Gray water: tenters dump it, so why can't I?

[profdant139]

First, we don't dump anything on the ground. Period. It is illegal, and that settles it for me.

But -- here is the issue -- SHOULD it be illegal in all settings? Tent campers certainly do dump gray water. And I don't think that there are any rules about it. There are surely no rules while backpacking -- and only in a very few crowded places (like Mt. Whitney) do backpackers have to carry out human waste. (That has to be an unpleasant chore, I would think.)

So here is my thought -- why is it impermissible for RVs to dump gray water into a deep hole while boondocking? What is the difference? We actually have less of a total impact than backpackers, who do not have black tanks.

If we could dump gray water while boondocking, that would extend our ability to camp for several additional days. Fresh water can easily be carried in with our truck, on an as-needed basis with jerry cans, whenever we go out for the day to a trailhead or whatever. And the black water tank takes a long time to fill. The gray water tank is usually the limiting factor.

In any event, the Forest Service is not likely to change the rules, so I suppose I should just give up. (Insert mildly grumpy face at this point.)

[Hybridhunter]

Meh. Where legal, it goes into the ground. Note I didn't say on to....
The only effect I have ever personally experienced from random gray water dumping of others, was greener vegetation.
But regardless, I still keep it out of sight, out of mind. I think that is the key.

[MM49]

billkaufmann wrote:

LenSatic wrote:
I was told by both BLM and FS rangers that draining the gray is fine. You just need to spread it around so as not to create a puddle. We carry a 50' gray water hose and water the plants as needed. 😉

LS

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The night is your friend
MM49

[gatorcq]

We wash dishes just like tenters do and release the water just like tenters.

What goes in our grey tank does not come out till we arrive at a dump.

[EsoxLucius]

The solution to pollution is dilution. If one is in an area of highly concentrated campers dumping gray water is problematic. If one is out in the boondocks with few, if any or no neighbors, then disposing of gray water in a properly constructed dry well-like pit can be accommodated by the environment. The problem is most people don't know how to assess their situation and do the prudent thing.

[DesertFront]

I go remote, boondocking and I pack in everything and pack out everything, tent, trailer, backpack, I don't care what, I pack it out and dump it in a proper disposal site, it ain't that big of a deal to do it right.

[rocmoc]

Spoke to the BLM in Price, Ut today. We have an upcoming trip to San Rafael Swell and we wanted to know what their policy was with regard to gray water, could we dump. Response was our policy is haul out what you haul in. Simply if you haul in 30 gals of water, haul out the 30 gals in what ever condition the 30 gals assumes. Don't dump. Asked what about tenters, response was our policy is to haul out what you haul in. Would not address the difference!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[RespondingBack]

"Whining like the OP"??? Speaking as the OP, I'm "questioning" or "asking" or maybe "gently grumbling." There is a huge difference between that and whining -- at least a whole octave!

(By the way, just a point of netiquette -- inquiry into inevitably-controversial areas is not enhanced or encouraged by ad hominem commentary. I know of several lurkers who have been dissuaded from participating due to the occasional flame, which is a loss to everyone. The other consequence of incivility is that flamers sometimes discover that their own subsequent comments are sometivmes treated with disrespect, which is also unfortunate.)

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OP, I applaud your response. Patient, reasoned, and explanatory.

I usually figure that the responses will include posts questioning motives, negatively characterizing poster, dismissing original post/thread as unimportant, etc. And probably does discourage folks from posting. But sometimes there are gems.

[pnichols]

ah64id wrote:
I dug a 6" hole this weekend and let it drip all weekend long, we probably went thru 30 gallons of fresh.

There was never more than 1" in the hole and nothing that wasn't biodegradable, cover the hole and go on your way.

There ya go ... the voice of reason.

(Of course it unfortunately takes a reasonable person to act reasonably!)

[AH64ID]

I dug a 6" hole this weekend and let it drip all weekend long, we probably went thru 30 gallons of fresh.

There was never more than 1" in the hole and nothing that wasn't biodegradable, cover the hole and go on your way.

[beemerphile1]

Redsky wrote:

...a 30 gallon holding tank for an RV that contains all manner of chemicals and cleaners...

Size of the holding tank is irrelevant. I don't think anyone advocates puling into a spot with a full holding tank and dumping it.

I open the valve when we first set up camp and close it again when we leave. I also move the hose from bush to bush on occasion. We never dump a large amount at one time.

We don't use "chemicals" that are any different than the tenters.

It wasn't all that long ago that most RVs didn't have gray tanks. Gray water was expected to be dumped directly on ground. Many popup campers still don't have gray tanks, probably truck campers also.

[profdant139]

"Whining like the OP"??? Speaking as the OP, I'm "questioning" or "asking" or maybe "gently grumbling." There is a huge difference between that and whining -- at least a whole octave! 😉

(By the way, just a point of netiquette -- inquiry into inevitably-controversial areas is not enhanced or encouraged by ad hominem commentary. I know of several lurkers who have been dissuaded from participating due to the occasional flame, which is a loss to everyone. The other consequence of incivility is that flamers sometimes discover that their own subsequent comments are sometimes treated with disrespect, which is also unfortunate.)

But back to the topic: after all of the discussion (some of which has been civil and constructive), I am persuaded -- although the gray water of a tenter and the gray water of an Rver are the same, an RV probably generates more gray water because we have a shower. The tenters take sponge baths or do without. So based on volume alone, there is a difference.

The other interesting thing to emerge in this thread is that there are areas where gray water dumping is permitted. I had thought it was forbidden everywhere.

Having said all of that, I have never dumped, and I don't intend to start.

[2gypsies1]

Redsky wrote:
Amazing that this question can even be asked. A tent camper is only going to have the gray water from washing dishes and that is going to be a gallon at most and most campers know not to use regular dish soap.

How can you compare that to a 30 gallon holding tank for an RV that contains all manner of chemicals and cleaners?

There are however designated "primitive" camping areas where only self-contained RV's are permitted to stay overnight as the people managing these areas do not want even the possible 1 gallon of gray water per campsite going into the ground.

All of this comes down to being a responsible member of society, something that is talked about but few people seem able to walk the talk or to do so without a lot of whining like the OP.

Right on!!!!

[billkaufmann]

Desert Captain wrote:
Don't try dumping anything on the BLM land surrounding Quartzsite. This is a big No-No which is enforced with significant fines. :C

Knowing that area, it makes sense.

[billkaufmann]

LenSatic wrote:
I was told by both BLM and FS rangers that draining the gray is fine. You just need to spread it around so as not to create a puddle. We carry a 50' gray water hose and water the plants as needed. 😉

LS

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