Gray water dump

darsben wrote:
California Health & Safety Code
Defininition of Graywater
17922.12. (a) For the purposes of this section, "graywater" means
untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet
discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or
unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat from
contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating
wastes. "Graywater" includes wastewater from bathtubs, showers,
bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs,
but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.

On my coach the dishwater and shower go into the gray water tank. So NO dumping in California and if you do, you will be fined.

First find out if its legal. Second, if it is and I dump it, will others be affected by the smell. If you pass the first two then I may dump, however I always make sure I have enough gray water left over to flush my black water which I dump at a proper location. Grey water does smell, but after it soaks in and drys on the surface I have never had a issue with odor.

If we fill our gray water and at a spot that does not allow us to dump it I have a shut off valve attached to the main outlet of the discharge pipe. I simply have it closed, open the grey, then the black and let gravity push some of the grey water into the black water tank. This has helped me get by a few days until I find a dump station.

The below info is from the Dodge Ridge campground rules and regulations. Dodge Ridge is within the Stanislaus National Forest and which are both within the State of California.

"Do not use water faucets for anything other than getting water. No washing allowed!  Utility sinks are provided at restrooms for washing dishes only. All bathing must be done at the shower facility located by  the store. Fish cleaning can only be done at the marina fish cleaning station. Draining RV or trailer waste water onto the  ground is prohibited. Catch gray water (no sewage ) in a container and spread across the forest floor or in bushes. Do not  dump all gray water in one area. An RV dump station is located one mile west of Pinecrest off HWY 108. Dispose off all  refuse/trash into garbage dumpsters and deposit recyclable items into a green recycle bin."

chuckftboy wrote:

crabbin cabin wrote:

mikim wrote:
If you are in an established campground this is not cool as the smell can be strong. If you are boon docking then I would say do it as it is environmentally friendly.

Oh?? Then why does the federal EPA classify ALL grey water as hazardous waste?? Look it up on their web site.

Do NOT do it, please.

The key word here is EPA. I think they would regulate swimming pool water as hazardous waste if they thought they could get away with it.

Direct quote from the EPA website:
"Another type of recycled water is "gray water". Gray water, or gray water, is reusable wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial bathroom sinks, bath tub shower drains, and clothes washing equipment drains. Gray water is reused onsite, typically for landscape irrigation. Use of non toxic and low-sodium (no added sodium or substances that are naturally high in sodium) soap and personal care products is required to protect vegetation when reusing gray water for irrigation."

seattlefirervr wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

seattlefirervr wrote:
It constantly blows my mind that campgrounds allow this. My best guess is that it's irrigation for them. Anyone that thinks this is ok, with exception of an outside shower or separate gray water shower (separate from galley)dump, is insane. Gray water, most often, smells just as awful as black, I believe it's pure laziness that you would think dumping this on the ground is acceptable. They have portable tanks for sale if you fail to conserve. Use them.

Insane? Really?

Absolutely, maybe we all should just dump our garbage cans in the camp site too before we leave.

That would be insane!!!

darsben wrote:
CAL. HSC CODE § 117555 : California Code - Section 117555 -
http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/cacode/HSC/1/d104/13/4/6/s117555#sthash.VPZjwyBb.dpuf

Then try the above;
However some people will find excuses for poor sanitation practices any time they can.

I looked and that does not apply to the conversation either.

The way I look at it is that if I won't drink it, I don't dump it.

crabbin cabin wrote:

mikim wrote:
If you are in an established campground this is not cool as the smell can be strong. If you are boon docking then I would say do it as it is environmentally friendly.

Oh?? Then why does the federal EPA classify ALL grey water as hazardous waste?? Look it up on their web site.

Do NOT do it, please.

The key word here is EPA. I think they would regulate swimming pool water as hazardous waste if they thought they could get away with it.

msmith1199 wrote:

seattlefirervr wrote:
It constantly blows my mind that campgrounds allow this. My best guess is that it's irrigation for them. Anyone that thinks this is ok, with exception of an outside shower or separate gray water shower (separate from galley)dump, is insane. Gray water, most often, smells just as awful as black, I believe it's pure laziness that you would think dumping this on the ground is acceptable. They have portable tanks for sale if you fail to conserve. Use them.

Insane? Really?

Absolutely, maybe we all should just dump our garbage cans in the camp site too before we leave.

Also been to parks in the past decade that encouraged using gray water to help their plants grow. Had a 67 model Terry TT that had no holding tank. Valve was there to hook up black to sewer system but gray just poured onto the ground. All by design. Only a 18 foot unit so not a Park Model. Was a long time ago and much has changed environmentally speaking. Have learned to take "sailor showers" when not hooked up. Don't boon dock but might do what neighbors are doing if it were legal.