Dumping RV tanks into home syptic system

[SteveAE]

For the five or 6 years that I have been RV'ing, for convenience, I would sometimes dump my tanks into my home septic system upon returning home. While I have felt pretty comfortable doing this, I have also wondered if there was any potential for damage (to my home septic system) from this practice. So, when the tanks were especially full, I would sometimes throttle the flow so as to only allow part of the tank(s) to dump at a time. Give it a moment or two to settle, then dump some more.

Today, when I had my septic tank pumped (I do it every 5 years), I took the opportunity to raise this question with the pumper.

I learned that IF chemicals are used in the RV holding tank AND this dumping is done frequently (i.e.; > 12 times per year), then over time, these chemicals will build up in the septic tank enough that they start to liquefy its contents. If the contents of the tank liquefy (they are supposed to separate; with solids at the bottom, water in the middle, and a scum layer on top), then this "slurry" makes its way past the outlet sanitary tee (located in the center of the tank and designed for only water to pass) and into the drain field. On the other hand, if this dumping only happens a few times per year (6 to 8), then it was his opinion that it "isn't likely" to cause a problem.

When I told the pumper that I don't use chemicals at all, he responded that I "can dump as much, as fast, and as often as I want". The inlet tee will slow down the flow so as not to cause turbulence in the septic tank and the contents will be digested by the natural process in the tank (not liquefied as the RV chemicals "eventually" do).

This made sense to me so I wanted to share it with the RV community.

Happy dumping.

[korbe]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

nevadanick wrote:
There are plenty of rv parks on septic systems.

Ding ding ding............winner chicken dinner :B

I don't use any chemicals but 1000's of RVrs do and dump daily into CG septic systems.
Doesn't appear to be an issue at the CGs

Not too long ago in our neck of the California woods, the county Health Dept. required a propsed RV Park to include a dump station in it's design. The dump station was a separate system and was only a holding tank for periodic transfer and disposal at the large regional sewage facility.

The RV park itself had an advanced design re-circulating sand filter disposal system that would not work with the formaldehyde chemicals found in some of the "black tank perfumes". The RV park was to ask anyone coming into the park to dump at the dump station first if they had any chemicals in their tanks.

[valhalla360]

Septic systems rely on bacteria breaking down the solids. The idea is that solids tend to float or sink, so the exit is designed to be around mid level with baffels to stop solids from reaching the exit.

Any chemicals that kill off the bacteria can create an issue but if it's once in a great while that you dump the RV, there probably isn't enough to kill them all off.

Turning it to liquid is exactly what a properly functioning septic tank should be doing. It's solids going out into the field that can plug things up.

[csamayfield55x]

yeah, had to go look it up. WE just use a good ol tank and leech field

Chris

[Old-Biscuit]

csamayfield55 wrote:
Been doing it for years and have never had an issue. We make sure no formaldehyde in our chemicals and let her rip. No need for any kind of a macerator pump, you don't use on for the house.

Only time we have ever had our septic pumped was the day we bought the house. Before that it was pumped when my mom bought it 15 years earlier.

I have never heard of a septic tank filter either

Chris

Septic Aeration Systems........
Use filters, an electric powered aerator and some have pumps

[csamayfield55x]

Been doing it for years and have never had an issue. We make sure no formaldehyde in our chemicals and let her rip. No need for any kind of a macerator pump, you don't use on for the house.

Only time we have ever had our septic pumped was the day we bought the house. Before that it was pumped when my mom bought it 15 years earlier.

I have never heard of a septic tank filter either

Chris

[Old-Biscuit]

nevadanick wrote:
There are plenty of rv parks on septic systems.

Ding ding ding............winner chicken dinner :B

I don't use any chemicals but 1000's of RVrs do and dump daily into CG septic systems.
Doesn't appear to be an issue at the CGs

[nevadanick]

There are plenty of rv parks on septic systems.

[2gypsies1]

Laundry water can be bad for a septic if you use the wrong kind of detergent.

[ChooChooMan74]

We were told our new septic had to be pumped every year or 2 (depending on usage) and clean the filter every 6months. Also told dumping the RV would not be an issue. I haven't yet, because I would have to blue tote the contents back there. But, I do have that option.

[Lynnmor]

I dump into my home septic system but never use chemicals containing formeldahyde on my way home. I also limit bleach as this will also kill off the beneficial bacteria.

[travelnutz]

Steve,

Been home septic tank dumping of our RV's for 26 years now and never a problem and only had it pumped out once during that time. Talked to my septic system people and the county health dept before adding the RV drain outlet and all they said was not to use any chemical with formeldahyde in it. Also said: "the worst thing for a septic system is using a power kitchen drain disposal flushing food into the septic tank as it causes an imbalance. Plates need to be scraped clean of food before rinsing off".

No steady dumping of the RV's into it per year as it varies so much. Might be 6 times one year and 16+ times the next year. Probably can have a detrimental effect in some cases as people and what they dump and/or the chemicals they use etc can or will vary so much. Thanks for posting the info as it's a heads up if it applies.

Steve, check your email in a few as I will send you a couple pics (got to get them off an older puter first) of my dump opening area, protective vehicle drive over cover both on and off pics.

[Allworth]

The cleanout on my system looks just like the sewer connection at an FHU RV park and serves the same purpose.

A couple of times a year isn't going to hurt the system or the drain field.

[RoyB]

I would use one of those Macerators FLOWJET portable pumps to pump my tanks into the home septic system...


My RV buddy down the road from me here uses his all the time. He runs the 3/4-hose into the bathroom window and lets it go down the toilet...

Roy Ken

[Rodz]

Been doing it for 20 yrs.

[DrewE]

Makes sense to me; the stuff that you dump from the RV, particularly if you don't use any tank treatments, is not any different than the stuff that goes from the house into the septic system.

A household bathtub will often hold 50 or more gallons, by way of comparison, so dumping the tanks from many RVs would not put a lot more sewage into the system at once than would taking a nice deep bath. Of course, both bathtubs and RV holding tanks come in a variety of sizes.