Wastewater management question

[mjones12]

We were at a state campground with only a dump station. Near the end of our stay, our black tank was nowhere near full (we like it to be full when we dump it) and our gray was too full to allow us to take our final showers. So instead of wasting fresh water to fill our black tank, we took a bucket and filled it with gray water a couple of times and poured it down the commode. Two problems solved. But we are wondering if there is some problem with mixing soap and grease with the black water contents. We don't want to upset the ecology of the black tank and couldn't imagine how it would, but I'll bet there are people here who know more than I do about it. I'd appreciate some info.

[cfsoistman]

It's no problem. If you check out a few of the postings FR has piped the sinks in some model Georgetowns into the black water tank as well. I think some of the trailers will mostly have the same set-up.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by mjones12

We were at a state campground with only a dump station. Near the end of our stay, our black tank was nowhere near full (we like it to be full when we dump it) and our gray was too full to allow us to take our final showers. So instead of wasting fresh water to fill our black tank, we took a bucket and filled it with gray water a couple of times and poured it down the commode. Two problems solved. But we are wondering if there is some problem with mixing soap and grease with the black water contents. We don't want to upset the ecology of the black tank and couldn't imagine how it would, but I'll bet there are people here who know more than I do about it. I'd appreciate some info.

Well first of all you really shouldn't put grease down any of your tanks. If we have a pan with lots of grease I wipe it out with a paper towel to get it out before washing it in detergent. Just like a septic system at home the soaps will not do a lot of harm to things, there really is no "ecology" to a black tank on an RV unless you use the "biological" adatives. I have never used them as they just don't work well in my experience. I use the Theford "blue stuff" which is formaldahyde based and just melts the stuff in the black tank.

That said, I saw on one guys web site where he used an old RV water pump he had sitting around and taped into the grey tank down low, then plumbed it's output to the top of the black tank. He has a switch on the wall and can then just turn the pump on and transfer from his grey to his black just as much or as little as he likes.

To go one further for those with black water flush systems if you were to put a tee fitting between the tank and the check valve then you wouldn't even need to put a new hole in the black tank, just run the output of the transfer pump to that tee. You would be killing two birds with one stone, transfering your grey to the black and washing the black at the same time. You would of course want some kind of strainer on the pump line to keep particles from food out and possibly from plugging the nozzle on the flush system.

[mjones12]

Thanks, guys. Your replies were very helpful, and I did find the other thread that was mentioned about plumbing sinks to the black tank. We don't really put much grease down the drains except what can't be avoided while washing dishes. I guess a little bit has to be going down during dishwashing. Stuff like bacon grease, we put in the trash.

As I mentioned, this will solve a couple of problems for me in campgrounds without sewer connections at the sites: I can have a full black tank when I need it without wasting clean water, and I don't have to tote my blue tank to the dump station, just to have room for a couple more showers. Thanks for the information.

[powerboatr]

good idea


why didn't i think of it

i have been in the exact situation, leaving and not really wanting to do a portable tank walk of fame to the dump station.

i did once leave and go dump, then stopped in the parking area and took shower real quick

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by powerboatr

stopped in the parking area and took shower real quick

You weren't using the outside shower, were you?

[flyrotor]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

You weren't using the outside shower, were you?

Outside showers... what an awesome addition to our trailers! I love mine, I have a simple privy tent and I would prefer the great outdoors for showering

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

You weren't using the outside shower, were you?

nope didnt want to scare the wildlife

[KyDan]

My trailer has a single dump connection with 2 valves
next to it.
One valve dumps black water and the other valve dumps sink/shower water.
Once in a great while we manage to get the gray water tank
nearly full when we aren't quite ready to leave.
I leave the big cap on the dump fitting and open both valves.
The full gray tank will cross over and back fill the black tank.
I don't have to use a pump or bucket to "level" out the tanks,
just gravity.

My 2¢

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by KyDan

My trailer has a single dump connection with 2 valves
next to it.
One valve dumps black water and the other valve dumps sink/shower water.
Once in a great while we manage to get the gray water tank
nearly full when we aren't quite ready to leave.
I leave the big cap on the dump fitting and open both valves.
The full gray tank will cross over and back fill the black tank.
I don't have to use a pump or bucket to "level" out the tanks,
just gravity.

My 2¢

Then once the valves are closed and you remove the cap to dump don't you get a shower of ? from that fluid that is left below the slice valves

[cfsoistman]

I don't even like to open the cap when I know there's nothing there but once it's been used to transfer waste AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!.Wouldn't the black water tank liquids be heavier and resist the grey water or is that grey tank way above the black tank??? Sounds a bit strange and maybe smelly at best!

[KyDan]

I don't do this all the time but it does work.
I know my black tank is low because
A- I can step on the dump valve on the potty and look down
in the tank.
B- Nearly all parks in KY have flush toilets so our potty/black tank
just contains ...... er.... pee.

Mainly because my wife has a thing
about not using paper or plastic in the kitchen, we wash dishes
at least once a day. The gray tank gets a lot more use.

And yes there is a bit of splash out when I pull the cap but it's
dishwater/handwashing/toothbrushing water.
I use a lemon scented tank deodorant and so it's not bad.
I've been to dump stations where there was bits of toilet paper
and other chunky things around the drain!!
Our little splash of dishwater isn't gross smelling or looking.

If you want to use a bucket and hand carry gray water into the
john, that's fine with me!
I'm just offering an easier alternative.

I know some folks who wash dishes in a plastic dishpan just
so they can dump it down the john and not fill up the gray tank
so fast.

Different strokes......

Happy Camping!

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I don't do this all the time but it does work.
I know my black tank is low because
A- I can step on the dump valve on the potty and look down
in the tank.
B- Nearly all parks in KY have flush toilets so our potty/black tank
just contains ...... er.... pee.

Mainly because my wife has a thing
about not using paper or plastic in the kitchen, we wash dishes
at least once a day. The gray tank gets a lot more use.

And yes there is a bit of splash out when I pull the cap but it's
dishwater/handwashing/toothbrushing water.
I use a lemon scented tank deodorant and so it's not bad.
I've been to dump stations where there was bits of toilet paper
and other chunky things around the drain!!
Our little splash of dishwater isn't gross smelling or looking.

If you want to use a bucket and hand carry gray water into the
john, that's fine with me!
I'm just offering an easier alternative.

I know some folks who wash dishes in a plastic dishpan just
so they can dump it down the john and not fill up the gray tank
so fast.

Different strokes......

Happy Camping!

Thanks Dan. What is the lemon stuff you use? Might be interested in that.

When we dry camp we use only paper and plastic, have to, I just can't carry enough water to do a lot of dishes. I have also noticed that even on city water our toilet doesn't have a really good washdown to it so I am thinking of putting in a sprayer as I think it would do a better job and cut down on water usage.

My sewer cap has a hose fitting on the bottom of it so I can hook up a standard garden hose to it. If I could connect that to the black water flush port then I could transfer that way but I don't think the weight of the water in the grey tank would produce enough pressure to force it back up through that system. Would be nice to use the grey water in conjunction with the black water flush to transfer and clean the black tank though.

Anyone out there that designs RVs listening to this????

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by NWJeeper

Thanks Dan. What is the lemon stuff you use? Might be interested in that.

The stuff we use is called TST Grey Water Odor control.
It has the Camco RV logo on the label.
Wal-Mart has it in the RV isle. In fact I saw some on the
shelf today.
Yellow bottle with lemons on it!
4oz is supposed to treat a 40 gallon tank.
I put 4 in our 24 gal tank.
32 oz bottle goes all season for us.
Wife also uses lemon scent dish detergent so
it smells like a freeking lemon-aid stand when I dump!!
YMMV.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Wife also uses lemon scent dish detergent so
it smells like a freeking lemon-aid stand when I dump!!
YMMV.

LOL, You won't find me in line to buy your lemonade. Thanks Dan, I'll look for it next time we are there.

[KyDan]

TST also makes orange flavored er I mean orange scented black
water treatment. Found in the same isle at WallyWorld.