Dumping grey water

[thehippie]

Is there no problem dumping grey water on the ground in campgrounds?


My grey water doesn't have food particles or grease. It's only hand soap, or dishwashing soap.

[Nvr2loud]

hohenwald48 wrote:

thehippie wrote:
Is there no problem dumping grey water on the ground in campgrounds?


My grey water doesn't have food particles or grease. It's only hand soap, or dishwashing soap.

It's not allowed in any campgrounds I've ever been in and is illegal in most locations. Even though it's not real "dirty" it does have particles of fecal matter and food from washing dishes, showers and such. As a result, it will attract various kinds of wildlife and that can be a serious problem in some locations. Think lions and tigers and bears oh my!

Plus, if everyone did it we would be talking tens of thousands of gallons of gray water at a camp site every year.

It is permitted here, but I would be shocked to see anyone do that anymore. I've dumped grey water before with biodegradable soap only, but I would hate to dump soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, grease, food particles, ect.

[beemerphile1]

firstime rver wrote:
Wife and I used to do a lot of tent camping.. Most of the time there was nor problem. We did come across some sites that smelled to high heaven from the grey water dumped at the site.. For example, after some cooked bacon eggs for breakfast, they should have at least carried the grey water some distance into the woods away from the site before dumping.. water from boiled vegetables wouldn't have been nearly be so bad.

Just a tip,that shouldn't be going into a waste tank. We always use a paper towel to wipe plates and pans before washing.

[firstime_rver]

Wife and I used to do a lot of tent camping.. Most of the time there was nor problem. We did come across some sites that smelled to high heaven from the grey water dumped at the site.. For example, after some cooked bacon eggs for breakfast, they should have at least carried the grey water some distance into the woods away from the site before dumping.. water from boiled vegetables wouldn't have been nearly be so bad.

[dave54]

LarryJM wrote:
Everytime I read one of these grey water threads I get a great chuckle out of them. We lived in Monterey, Ca back in the late 70's and during one of the first major draughts around 76 you wouldn't believe what was recommended for recycling various household grey water waste such as using sink, bath tub, washing machine, etc. water to water outside plants/gardens and to flush toliets with, etc. One recommendation that we got into the habit of doing and still do today is not to flush after every #1 use, but wait until about 5 uses or so to flush ... old habits are hard to change once you have developed them and see there is little harm and a lot of benefits in them.

Oh how what was O.K. and encouraged at one time have changed 😉

Larry

We are more aware of the impacts now, plus there are a lot more people now. One time dumping gray was OK because there were so few people boondocking the soils and streams could handle it. Now the more popular boondocking sites have another person pulling in 5 minutes after you leave. The environment cannot process the accumulation. It is like the old Chinese proverb "No single raindrop feels responsible for the flood".

[CavemanCharlie]

Yes, using gray water at home in the garden or for flowers is a wonderful idea. But, at a campground right on the ground next to your neighbors camper is not.

[profdant139]

We use gray water in our garden fairly often -- we have an outdoor shower (as well as two indoor showers), and we collect the outdoor shower water and put it on the plants. No problem -- the plants seem to enjoy it.

But I would not do this in a campground (or while boondocking). Even if it is supposedly good for the plants, it is against the law and is rude to the other campers.

[LarryJM]

Everytime I read one of these grey water threads I get a great chuckle out of them. We lived in Monterey, Ca back in the late 70's and during one of the first major draughts around 76 you wouldn't believe what was recommended for recycling various household grey water waste such as using sink, bath tub, washing machine, etc. water to water outside plants/gardens and to flush toliets with, etc. One recommendation that we got into the habit of doing and still do today is not to flush after every #1 use, but wait until about 5 uses or so to flush ... old habits are hard to change once you have developed them and see there is little harm and a lot of benefits in them.

Oh how what was O.K. and encouraged at one time have changed 😉

Larry

[thehippie]

wildtoad wrote:

RV daytrader wrote:
I think the OP is just kidding!...I cant imagine anyone really dumping their gray water at a campsite.

You would be surprised. I have seen it happen several times in state parks where someone would open the grey valve and just let it go. I have also seen folks try to be sneaky and hook a garden hose to the end cap and just let it drain under the MH, or into a nearby bush, or under their gray tote (not into it).

ive seen a TT last yr they opened their black tank at night so no one wud see them. They dump their feces and pee to the ground .

[beemerphile1]

In private campgrounds where lots are purchased, I've seen many owners install a dry well. You dig a hole and bury a 55 gallon drum which is perforated. Fill the drum with gravel and then cap. The gray water then runs into the barrel and leaches out into the surrounding soil.

[Jayco23FB]

Has anyone made a filter to make gray water better for the environment?
I met a TT camper a few years ago that had a two step filter he used. The first was a PVC device filled with sand the second was a filter unit used for lawn sprinklers. This he had filled with activated charcoal. According to him, when he was done filtering he put the sand and charcoal in the fire pit and the fire took care of the filtered badness. He said it filtered slowly but the water was clean when it came out. Seemed like a good idea.

Also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co1VxdXUbSs

[americanrascal]

I thought I was told gray water discharge is a violation of the Federal Clean Water act and is subject to some rather severe penalties? (although I have never seen anyone police this in a camping area)

We have camped in campgrounds that provided french drain/nitrification pits for gray water which I thought was novel and helpful.

[tralertrash]

Just a little different perspective, my son lives in a rural area and they direct ALL of the gray water to daylight. County approved, inspected.

[Murphsmom]

Some of the state parks we have stayed at have catchment basins for gray water. They usually have a mesh covering over a concrete pipe. We wash our dishes in plastic tubs (usually outside, but inside if the weather is bad) and then dump the water in the designated spot.

[CavemanCharlie]

I didn't read all 4 pages of this thread. But, as said it is illegal and not allowed by the parks in my area. Also, the water would make the ground squishy / slippery and attract more bugs. Sure, when it rains this happens too but, why make the ground wet when you don't have too.