Grey Water Dumping

I've been at campgrounds in California where not only is it permitted they actually have signs requesting that you dump it on trees in the campground. I can't speak for every state, but there is no general law in California prohibiting grey water dumping. There would be rules specific to campgrounds and I would never dump in a campground that didn't specifically permit it, but I have dumped on the ground when boon docking. I bet if people actually checked the wording of the laws they claim exists, most states probably do not have a broad law against dumping grey water, but instead it would be location specific.

Cousin_Eddie93 wrote:

gen5honda wrote:
I am a California Class A rv desert camper. We often dry camp for 7-14 days. I use a sewer cap with garden hose thread, attached to that is a 1/2 black hose that is zipped tied to the frame and dumps the grey water very close to the ground by the inside rear tire.

Grey water has no smell if you do not hold it. The ground is not wet because it absorbs faster than we use it. When dry camping the valve is open. I close it a day or two before heading off to have grey water to chase the black at the dump station.

Agreed, I use a 25' garden hose with adapter fitting on the grey water cap. It drains as its used whe boondocking at a private campground that allows it so long as it's drained Into the woods away from the sites. Never smelled it once.

X2. It is important to remember these comments and a few others in this thread. Do not hold your grey water. A constant trickle under the rig is best. In my favourite summer primitive campground the dry forest mat absorbs the grey very quickly.
There are many tenters that share this beautiful place too. Portable showers and sinks abound.

We volunteered in a national park. It had many water faucets by the roads for folks to fill up a jug of water. There were puddles at these faucets constantly.

We were asked to dig down about 1-1/2' under each faucet area; remove the rock and dirt and refill with clean dirt and topped with rock.

To those that say grey water soaks in the ground without smell, I invite you to do what we did.

We removed layers of grease, hair, toothpaste and garbage that wasn't decomposed. Yes, it smelled terribly. It took us months to do this nasty job.

Even though there was a sign at each faucet saying "please don't wash hair, wash dishes or brush teeth at these faucets", be assured that people don't think the signs are meant for them.

Subjecting the next camper after you to park in the spot that you dumped your **** is very inconsiderate.

gen5honda wrote:
I am a California Class A rv desert camper. We often dry camp for 7-14 days. I use a sewer cap with garden hose thread, attached to that is a 1/2 black hose that is zipped tied to the frame and dumps the grey water very close to the ground by the inside rear tire.

Grey water has no smell if you do not hold it. The ground is not wet because it absorbs faster than we use it. When dry camping the valve is open. I close it a day or two before heading off to have grey water to chase the black at the dump station.

Agreed, I use a 25' garden hose with adapter fitting on the grey water cap. It drains as its used whe boondocking at a private campground that allows it so long as it's drained Into the woods away from the sites. Never smelled it once.

I am a California Class A rv desert camper. We often dry camp for 7-14 days. I use a sewer cap with garden hose thread, attached to that is a 1/2 black hose that is zipped tied to the frame and dumps the grey water very close to the ground by the inside rear tire.

Grey water has no smell if you do not hold it. The ground is not wet because it absorbs faster than we use it. When dry camping the valve is open. I close it a day or two before heading off to have grey water to chase the black at the dump station.

RoyB wrote:
I have been to few places where it is permissible...

CLOUDLAND CANYON State Park in Trenton GA is one and they have one of these GRAY WATER pour points at the beginning of each site road...

Generally speaking it is permissible in the NATL FOREST areas unless posted NOT TOO do it..

I have seen a few of these in the NATL FOREST BAck roads as well...


Roy Ken

I haven't been there in a few years but they used to have gray water dump receivers (like at Cloudland) at FDR State park In Pine Mountain, GA. They were at many of the individual sites. Looked like a French Drain (Big hole filled with large aggregate gravel). Worked well.Not sure if they are still there.

Dumping grey water was legal in US about 30 years ago, but "green" clicked in and I don't think any regular campground will allow it.
Here in California we are encouraged to dump household grey water into the garden.
It is easy on lot of houses with outside clean out for kitchen sink. You just open clean out, push a clog down the pipe and divert the overflow over your vegetables.
My father had it running for 30 years, but couple years ago with wet winter the moisture start attracting termites under the house.
The deal is that grey water has to flow immediately after the use.
If you catch it in the tank, in 2-3 hr bacteria start to grow and it become hazardous waste.

In some CG's you can't dump grey but can use the outside shower. At one CG had a twenty something female do the shower right then and there, then her mother, that was not as pleasant. I will say the were from out of country and did not have our hangups. But I didn't look. GOTTA bridge too.

LEN

Whether it is allowed or not "please" remember that gray water STINKS. Don't care if it is you shower water, dish water or whatever it STINKS.

And full of bacteria! Some good, some not so good.

Grey water should never be dumped indiscriminately on the ground. Only dumped at places where it is specifically allowed, which rare.

old guy wrote:
as mentioned above grey water stinks.

That's why you only do a little at a time. :)

I boondock/dry camp a lot around here, and everywhere I go I can easily fill a garbage bag or two with litter. Beer cans, water bottles, scraps of paper, plastic shopping bags...and if I picked up cigarette butts I'd never stop.

Not to justify gray dumping, but litter is way more offensive to me.