Water for electric only locations

I've been told that the only thing that is not illegal to dump on California highways is feathers. I did not verify this information.

I actually agree that grey water dumped or dribbled onto the ground in remote areas or even well-dispersed campgrounds poses no environmental threat whatsoever (black water? Hmmm...not gonna go there, especially for those that use chemicals). I'm just stating the fact that it CAN lead to hefty fines. At Glamis, you are prohibited from dumping grey water (BLM rules), even though you are camping in the desert, in sand dunes. Of course, BLM also requires spark arrestors on ALL BLM land, even in the desert and sand dunes where there is nothing to burn. It is easier for them to have one blanket set of rules to cover every area, rather than specific rules for specific areas. A friend received a $300 fine for dumping grey water, even though we all know that it was actually not harmful in any way, and he was in fact "dribbling" it slowly into a hole in the sand.

At one time, it was legal to dump your grey water while traveling down the highway in CA; not sure if that's still the case. And of course, the "no grey dumping" rule doesn't apply to small camping trailers that do not have a grey tank, nor does it apply to tent campers. I've been told that the difference is that once the grey water is held in a tank, "stewing" so to speak, it changes the dynamics (at least legally).

GordonThree wrote:
During dispersed camping I leave the gray valve open and drain through an old garden hose to a spot several feet behind the RV.

Never had an issue with odor, bugs or flooded ground.

Just how much gray water do the folks who are worried about it generate?

My comments above were concerned with folks waiting to drain the gray until they had several days worth of grey water and then dumping "in bulk". I think the way you do it is fine as it's no more at a time than a tent camper would dump.

During dispersed camping I leave the gray valve open and drain through an old garden hose to a spot several feet behind the RV.

Never had an issue with odor, bugs or flooded ground.

Just how much gray water do the folks who are worried about it generate?

I've heard it suggested to dig a hole a foot or so deep, then drain the grey tank slow enough to avoid over-topping the hole, and once it soaks in, replace the dirt. No chance of odors, no grease or food particles on the surface to attract bugs, etc.

Grit dog wrote:
Just providing options in the "right" conditions. Ive found that if you're in "civilization" that water sources and dump sources are plentiful. But when you got the camper un hooked 50 miles from the nearest 1 horse town, 40 gal of dishwater on the ground is the best option.

A friend's chinook pees. There is no grey or black tank, so when she uses the sink (there is no toilet), the water comes right out from underneath. That amount of water at a time is negligible.

If I needed to dump my grey tank while camped at a campground (not boondocking), I would do a little bit at a time like that. I wouldn't do all 20 gallons (or more) at once - even going into the bushes. Whether I go into the bushes doesn't mean no one does. The dog smelling or seeing something, or a thrown ball or frisbee, and you're wading through a marsh that you can't see due to the bushes.

Just providing options in the "right" conditions. Ive found that if you're in "civilization" that water sources and dump sources are plentiful. But when you got the camper un hooked 50 miles from the nearest 1 horse town, 40 gal of dishwater on the ground is the best option.

4x4van wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Regarding grey water, if you're not in a crowded or populated campground, just dump it, if you're in the woods. A little shower water and dish water never hurt anything. Where do you think the campground sewer goes? Not to a treatment plant.....

I have drained grey, while out in the desert boondocking, but never in a campground regardless of how crowded or uncrowded it is. Grey water can stink even worse than black water, since it has food and skin particles in it and sits, "stewing", without chemicals in the tank. But more importantly, depending on where you're at, dumping grey water on the ground can get you a pretty hefty fine.

I knew this post would generate a little feedback, so let me explain......I'm not talking about flooding the grass in the middle of the KOA with month old dishwater. Besides any fhu campgrounds rv parks typically have dump stations. Yeah that's gross and very cousin eddy...ish.
However, if in more remote camp grounds (where we camp pretty much exclusively), 3 or 4 days worth of dish water and bath water doesn't stink, If you use SOAP. Little garden hose run off into the bushes where no one will walk thru it and some dry ground to soak it up is no harm no foul.
So yeah, boonie docking or remote ish campgrounds, I say no problem.
How many dump at home? Not talking a week long taco eating contest full black tank! but a black tank flush, dump out the gray water.....I do. My dogs, and the deer and elk poop and pee all over the yard, so same difference.

Grit dog wrote:
Regarding grey water, if you're not in a crowded or populated campground, just dump it, if you're in the woods. A little shower water and dish water never hurt anything. Where do you think the campground sewer goes? Not to a treatment plant.....

I have drained grey, while out in the desert boondocking, but never in a campground regardless of how crowded or uncrowded it is. Grey water can stink even worse than black water, since it has food and skin particles in it and sits, "stewing", without chemicals in the tank. But more importantly, depending on where you're at, dumping grey water on the ground can get you a pretty hefty fine.

I carry the water but water does run out before the waste tanks are filled. When needed I carry 350' of that flat hose to reach the central spigot without moving the trailer. Has worked very well in Yosemite and Furnace Creek. Although generally we are back on the move before the fresh water runs out and dump/fill as we roll.