewer hose in the bumper, and then throw their elbows and things in the same storage as their fresh lines.