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Old 08-27-2016, 01:17 PM   #1
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Can I drain my tanks into my sewer clean out at home?

I have a sewer clean out pipe that is y'd off my sewer line in my backyard.

Can I drain my tanks into that, if we boondock with no dump facilities?
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Old 08-27-2016, 01:20 PM   #2
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I have a sewer clean out pipe that is y'd off my sewer line in my backyard.

Can I drain my tanks into that, if we boondock with no dump facilities?
Sure you can, but I would check with your town first. Unless it's a septic system. I know in my Town if you get caught dumping into the Town sewer it's a big fine...
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Old 08-27-2016, 01:21 PM   #3
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Yes you can do that. A lot of people use the cleanout to dump in situations where they've boondocked with no dumping facilities.

If you're on a public sewer you may want to check with utility to make sure they're ok with it.
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Old 08-27-2016, 01:25 PM   #4
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Yes you can do that. A lot of people use the cleanout to dump in situations where they've boondocked with no dumping facilities.

If you're on a public sewer you may want to check with utility to make sure they're ok with it.
Cool, thanks. I'll ask, it's a public sewer.
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Old 08-28-2016, 01:27 PM   #5
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Many places do not meter the amount of sewage that you dispose of. Instead they bill you by a percentage of the amount of your water usage. If this is the case the locals will probably tell you you can't dump into the sewer. If the cleanout is in the backyard, who would know?
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Old 08-28-2016, 01:45 PM   #6
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Many places do not meter the amount of sewage that you dispose of. Instead they bill you by a percentage of the amount of your water usage. If this is the case the locals will probably tell you you can't dump into the sewer. If the cleanout is in the backyard, who would know?
Agree. I'd rely on forgiveness before being told no.
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Old 08-28-2016, 01:52 PM   #7
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Besides, if you were sitting (pun intended) at home, wouldn't you be useing the sewer line anyway?
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:04 PM   #8
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Just use it, don't ask for permission. It's not like your bringing someone else's waste water home and dumping it into the sewer. If you were home instead of camping you would be using the sewer system and truth be known you probably dump more when you are camping than not dump. It seems to me the city owes you
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:05 PM   #9
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Most sewer is metered by the amount of water you use but if its your sewer on your prop. it is yours to use. You dont get a discount if you water your garden, lawn or flowers unless you have a seperate sprickler meter.
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:08 PM   #10
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Just use it, don't ask for permission. It's not like your bringing someone else's waste water home and dumping it into the sewer. If you were home instead of camping you would be using the sewer system and truth be known you probably dump more when you are camping than not dump. It seems to me the city owes you
If your sewer bill is based on your water usage, then you have not paid for something you did not use and you may get a no. If that is the case, tell them you filled your water tank at home so the usage was metered.
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:08 PM   #11
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Besides, if you were sitting (pun intended) at home, wouldn't you be useing the sewer line anyway?
The answer is yes, but when you flush the toilet, the water meter runs. The sewer charges are based on water usage and is much more than the water charges itself. If dumping 30-40 gallons of waste, that's not documented on the water meter. It would be classified as theft of services. To prove it, the untility would have to have proof as to the extent. That said, I would ask for forgiveness rather than permission-unless you have a really nasty neighbor.
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:11 PM   #12
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I do it, never had a problem.

I live in a town where the water is metered not the sewer. As a matter of fact I had a town employee at the house yesterday while I was emptying and she said nothing. As has been mentioened earlier, I would check with the city first if yuo are still questioniong your decision.
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:13 PM   #13
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If you have an aeration septic system

Just a thought for those that do not have a traditional "Sewer".

If you have an aeration septic system you may want to check the chemicals that you put into your rv tanks as they might change or kill the chemical balance of the tank at home.

Safe travels...
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:13 PM   #14
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Would the packages of chemicals or enzymes we add to the toilet water impact the city sewer system? That would be my only concern at all. It may be no issue, but as I was reading this, it came to mind.

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Old 08-28-2016, 02:19 PM   #15
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The answer is yes, but when you flush the toilet, the water meter runs. The sewer charges are based on water usage and is much more than the water charges itself. If dumping 30-40 gallons of waste, that's not documented on the water meter. It would be classified as theft of services. To prove it, the untility would have to have proof as to the extent. That said, I would ask for forgiveness rather than permission-unless you have a really nasty neighbor.
Well I assume when the OP dumps his tanks that he will then back flush it which will make the water meter run and will probably use as much water flushing the tanks as flushing the toilet. No theft.

Plus when you water your yard or fill your pool or drink a glass of water or wash your RV/TV/car it does not go down the sewer but you still get a sewer charge for it. You are not stealing anything.
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:20 PM   #16
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Would the packages of chemicals or enzymes we add to the toilet water impact the city sewer system? That would be my only concern at all. It may be no issue, but as I was reading this, it came to mind.

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I would not think so. If it was a problem then you could not dump at a campground. Most of them are hooked to the city sewer system.
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Old 08-28-2016, 02:31 PM   #17
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I do.

The Water and sewer folks have driven by several times while I had my 3 inch PVC strung across the yard. They never once stopped.

Heck, it's my water and sewage and I already pay for both.

I don't get a sewer refund when I water my yard ...
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:22 PM   #18
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Be sure to use the correct clean-out. My lines have two, one toward the house and one toward the street (sewer line). You don't want to use the one toward your house.
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:28 PM   #19
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Answer seems pretty easy. Do it at dark, I doubt many sewage inspectors room the dark streets looking for people using a RV waste hose at night!
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Old 08-28-2016, 03:29 PM   #20
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Well I assume when the OP dumps his tanks that he will then back flush it which will make the water meter run and will probably use as much water flushing the tanks as flushing the toilet. No theft.

Plus when you water your yard or fill your pool or drink a glass of water or wash your RV/TV/car it does not go down the sewer but you still get a sewer charge for it. You are not stealing anything.
A person walks into a convenience store, picks up two candy bars, puts one in their pocket and pays for one. It is still theft. Emptying the tanks and then flushing them with paid for water/sewer is the same thing. The key is proving it or if it is worth proving.

What a person does with metered water/sewer uses is the residents option. People filling a pool will generally get a permit exempting the pool fill from sewer charges.

Some utilities are pretty stringent on policies, some are more lax. The community we lived in was extremely stringent. There were several incidents where a resident received a bill in the thousands of dollars for a month's usage (not exaggerating). They didn't fill a pool nor change their normal use-sometimes only a widow/widower living in the house. There was historical data showing typical household usage up to that billing. There was no explanation for the excessive use on the meter and the utility claimed the meter was working properly. Any reasonable person would side with the resident. Yet, the utility demanded full payment-no matter the cause. The most common cause was a corroded copper water line that started to leak under the pad. This is one of the reasons we recently sold a home that had pending sewer. We are on a well with better quality water than they could ever provide and a septic system. The septic is pumped and inspected every 5 years-cost $125 plus a monthly electric bill.
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