Dumping Tanks in an Empty Full Service Site

[ronny7800]

Last week I was staying in a full service site in a national park. The park has hundreds of sites, only about a third of which are full service. The rest of the park shares 2 dump stations which are always lined up in the morning.

Each morning, though, I witnessed people pull into empty full service sites, dump their tanks and move on.

Thoughts on this? A good idea & something you would do? Or potentially creating a mess the next user has to deal with?

[dodge_guy]

I don’t see an issue. In fact I’ve done it before. The only thing you’re not doing is parking their and using it for days. Just dump and go. Just like a dump station.

[toedtoes]

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
....The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer....

Well said!

I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

And that is their choice. Just because you don't agree with why doesn't mean it can't be their answer.

So in that case individual circumstances has nothing to do with it, it's just their "Choice". That's fine by me (their park, their rules); but I bet they'll lie about the reason for it.

And I'll make you another bet, the vast majority of the parks dumping down one hole ends up in the exact same spot as dumping down any other hole in the park.

They are basing it on their individual circumstances. Just not the circumstances that YOU deem acceptable. And if they lie about why they make their decision, that's their choice.

And who cares where it goes. It's their park, their system, their choice.

You're turning this into a "how dare they tell me no" argument. It doesn't matter their reason. FHU sites aren't built to provide dumping for folks not parked in those sites. If the park let's you do it, then yippee. If they don't then you go wait in line like everyone else and quit whining. If you don't want to wait in line then dump at home or only get FHU sites.

I have nothing more to add except I like to see how many responses that have many multiple quotes-in quotes within quotes we can get. But I am enjoying the conversation.

Just for you d3500ram... 🙂

[toedtoes]

troubledwaters wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
There may actually be a business reason behind having customers stand in line and wait for the dump station. Maybe the next time those same customers will value their time more than the few bucks extra it costs to rent a full hookup site...

This is the real basis of your point of view. All the stuff about drain fields, percolation tests, and multiple dumps in rapid fashion was just smoke and mirrors. It was all about the few extra bucks next time.

You didn't even read what he wrote. You pulled out what you could make fit your opinion and stopped there.

He said they stopped allowing people staying at nearby dry campgrounds from coming in and using his dump station, water, and showers. That the added income they paid wasn't worth the increased traffic, inconvenience to HIS customers, etc.

If dumping quickly onsite is important to you, then pay for a FHU site. Don't expect everyone else to deem your time as more important than everything and everyone else.

Otherwise, follow the park's policies or go dump somewhere else.

[troubledwaters]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
There may actually be a business reason behind having customers stand in line and wait for the dump station. Maybe the next time those same customers will value their time more than the few bucks extra it costs to rent a full hookup site...

This is the real basis of your point of view. All the stuff about drain fields, percolation tests, and multiple dumps in rapid fashion was just smoke and mirrors. It was all about the few extra bucks next time.

[westernrvparkow]

Tom/Barb wrote:
In areas that freeze, I can see posting that certain sites can not be used when the possibility of the sewage drain is not going to work.
But just making rules that certain sites can't be used because you didn't pay a few cents, Seems to me to not be very customer friendly. Those cap grounds would rather see their customers stand in line and wait.

There may actually be a business reason behind having customers stand in line and wait for the dump station. Maybe the next time those same customers will value their time more than the few bucks extra it costs to rent a full hookup site.
We eliminated all outside dumping, water fills and showers for non guests years ago. Mostly because it was a great inconvenience, both to our employees and our guests, but also because we decided it is not in our financial interest to make staying in the primitive state and federal campgrounds near us easy. We get requests from those campers to allow them to pull into a full hookup site to dump and fill water tanks all the time. The answer is always a firm "sorry, but we do not allow it". The added traffic and activity is not fair to the paying guests. If that means those people have to drive 30 miles to empty their waste tanks, fill their water tanks or take a hot shower, so be it. And I bet the next time they plan on visiting the area they will remember that trip to the dump station and consider renting one of our full hookup sites instead.

[JRscooby]

troubledwaters wrote:
I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

I don't see how the CG makes more money off folks setting in line, unless they are selling snacks. Now if a mess is left at FHU site, it would be nice if it was put in the computer, and charge accordingly next trip.

[d3500ram]

toedtoes wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
....The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer....

Well said!

I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

And that is their choice. Just because you don't agree with why doesn't mean it can't be their answer.

So in that case individual circumstances has nothing to do with it, it's just their "Choice". That's fine by me (their park, their rules); but I bet they'll lie about the reason for it.

And I'll make you another bet, the vast majority of the parks dumping down one hole ends up in the exact same spot as dumping down any other hole in the park.

They are basing it on their individual circumstances. Just not the circumstances that YOU deem acceptable. And if they lie about why they make their decision, that's their choice.

And who cares where it goes. It's their park, their system, their choice.

You're turning this into a "how dare they tell me no" argument. It doesn't matter their reason. FHU sites aren't built to provide dumping for folks not parked in those sites. If the park let's you do it, then yippee. If they don't then you go wait in line like everyone else and quit whining. If you don't want to wait in line then dump at home or only get FHU sites.

I have nothing more to add except I like to see how many responses that have many multiple quotes-in quotes within quotes we can get. But I am enjoying the conversation.

[toedtoes]

troubledwaters wrote:

toedtoes wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
....The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer....

Well said!

I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

And that is their choice. Just because you don't agree with why doesn't mean it can't be their answer.

So in that case individual circumstances has nothing to do with it, it's just their "Choice". That's fine by me (their park, their rules); but I bet they'll lie about the reason for it.

And I'll make you another bet, the vast majority of the parks dumping down one hole ends up in the exact same spot as dumping down any other hole in the park.

They are basing it on their individual circumstances. Just not the circumstances that YOU deem acceptable. And if they lie about why they make their decision, that's their choice.

And who cares where it goes. It's their park, their system, their choice.

You're turning this into a "how dare they tell me no" argument. It doesn't matter their reason. FHU sites aren't built to provide dumping for folks not parked in those sites. If the park let's you do it, then yippee. If they don't then you go wait in line like everyone else and quit whining. If you don't want to wait in line then dump at home or only get FHU sites.

[Jebby14]

sewer cleanout in my driveway for the win!

[troubledwaters]

toedtoes wrote:

troubledwaters wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
....The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer....

Well said!

I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

And that is their choice. Just because you don't agree with why doesn't mean it can't be their answer.

So in that case individual circumstances has nothing to do with it, it's just their "Choice". That's fine by me (their park, their rules); but I bet they'll lie about the reason for it.

And I'll make you another bet, the vast majority of the parks dumping down one hole ends up in the exact same spot as dumping down any other hole in the park.

[4x4van]

BillyBob Jim wrote:

For those who think its acceptable, I hope you show up at a full hook up site you reserved and it's trashed with toilet paper remnants among other things, because of it's use as a high volume dump station prior to your arrival.

Those who "trash" a dump station are just as likely to "trash" a full hookup site while camped, and vice versa. The OP never claimed that the people using the FHU site to dump were in any way trashing the site.

I've never considered doing it; actually never seen it or thought about it. If there is a long line and I want to get on the road, I'll haul my chit home and dump later at a local campground dump station (for a fee). But ultimately, it is up to the campground owner to decide.

[toedtoes]

troubledwaters wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
....The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer....

Well said!

I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

And that is their choice. Just because you don't agree with why doesn't mean it can't be their answer.

[troubledwaters]

d3500ram wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
....The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer....

Well said!

I agree with this. Unfortunately, many parks will make that decision base upon revenue stream, not practicality/facility limitations.

[d3500ram]

toedtoes wrote:
....


The truth is that each park should be able to allow or disallow dumping at FHU sites according to THEIR individual circumstances.

Do not assume it's OK to do because you saw it done somewhere else, or another park told you to do it.

Ask the individual park and abide by their answer.

...

Well said!

[Lantley]

WTP-GC wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:

Apparently you have no comprehension regarding septic systems. That 3" or 4" pipe leads to a holding tank and all the solids settle to the bottom and the liquids flow thru perforated 1 inch pipes into the drain fields. To determine how much area those perforated pipes must cover the engineer performs a percolation test. They then use a formula that takes the percolation performance and the amount of liquid anticipated to determine the size of the drain field. Far exceed that liquid amount and the liquid doesn't seep into the ground and instead forms pools of waste water on the surface. As I previously posted many parks have several septic systems and the systems tied to full hookup sites are designed to process that waste, not the waste of multiple dumps in a rapid succession.

One of the interesting parts of this thread is very common throughout the forum in general: people believe certain things to be universal in nature. And this comment above is extremely indicative of that mindset.

As a matter of fact, I've spent my entire career, over many years, designing, building, expanding and consulting with people about their sewer systems. Don't make the mistake believing that your onsite treatment system in Montana is equitable to every other campground out there (as your comment suggests). The description of your system is different that every other system I've been involved with, so...

If it makes you feel any better we have those same drain field systems in Maryland. MD is a long way from Montana somehow drain field technology made it this far.