Conserving space in Gray Water Tank - Is this OK?

[seakayaker]

We're going to be staying at a campground where the dump station is more than a mile away. I really don't want to have to hook up the TT in order to dump gray water hallway through our stay.

Would it be reasonable, safe, good idea, etc...to dump 15 or 20 gal of gray water (5 gal at a time) into a bucket and then dump the bucket into the toilet? That would free up space in the gray tank.

I know we can do other things as well such as particular dishwashing strategies and showering at the "community shower".


Thanks!

[youroo]

Yes that will work to extend your "Dump Needs" and will help with "Black Tank" flush! Most people try to Limit water use in the Black Tank and this leads to Issues! Youroo!!

[llr]

I do that sometimes, just be sure to not spill inside the camper. Gray water can be a little nasty.

the extra black water in the tank is good for draining the black tank.

some people get a twist on gate valve, place it on the drain outlet, open the grey valve then open the black and let some grey into the black, then close the black and grey

[ependydad]

The plan will work, though, obviously you'll fill your black tank faster.

It's times like this that make me love my sewer bladder. A 1-mile drive is nothing for it.

[dahagen]

We wash dishes in a plastic tub that fits inside the kitchen sink, then dump the dirty dish water into the toilet.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by llr

I do that sometimes, just be sure to not spill inside the camper. Gray water can be a little nasty.

the extra black water in the tank is good for draining the black tank.

some people get a twist on gate valve, place it on the drain outlet, open the grey valve then open the black and let some grey into the black, then close the black and grey

That works for me but check to be sure your Black and Gray tanks are mounted at the same level, cause you want the gravity transfer to go gray to black AND DEFINITELY NOT VICE VERSA

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by dahagen

We wash dishes in a plastic tub that fits inside the kitchen sink, then dump the dirty dish water into the toilet.

Or the bushes. Showering outside in fair weather or tent campers pouring wash water in the bushes never upsets anyone but GOD FORBID someone dumps from the gray valve to the ground. You'd think the world had come to an end.

[JimMorrell]

You don't say where you are. In many places, its acceptable to SLOWLY dump grey water on the base of trees and bushes. Obviously, this won't be acceptable in an urban camp ground.

[rockfordroo]

If the campground has a bath house, dump it down the toilet there.

[bikendan]

Why not just get a blue tote tank?

[itat]

Originally Posted by Tom48

Or the bushes. Showering outside in fair weather or tent campers pouring wash water in the bushes never upsets anyone but GOD FORBID someone dumps from the gray valve to the ground. You'd think the world had come to an end.

I know what you're saying. When we had our Coleman popup I used to dump a small tub of dish water in the bush like dahagen suggested. That's usually not a problem. The difference with dripping your grey water is that you're dripping it directly on the ground on your site. Grey water contains some grease so it really shouldn't be dumped on the ground on your site and especially not in the fire pit.

I like the idea of dumping grey water in the black tank. We also now dump dish water into the toilet to conserve grey tank volume when we camp at electric-only sites. If you want to drain the grey water tank, it would be preferable to do what the OP suggests and either dump it in the bush in small qtys at a time or take it to a public toilet or dump it in your black tank.

[OscarsMom2]

The last time we camped without sewer the campground had sink water drains placed around each loop. I used dishpans for washing dishes and a small pan in the bathroom sink. When they were full, I just dumped them into the sink drains. We also used the showers at the campground bathrooms.

[PSU Turf]

Originally Posted by dahagen

We wash dishes in a plastic tub that fits inside the kitchen sink, then dump the dirty dish water into the toilet.

x2

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by dahagen

We wash dishes in a plastic tub that fits inside the kitchen sink, then dump the dirty dish water into the toilet.

Big 10-4 on this technique. I rinse grills and bulky cooking stuff that doesn't require suds at the outdoor shower. Cast iron griddle for example.

[chadande]

Many campgrounds around here will come around on certain days and pump out both your grey and black water tanks for a few bucks. Worth it to not have to worry about water usage. They usually call it the "Honey Wagon". lol

[Cypressloser]

I think we've done everything suggested at one time or another, it always depends on the situation.

[W5CI]

Get a long water hose and run grey water out on the ground at midnite if necessary. I had one COE camp host to tell me to do that.

[Kimber45]

Originally Posted by W5CI

Get a long water hose and run grey water out on the ground at midnite if necessary. I had one COE camp host to tell me to do that.

They told you to do it at midnight because most places would kick you out for dumping grey water on the ground.

I'm curious how long of a time frame the original poster is camping? If taking showers at the shower house how fast could one fill their tank? I could probably make it a month or more if not showering in my unit.

[ronnieapple]

We have a Micolite 25fks. It has 2 gray water tanks. One for the galley, and one for the bath. So far we have not had the full tank issue. Waiting to see if an extended stay will prove the need for a portable dump tank! We are still new to this, and have only stayed at one cg where there was not an on site sewer connection. They also had no water connection, and I had to fill the freshwater, gallon by gallon! not a big deal. I had a Southwind Class A in the 90's I lived in, and parked on a private space. I ran a hose that i dumped the gray water all the time, and lots of flowers grew where it emptied out. This was in the desert in AZ. I still had to disconnect and drive the rig to a dump site for the black tank, about twice a month.

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by JimMorrell

You don't say where you are. In many places, its acceptable to SLOWLY dump grey water on the base of trees and bushes. Obviously, this won't be acceptable in an urban camp ground.

Inour State Campgrounds which are mostly in fairly wild environments I usually dump my grey water into the environment. It waters the vegetation at times when it is getting little and does no harm since it is basically water with a little soap.