G'day, just wondering, with our grey water ,what do we do with it when were at a caravan park? do they have drains at each site for caravans and rv's ?
Some parks do provide drainage for sullage, some don't.
For those that don't the choices are (a) simply allow the sullage to drain onto the ground, trees, garden beds, or (b) collect the sullage in a suitable container for later disposal in a dump point.
If no sullage drain is provided always ask the park management what their preferred method of disposal is. If they say it is OK to drain onto the ground make sure to change the position of the drain hose from time to time in order to avoid creating a bog for other park users.
If your unit is not equipped with a sullage storage tank, like us, you will find it handy to carry a sealable container with you, or of course there is always the faithfull bucket!
for us the grey water is just the shower and sink water, the toilet system has a different set up , ie you take it to a dump station or where ever they ask you too, I'm also told that some service stations, ie truck stops have toilet dumping sites too...
if you go into a town just look for a little motorhome on a sign with a little box under it, rv freindly towns will have one, look for the sign "rv freindly"
normally both of these signs are blue
there will usualy be a tap and hose close by to wash up with afterwards, just be sure this is drinking water if you consider filling your tank with it and use your hose dont trust the one that is there, people do horrid things with them
and yes your grey water is shower and sink water only, your toot water is classified as black normally contained in a cannister easily accesed on the side somewhere,
keep a pair of gloves handy and some liquid soap so you dont have to go inside after doing your "secret mens business"
when you drain on to the ground just watch the "lay of the land" or you will end up with wet feet
Been there, done that............LOL
__________________
Guru & Ma Ulladulla NSW Happy day, safe travelling Ford Ranger towing 21ft Jurgen shower and toilet which was large enough to fit in a few extras (fridge, bed, stove...)
A lot of this is commonsense and consideration. Most parks have sullage at the sites. You need a hose to drain it from the vehicle to the drain. Some use a bucket at the outlet and then let it run over, and over, and over. I've almost had to lock my hubs to get out. Grey water is actually good for the garden if you use enviro-friendly detergents. Always check with the park before you do this. Safe and happy camping. Cheers Chris
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I don't put a lot of stock in the "Bio Friendly" detergents. When you dissolve grease you do nothing to alter it's chemical structure ,it still remains grease only in a smaller particle size. On some soil types around OZ ground disposal of food source greases and oils is just as damaging as pouring straight sump oil onto the ground. In areas where septic systems are in use there needs to be a grease trap prior to main tank otherwise there are bigger problems to be dealt with .
I agree some sites are 4wd only mainly owing to the lack of ground absorption due to fatty substance disposal over time . Works like sun block getting everything out
__________________
Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
yep it sure is only "common sense" when one has been travelling for a while but if one hasnt travelled and has no experience in travelling then it is all new and needs explanation,
when the question is asked I will provide an answer, may or may not be absolutely correct but it will make others comment, in a lot of cases just to say how wrong I am, seems to be the way with a lot of folks, but any question will get an answer from me and just perhaps, if we are very lucky, eventually the correct one, I will help wherever and whenever I can
I too dont believe much in "bio degradables" as wombat says the grease is still grease, I have seen it in very sandy soils where it produces a "sludge" on the top until water can no longer penetrate and moves slowly away to form another circle of sludge, once all is dry then it can be a simple matter of sliding a shovel underneath the waste and disposing of it in the bin
Maybe I'm judging people's domestic habits by my own. To assume makes an "ass our of u & me". Hee haw, hee haw! However, in this day and age I would hope people aren't cooking with so much grease to block up drains or pollute the soil. In the days of floating the mutton chops in an inch of dripping, or deep frying everything may have created a major problem if it was tipped down the drain. Taking all due care when washing dishes, the greasy factor should be minimal, and therefore could be allowed to run onto the ground and/or garden. The vans with washing machines could also allow the grey water to flow to the ground providing the detergent was bio-degradable. The position of the drain outlet is also important. Best to let it run onto a nearby garden or around trees rather than under the van, or worse, someone else's van. The layout of some van parks is not always clever either, making run-off a major consideration as well. I use a straight drain hose rather than the black wrinkly stuff which holds solids and sludge creating stinking unpleasant piece of aparatus to be later stowed around the van somewhere. I have had weldmesh welded to the A frame for my hoses when I'm on the road. Good luck with all that. Cheers Chris
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
