Grey Water Dumping

[kidkasha]

I often wonder is dumping Grey Water permitted in campsites, if so where. I have never done it but I am curios

[Mile_High]

msmith1199 wrote:

Mile High wrote:

timmac wrote:
This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

In addition to it being gross, I believe when it is near waterways the phosphates in the soaps can harm the marine life.

When I had a boat, prior to my RV, it did not have a gray water tank. It had a shower sump with a pump in it. Everything that went down the drain in the sink or shower was immediately pumped overboard and this was, and is, completely legal.

Not necessarily:

Is the discharge of boat waste really a problem?

Most of the areas where boats congregate (harbors, anchorages, and marinas) are naturally sheltered and semi-enclosed. Therefore, these sheltered areas also are not flushed as well as more open waters. The end result is that most pollution that we put in these areas ends up staying there. Bacteria, chemicals, and nutrients contained in human waste from boats can overload small, poorly flushed waterways and cause local water quality problems. Disease carrying bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can enter the water through the direct discharge of boat waste. Direct threats to human health can arise through ingestion of contaminated water or consumption of fish or shellfish that have ingested these pathogens. Scientists have shown there are more bacteria in the untreated waste discharged by one boat than in the treated wastewater discharged by a small city!

What Does New Hampshire Law Say About Boat Discharges?
The following was taken from New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, 1992, Titles 48-50 Conveyances to Water Management & Protection, Chapters 447-487. Butterworth Legal Publishers
487:1 Definitions. As used in this chapter.

I. "Boats" means any vessel or watercraft whether moved by oars, paddles, sails or other power mechanism, inboard or outboard, or any other vessel or structure floating upon the water whether or not capable of self locomotion, including but not limited to house boats, barges and similar floating objects.

II. "Division" means the division of water supply and pollution control, department of environmental services.

III. "Graywater" means galley, bath, and shower water.
IV. "Marine toilet" means any toilet on or within any boat as that term is defined herein.

V. "Sewage" means human body wastes and graywater, plus wastes from toilets, sinks, showers, and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body wastes or graywater.

VI. "Waters of this state" means waters classified, or unclassified, as defined in RSA 485-A.

487:2 Restrictions on Marine Toilets. No marine toilet on any boat operated upon waters of the state shall be so constructed and operated as to discharge any sewage into said waters either directly or indirectly, nor shall any sewage or container of sewage be placed, left, discharged, or caused to be placed, left, or discharged in or near any waters of the state by any person at any time whether or not the owner, operator, guest or occupant of a boat; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall prohibit such discharge to a municipal sewerage system or to any adequate sewage disposal system on shore.

487:3 Restrictions on Sinks and Showers. No sink or shower on any boat operated upon the fresh waters of the state shall be so constructed or operated as to discharge any graywater into said waters either directly or indirectly.

Just one example - not completely legal as you say. Boats may be getting by on open oceans, but the harbors are a problem. Now just think about how a tiny boat impacts the giant ocean, then think about a giant waste tank pouring down a high country brook. Have to keep it in perspective.

[msmith1199]

Mile High wrote:

timmac wrote:
This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

In addition to it being gross, I believe when it is near waterways the phosphates in the soaps can harm the marine life.

When I had a boat, prior to my RV, it did not have a gray water tank. It had a shower sump with a pump in it. Everything that went down the drain in the sink or shower was immediately pumped overboard and this was, and is, completely legal.

[Kayteg1]

timmac wrote:
This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

I love to swim and did swim in waters where seeing your own hand was consider clean water.
Always wonder about all that Salmon poop we are swimming with 😉

[J-Rooster]

My gray tank follows the black tank when draining. I never just dump my gray tank outdoors no matter how clean it is! Could be harmful to the environment.

[Mile_High]

Stormy Eyes wrote:

Mile High wrote:

timmac wrote:
This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

In addition to it being gross, I believe when it is near waterways the phosphates in the soaps can harm the marine life.

I believe almost all detergents and soaps are now non-phosphate. In many places, it may be difficult to buy one with phosphates.

That could be, I haven't kept up with it.

[Stormy_Eyes]

Mile High wrote:

timmac wrote:
This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

In addition to it being gross, I believe when it is near waterways the phosphates in the soaps can harm the marine life.

I believe almost all detergents and soaps are now non-phosphate. In many places, it may be difficult to buy one with phosphates.

[Mile_High]

timmac wrote:
This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

In addition to it being gross, I believe when it is near waterways the phosphates in the soaps can harm the marine life.

[timmac]

This is funny when I was just in Cali at Joes Landing next to the river at a campground with all grass, 30 amp and water only I did dump my grey water on the grass that needed water anyways late at night, no other campers around me and all was OK the next morning, such a pain to move the motorhome for just shower water.

Its really not that gross and what's the harm, the animals pee in the river that we drink from anyways..

:E

[rockhillmanor]

Sorry you guys from California...there are many cgs that allow and even encourage dumping your grey water on the ground. Collins Lake, which is a man made reservoir near Sacramento is one. Their CG is right along the shore. Call the ranger and ask...you, like I was, will be surprised at their answer.

Oh boy right next to a lake? Yum like I would like to swim in a lake where everyone is dumping their gray tanks into it. :R

My guess is the EPA doesn't know these private CG's are doing it.

WHY if there are 4 dump stations at this CG on the way out and they also have a service for pump outs why on earth would they 'suggest' you dump it along side a lake???

rvparkreviews excerpts for Collins Lake:

....my site did not have sewer, but they have 3 dump stations on the way out

....Free dump stations (4) when exiting park or you can pay for putouts.

....Grey water dumping is common. :H

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/california/oregon-house/collins-lake-recreation-area

[2gypsies1]

In reading about Collins Lake in California it seems there are 4 disposal sites and a tank pump-out service and yet they let people dump on the ground? The reviews also state rules aren't enforced, security is lacking, dog waste all over, including on the beach, loud, wild parties.

Yep...sounds like the perfect place.

[Mile_High]

I thought I could sneak one off with the gray after dark about 10 years ago because the, using a hose. Holy buckets did that stink. I stunk bad enough I almost wanted to leave myself and it lasted for days.

Whether its legal or ethical, or whatever, the common courtesy in myself won't ever allow me to do that again. Takes about 30 minutes to bring in the slides, raise the jacks, and go dump properly.

[msmith1199]

Executive wrote:
Sorry you guys from California...there are many cgs that allow and even encourage dumping your grey water on the ground. Collins Lake, which is a man made reservoir near Sacramento is one. Their CG is right along the shore. Call the ranger and ask...you, like I was, will be surprised at their answer.....Dennis

But I read on the Internet it was illegal! It must be true if it's on the Internet, that's the law, I read that on the Internet too.

[msmith1199]

2gypsies wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
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.

Gray water from kitchen sinks is not allowed to be dumped in California:

https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/water/pdf/recycled/graywaterflyer.pdf

Thank you for proving my point. You posted a link about systems in a regular house and your law is the Plumbing Code. That's going to apply to houses, not RV's.

[Tvov]

kidkasha wrote:
I often wonder is dumping Grey Water permitted in campsites, if so where. I have never done it but I am curios

I assume you mean at a campsite without a grey water drain?

Because there are many campgrounds in New England where they have grey water drains at each campsite. These are simply white PVC pipe in the ground that lead to a gravel filled hole in the ground. Usually the PVC pipe is too small a diameter to match a stinky slinky, but easy to use with a garden hose for draining grey water. Combined with having water at the campsite, very convenient as you can then take nice showers without worrying about over filling your grey tank.

Otherwise, ASK at whatever campground you are at. Just because you see someone else doing it doesn't mean it is allowed.

I agree with those who say they don't want to set up a TT in a spot where the previous camper drained their grey water - even if it was "just dripping".