Can I dump in the curbside sewer?

It's a crime against nature, an affront to every decent human being,it chips away at the very foundation of civilization .
Oh wait-it's just soapy water.
Never mind,carry on.

azdryheat wrote:
Everyone's saying it's illegal but does anyone have an actual law the the OP could reference for his particular location?

Not needed, common sense.....

I think a lot of this has to do with WHERE you live. I won't argue that it is most likely illegal in most places but, the impact is not nearly as dire as most of you suggest. In my town, all of the storm drains are tied into the sewer system so all of the storm water gets treated at the local plant before it is released into our river.

Aside from the emotional argument I have little issue with releasing small amounts (very small) of gray (NOT black) water into the street. I always empty my tanks at a station after a camping trip. There are times when I am cleaning a sink or flushing the hot water tank that I will drain a gallon or two of "clean gray" water. I sleep just fine, have not been arrested and all the pets in the neighborhood still have the appropriate number of eyes, ears and tails.

And in my 33 years at my house I have cleaned more smashed squirrels off the pavement than I want to remember. It seems that the rain water than follows hasn't caused any big problems with water quality so I don's see my miniscule amounts of dish soap throwing nature's balance off......much.

If I lived near the coast where rain water drained directly in the ocean I would probably not do this. Of course if I lived where they dumped water that carried oil, animal remains and excrement directly into a river or ocean that would concern me more than the honest RV owner and his gray water.

Terryallan wrote:
No you can't run grey water into a storm drain. Although it would be no worse than the oil, antifreeze, paint, animal droppings, road kill, and other pollutants washed off of the road, and into the drain

However. I wonder how many "Country" folks here, Unknowingly have their grey water. That water from the washer, sink, and shower, Running down hill away from the house, thru a pipe with holes in it, and into a field way out back????? I bet more than you think. Many do this to avoid filling the septic tank. After all. It's only soapy water.

Funny you say that because my parents house still does that. And the house I bought was hook up to the town sewer that was put in ten years ago but the kitchen sink and the washer still drained too the Creek beside the house(creek got even this year tho it flooded my house and cause$11,000 of damage ) so needless to say I changed everything and it all goes to the sewer.

But to the op even if it was legal I wouldnt do it because it just would not look right. If you really want to drain at the house I would make a hook up in your basement and get one of those pumps.(can't rember what there called).

Some of the local COE parks have signs stating it is ok to dump gray water in the grass. You are required to use a 5/8 or smaller hose, cannot use your stinky slinky. People do it all the time. Some do smell soured, a small amount of bleach would fix that.

Not saying I agree or disagree just saying it is legal here.

That is not a sewer! It is for storm water and probably ultimately goes to a stream. Dumping anything other than storm run-off leads to ground water pollution.

I hardly think anybody's going to jail.

I think there are 2 issues at stake that are more important than the type of water involved. First, I'm 99% sure it is illegal. Second, what would your neighbors think? The black tank and gray water tank both empty out of the same trailer connection using the same stinky slinky. Your neighbor isn't going to know which you're dumping, and probably won't even know there is a difference in gray and black water. As far as they would be concerned, you're dumping your sewage into the storm drain.

It just seems like a VERY bad idea.

Why doesn't the OP call up his municipal offices and get the legal answer.

I am sure it is a very loud no.


Where we live i Ontario, we can not even run our sump pump water into the storm water drains. This is water that collects around the foundation.

I am shocked that people are saying that it is only grey water. These same people likely dump their grey water in the bush at parks.