Hi all
We are setting off on our trip around Australia next week and was thinking about fitting a grey water tank underneath the van.
After looking at some of the van sites around Australia, there are quite alot of self contained only!!!
After chatting to a guy at Bunnings yesterday, he said self contained means your own fresh water, toilet, Which we have, but no waste water, our waste water goes on the floor!!
Would like to know your views on this, do I fit a waste water tank or is it ok to leave it as it is????
Have a great weekend and safe travels
Troy & Kim
mezza56 said
07:48 AM May 6, 2017
Hi Tadau
Part of being self contained is taking everything out that you take in , I got a 90 l tank off an older van and retrofitted it under our van
havent had much use of it to date , but in some cases you wont get past the gate.
Better to do the right thing by the environment I reckon , if you imagine a free camp with thousands of people floating thru and all dropping their
grey water there has to be a build of of chemicals in the environment .
rockylizard said
07:50 AM May 6, 2017
tadau68 wrote:
Hi all We are setting off on our trip around Australia next week and was thinking about fitting a grey water tank underneath the van. After looking at some of the van sites around Australia, there are quite alot of self contained only!!! After chatting to a guy at Bunnings yesterday, he said self contained means your own fresh water, toilet, Which we have, but no waste water, our waste water goes on the floor!! Would like to know your views on this, do I fit a waste water tank or is it ok to leave it as it is???? Have a great weekend and safe travels Troy & Kim
Gday...
Given your 'research' of the sort of places you are likely, or want, to stop at, then you have little option it would seem.
Install a grey-water holding tank. This may assist -
Many places now require it, and will NOT allow buckets under drains.
So the message is there IMHO.
Dougwe said
11:07 AM May 6, 2017
Hi Troy and Kim, if you do a search in the 'search' box in the thick blue line above there will be heaps of chit chat about your very same question. Well worth a search.
AlanP said
11:12 AM May 6, 2017
Definately fit a waste water tank.The Bunnings guy is no expert! So many places will require no dropping on the ground. In many places, it will be obvious that you should retain your waste water for later disgard. I often think of when I walked through a drop of spag bog, or watched a washing up spout all the way to my rig - neither pleasant! Alan
brickies said
11:18 AM May 6, 2017
If you install a Grey water tank make sure your drains have S Traps installed . to stop the smell from the storage tank.
AlanP said
11:31 AM May 6, 2017
Re smell - just keep the waste on board for the time it takes to find an appropriate place to drop it - does not have to be a dump point. A little detergent or toilet blue in the tank will take care of smells. Alan
rockylizard said
11:55 AM May 6, 2017
brickies wrote:
If you install a Grey water tank make sure your drains have S Traps installed . to stop the smell from the storage tank.
Gday...
Or have one of these installed at the time the grey-water tank is fitted.
Coupla Cheaper but efficient Alternatives to a "tank".
Make up 1 long or 2 shorter lengths of 6in sewer pipe, with end caps to suit. If 2, coupla elbows and short length of that dia to join. Fit Under sink in galley. Make up a drain line from there to ground. with outlet tap.
Put a Y, T, piece in line from sink. One side, normal outlet to ground. Other leg to "tank" you made. Use either, Accordingly.
No 2. 20\25 ltr water carrier\Jerry can. Couple up to end of T.Piece to suit.
I use an old 25ltr Outboard tank in their place.
They. or anything else you can think up\have, will do.
Some of us will have this stuff kicking around the shed. Just remember to get a small pot of Green pipe glue to stick 'em with.
Enjoy.
OH.
Anybody handy with a welder and can run decent Stainless.
I have assortment of S\S plate in shed. was going to make another or two tanks,
but can't use welders anymore.
Coming past here. Drop in and it'll cost you a "mars Bar"
or packet of Licorice Allsorts.
Bought in Sailing says. some been ther 30 yrs.
But all a mix of new Polished 316ss.
And ex internal cladding from Commercial shop freezers.
See Welders for sale..
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 6th of May 2017 12:42:27 PM
macka17 said
12:31 PM May 6, 2017
PS. You CAN install a longer length of sewer pipe UNDER the van. If easier and more room. Sink direct to it. and drain tap, From, it on or off. If I'm running standard drain on any sites.
When departing. First step after uncoupling things. and b4 winding up legs. Is run water tap to one end of it. and let water run through for a while B4 storing it. = NO Smells.
I normally hang it over corner of boat rack to drain first.
After flushing.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 6th of May 2017 12:32:43 PM
dazren said
01:47 PM May 6, 2017
Your going to get lots of idea's on here, some make sense, and some will not, ! almost all the campspots that state ''Fully Self Contained only '' have usually had some input [ or interference ] some might say, ! from the CMCA, and need to be to the Guidelines set out by them ? I have done two '' Half Laps '' over the last 2 years, for total of around 40000 klm, I had an Portable grey water tank that I took with me, IN TOTAL for both trips I used it 4 times, because it was REGULATION -- and I used it another 3 times not that I had to, but just because it was the right thing to do, in the circumstances ! -- This is the type I have They ARE an Approved type by the CMCA. and they come in 20 - 25 - and 40 liter and are on wheels, I carry mine in a plastic bag and it fits nicely behind my spare wheel on back caravan bumper, Hope this assists your decision in some way, all the best, and Happy safe travels !https://outbaxcamping.com.au/new-portable-water-tank-storage-wheel-camping-motorhome-caravan-waste-transport?gclid=CNeHzrOq2tMCFUt9vQodjwEIIw
darjak said
03:09 PM May 6, 2017
AlanP,
Do U realise after 11hrs of holding it in a tank it is classed as a toxic substance so is supposed to go in a dump point.
In 10+yrs fulltime on the road have never had the call to use a waste tank.
Darrell
mezza56 said
04:15 PM May 6, 2017
THXS ROCK LIZ HAVEN'T SEEN THE HEPVO VALVE BEFORE I'M GOING TO ORDER ONE TODAY .
YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU DONT KNOW.
Tony Bev said
05:02 PM May 6, 2017
What I have found is that a lot of dump points in the free camps, have no water, within that camp
When I know that I am going to use one of these dump points, I always leave some shower water, in the waste water tank, to assist with any pre/after, cleanup
Thanks to darjak for the below snip
Do U realise after 11hrs of holding it in a tank it is classed as a toxic substance so is supposed to go in a dump point.
Dave Glenelg told me this a few months ago at Greens Lake, he mentioned that after a day, shower waste water is classified as black water
This was something I was unaware of, up to that time
Hylife said
05:40 PM May 6, 2017
Half lap last year and virtually zero caravan parks (up the middle and across the west), will have sullage/waste water drains, unless they use a crushed gravel sites.
They actually WANT you to put your water on the ground, and under the trees and bushes. It is the only way they can keep their lawns and plants alive during the dry.
Just keep the food scraps out of the sink water and go easy on the soaps, shampoos and detergents, and there is no smell, and mind you don't use so much water that it flows onto your neighbours site.
When free camping I usually dig an appropriately sized hole under the outlet pipes, as a sump, and let it soak into the ground, then I fill it in when I move off. That way the next camper gets a dry site instead of a muddy one.
If however you are considering some of the 'slow to wake' up towns that are starting to realise that the value of free camp sites means there is more available funds to be spent in the local shops, then some of those are just gravel car park sites an those may or may not require a holding tank, but we found most will accept a bucket so long as it doesn't overflow.
tadau68 said
10:44 PM May 6, 2017
Thanks for all your replies. You've all been a great help and I will be fitting a tank over the next 2 days. Thanks again!!
Have a great day and safe travels
Troy and Kim
JayDee said
09:47 AM May 7, 2017
We installed a tank and in our current travels which now exceeds over 7 months, it is still a virgin. Could fill it with drinking water, as we have never been challenged re this issue,
Jay&dee
Mike Harding said
01:47 PM May 7, 2017
Many years ago in another place I would bury a 44 gallon drum (with holes cut in it) about 4' below ground level and run the black and grey water pipes into that - this was desert country so the absorption was good.
What I plan to do (when I live in a van permanently) and when camped in bush for a few weeks is to run a grey water hose 15m or so to something bucket sized (with holes) buried 300mm+ and when I leave dig it up and either dump it or wash it out and reuse.
Anyone see issues with that?
rockylizard said
02:17 PM May 7, 2017
JayDee wrote:
We installed a tank and in our current travels which now exceeds over 7 months, it is still a virgin. Could fill it with drinking water, as we have never been challenged re this issue, Jay&dee
Gday...
JayDee - I have been travelling full-time for eight years .. entering the ninth now.
I have no grey-water tank and have yet to stay in a camp that has had restrictions. I do carry a 15ltr drum with hose to connect to van's sullage pipe "just in case" but have yet to use it.
I doubt, given the places I travel to and through, I will ever need a grey-water tank in my lifetime ... OH ... it might be a short lifetime
However, given Tadau68's initial post where their research has shown them that the majority places they would be interested in staying DO have grey-water restrictions it is definitely in THEIR interest to install, and, I assume, use it.
Cheers - John
the rocket said
03:44 PM May 7, 2017
Depends where u want to stay. We have been in caravan parks, showgrounds, sportsgrounds, free camped for over 2 years. Have not needed a grey water tank yet. And if we do we will use a bucket with a screw top lid to use until we get to somewhere to empty it.
brickies said
06:37 PM May 7, 2017
We are in our 10th year on the , Always used a bucket to collect waste sink water waste and water plants or tree with it , Never hard any problems now carry a 15 lt screw top drum if it is needed and yet to use it , If every ask to move on would do so , If it became a problem I would use caravan parks , I think having grey water tanks would be a real problem if the waste was discharged in a legal way .
PeterInSa said
07:59 PM May 7, 2017
No way would I fit an Onboard/under floor Grey water tank in a caravan. A tote Tank is the way to go, depending on how good your back is settle for a 20lt/30lt/40Lt unit and maybe a trolley. Onboard is OK for a Motorhome or a Campervan, you can drive to the dump point. With a caravan and Tote tank just put it into the tug and drive to the dump point (or walk as the case maybe), leave the caravan in situ. ie similar to emptying the onboard toilet cassette.
Consider.... like some motor homes that do not have cassette toilets, they hook up hoses to there Black water tank and pump out/drain out to the dump point. To me the Grey Water tote along with the Toilet cassette are a lot more convenient. Note have spoke to some motorhomers with big rigs, who have not 1 but up to 3 cassettes for the extended stay between dump points.
The CMCA now accepts Tote Tanks for vans, campervan and MH's at their overnight sites.
Peter
rockylizard said
08:14 PM May 7, 2017
Gday...
The CMCA might accept tote tanks ... but there are some sites that members have mentioned on here where the 'ranger' has came around to actually check that there is an actual grey-water onboard tank ... AND that the tank has a 'seal' (closed tap for instance) so that grey-water CANNOT be discharged except at a dump point.
Perhaps SOMEONE will read this thread who knows whether I have got the gist of previous info correctly ... or got the bull by the proverbials agen.
cheers - John
Dunmowin said
08:56 PM May 7, 2017
In six years permanently on the road, we have managed with a 20litre dedicated jerry can for the rare times when we are required to collect our grey water. Have never been challenged by a ranger to this point. Our jerry can would be classed as a tote
Tote is a manufactured container suitable for the external/temporary collection of grey water.
Hi Tadau
Part of being self contained is taking everything out that you take in , I got a 90 l tank off an older van and retrofitted it under our van
havent had much use of it to date , but in some cases you wont get past the gate.
Better to do the right thing by the environment I reckon , if you imagine a free camp with thousands of people floating thru and all dropping their
grey water there has to be a build of of chemicals in the environment .
Gday...
Given your 'research' of the sort of places you are likely, or want, to stop at, then you have little option it would seem.
Install a grey-water holding tank. This may assist -
http://www.candm.com.au/managing-grey-water/
http://www.doityourselfrv.com/rv-grey-water-versus-rv-black-water/
Cheers - John
Many places now require it, and will NOT allow buckets under drains.
So the message is there IMHO.
Gday...
Or have one of these installed at the time the grey-water tank is fitted.
http://hepvo.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QV6drbFbK0
http://www.northcoach.com.au/hepvo-40mm-self-sealing-waste-valve/
Cheers - John
Coupla Cheaper but efficient Alternatives to a "tank".
Make up 1 long or 2 shorter lengths of 6in sewer pipe, with end caps to suit.
If 2, coupla elbows and short length of that dia to join.
Fit Under sink in galley.
Make up a drain line from there to ground. with outlet tap.
Put a Y, T, piece in line from sink.
One side, normal outlet to ground. Other leg to "tank" you made.
Use either, Accordingly.
No 2.
20\25 ltr water carrier\Jerry can. Couple up to end of T.Piece to suit.
I use an old 25ltr Outboard tank in their place.
They. or anything else you can think up\have,
will do.
Some of us will have this stuff kicking around the shed.
Just remember to get a small pot of Green pipe glue to stick 'em with.
Enjoy.
OH.
Anybody handy with a welder and can run decent Stainless.
I have assortment of S\S plate in shed. was going to make another or two tanks,
but can't use welders anymore.
Coming past here. Drop in and it'll cost you a "mars Bar"
or packet of Licorice Allsorts.
Bought in Sailing says. some been ther 30 yrs.
But all a mix of new Polished 316ss.
And ex internal cladding from Commercial shop freezers.
See Welders for sale..
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 6th of May 2017 12:42:27 PM
PS.
You CAN install a longer length of sewer pipe UNDER the van.
If easier and more room.
Sink direct to it. and drain tap, From, it
on or off.
If I'm running standard drain on any sites.
When departing.
First step after uncoupling things. and b4 winding up legs.
Is run water tap to one end of it.
and let water run through for a while B4 storing it.
= NO Smells.
I normally hang it over corner of boat rack to drain first.
After flushing.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 6th of May 2017 12:32:43 PM
Your going to get lots of idea's on here, some make sense, and some will not, ! almost all the campspots that state ''Fully Self Contained only '' have usually had some input [ or interference ] some might say, ! from the CMCA, and need to be to the Guidelines set out by them ? I have done two '' Half Laps '' over the last 2 years, for total of around 40000 klm, I had an Portable grey water tank that I took with me, IN TOTAL for both trips I used it 4 times, because it was REGULATION -- and I used it another 3 times not that I had to, but just because it was the right thing to do, in the circumstances ! -- This is the type I have They ARE an Approved type by the CMCA. and they come in 20 - 25 - and 40 liter and are on wheels, I carry mine in a plastic bag and it fits nicely behind my spare wheel on back caravan bumper, Hope this assists your decision in some way, all the best, and Happy safe travels !https://outbaxcamping.com.au/new-portable-water-tank-storage-wheel-camping-motorhome-caravan-waste-transport?gclid=CNeHzrOq2tMCFUt9vQodjwEIIw
Do U realise after 11hrs of holding it in a tank it is classed as a toxic substance so is supposed to go in a dump point.
In 10+yrs fulltime on the road have never had the call to use a waste tank.
Darrell
THXS ROCK LIZ HAVEN'T SEEN THE HEPVO VALVE BEFORE I'M GOING TO ORDER ONE TODAY .
YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU DONT KNOW.
What I have found is that a lot of dump points in the free camps, have no water, within that camp
When I know that I am going to use one of these dump points, I always leave some shower water, in the waste water tank, to assist with any pre/after, cleanup
Thanks to darjak for the below snip
Dave Glenelg told me this a few months ago at Greens Lake, he mentioned that after a day, shower waste water is classified as black water
This was something I was unaware of, up to that time
They actually WANT you to put your water on the ground, and under the trees and bushes. It is the only way they can keep their lawns and plants alive during the dry.
Just keep the food scraps out of the sink water and go easy on the soaps, shampoos and detergents, and there is no smell, and mind you don't use so much water that it flows onto your neighbours site.
When free camping I usually dig an appropriately sized hole under the outlet pipes, as a sump, and let it soak into the ground, then I fill it in when I move off. That way the next camper gets a dry site instead of a muddy one.
If however you are considering some of the 'slow to wake' up towns that are starting to realise that the value of free camp sites means there is more available funds to be spent in the local shops, then some of those are just gravel car park sites an those may or may not require a holding tank, but we found most will accept a bucket so long as it doesn't overflow.
Jay&dee
Many years ago in another place I would bury a 44 gallon drum (with holes cut in it) about 4' below ground level and run the black and grey water pipes into that - this was desert country so the absorption was good.
What I plan to do (when I live in a van permanently) and when camped in bush for a few weeks is to run a grey water hose 15m or so to something bucket sized (with holes) buried 300mm+ and when I leave dig it up and either dump it or wash it out and reuse.
Anyone see issues with that?
Gday...
JayDee - I have been travelling full-time for eight years .. entering the ninth now.
I have no grey-water tank and have yet to stay in a camp that has had restrictions. I do carry a 15ltr drum with hose to connect to van's sullage pipe "just in case" but have yet to use it.
I doubt, given the places I travel to and through, I will ever need a grey-water tank in my lifetime ...
OH ... it might be a short lifetime 
However, given Tadau68's initial post where their research has shown them that the majority places they would be interested in staying DO have grey-water restrictions it is definitely in THEIR interest to install, and, I assume, use it.
Cheers - John
Depends where u want to stay. We have been in caravan parks, showgrounds, sportsgrounds, free camped for over 2 years. Have not needed a grey water tank yet. And if we do we will use a bucket with a screw top lid to use until we get to somewhere to empty it.
Consider.... like some motor homes that do not have cassette toilets, they hook up hoses to there Black water tank and pump out/drain out to the dump point. To me the Grey Water tote along with the Toilet cassette are a lot more convenient. Note have spoke to some motorhomers with big rigs, who have not 1 but up to 3 cassettes for the extended stay between dump points.
The CMCA now accepts Tote Tanks for vans, campervan and MH's at their overnight sites.
Peter
Gday...
The CMCA might accept tote tanks ... but there are some sites that members have mentioned on here where the 'ranger' has came around to actually check that there is an actual grey-water onboard tank ... AND that the tank has a 'seal' (closed tap for instance) so that grey-water CANNOT be discharged except at a dump point.
Perhaps SOMEONE will read this thread who knows whether I have got the gist of previous info correctly ... or got the bull by the proverbials agen.
cheers - John
In six years permanently on the road, we have managed with a 20litre dedicated jerry can for the rare times when we are required to collect our grey water. Have never been challenged by a ranger to this point. Our jerry can would be classed as a tote
Tote is a manufactured container suitable for the external/temporary collection of grey water.
See CMCA policy https://www.cmca.net.au/assets/images/LNT/CMCA_Self_Contained_Vehicle_SCV_Policy_Authorised.pdf