Black Water/Grey Water

rockylizard · Guru

Black Water/Grey Water

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I think I read somewhere that Grey water should be treated as "Black" after being stored more than 24 hours because bacteria grows in it.
And wash-up water is dirty enough to be considered "Black".

Is this so?

rockylizard · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
I think I read somewhere that Grey water should be treated as "Black" after being stored more than 24 hours because bacteria grows in it.
And wash-up water is dirty enough to be considered "Black".

Is this so?

Gday...

From what I have been told (and read) you are quite correct. Those with installed grey water tanks need to be fully aware of that - it stinks worse than black water unless treated each day not discharged.

'Most' dish wash-up water has some 'solids' (food/fat/sauces etc) which is the main problem, these days very few 'dishwashing liquids' are a problem ... it will quickly go "off" if not treated regularly.

Cheers - John

Phil C · Guru

Yeah, this is the age old pitta for us all.

I have been to some CPs that encourage grey water to be put on the ground (nice lush lawns and gardens) and others that will fine you if you do, generally dry as a bone and dusty...

I just dont get it.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

apparently its the nitrates in the grey water that cause the problem which is why some CP's encourage you and others don't. Nitrates are one of the key problems in land/lawn/garden fertilizers that end up in rivers, lakes etc that cause algal blooms.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I had a "Grey Water" tank fitted to my new "Chief" and noticed after a few days there was a smell inside the van, no not me.

After a while I realised It was coming up through the sink holes so decided to add some Nappy San to the tank via the sink hole and put the plugs in the sink etc. Problem solved. I will just add more Nappy San as I go.

Not sure if all that is what should be done but seems to be working.

D and D · Guru

Doug, we have stop valves fitted to all the points draining into the tank, they stop water back flows and the smells (still allow the foam from the washing machine through though )

Jamie and Kerryn · Veteran Member

I have one of these fitted to my motorhome which works great.. $30 of eBay..

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Like Doug, if we are containing our grey water, as sometimes we must, the nappy soaker we use for our toilet, neutralises the smells from the grey water tank. I have also purchased some drain cleaner from one of the "cheapie" shops, which works a dream in the bathroom sink, that gets clogged with shaving cream and toothpaste.

Captain Ron · Veteran Member

rockylizard wrote:
Gerty Dancer wrote:
I think I read somewhere that Grey water should be treated as "Black" after being stored more than 24 hours because bacteria grows in it.
And wash-up water is dirty enough to be considered "Black".

Is this so?
Gday...
From what I have been told (and read) you are quite correct. Those with installed grey water tanks need to be fully aware of that - it stinks worse than black water unless treated each day not discharged.
'Most' dish wash-up water has some 'solids' (food/fat/sauces etc) which is the main problem, these days very few 'dishwashing liquids' are a problem ... it will quickly go "off" if not treated regularly.
Cheers - John

Apparently some are still unaware of this........"if grey water is stored for longer than 12 to 24 hours it breeds toxic levels of bacteria, and is classed as black water."

http://rvdaily.com.au/the-unpleasant-tr ... and-white/

If you wash your nether regions in the shower and your undies (skid marks) in the wash then the waste water contains small amounts of fecal matter and thus E coli bacteria. Does anyone really think that this is safe to discharge in publicly accessed locations?...............think about sports fields which are becoming used more as free or overflow camps.

sandsmere · Guru

Captain Ron wrote:
rockylizard wrote:
Gerty Dancer wrote:
I think I read somewhere that Grey water should be treated as "Black" after being stored more than 24 hours because bacteria grows in it.
And wash-up water is dirty enough to be considered "Black".

Is this so?
Gday...
From what I have been told (and read) you are quite correct. Those with installed grey water tanks need to be fully aware of that - it stinks worse than black water unless treated each day not discharged.
'Most' dish wash-up water has some 'solids' (food/fat/sauces etc) which is the main problem, these days very few 'dishwashing liquids' are a problem ... it will quickly go "off" if not treated regularly.
Cheers - John
Apparently some are still unaware of this........"if grey water is stored for longer than 12 to 24 hours it breeds toxic levels of bacteria, and is classed as black water."
http://rvdaily.com.au/the-unpleasant-tr ... and-white/
If you wash your nether regions in the shower and your undies (skid marks) in the wash then the waste water contains small amounts of fecal matter and thus E coli bacteria. Does anyone really think that this is safe to discharge in publicly accessed locations?...............think about sports fields which are becoming used more as free or overflow camps.

I understand your concern Ron, But I think that the little bit of residue coming from skid marks and our nether regions would be insignificant when compared with the

droppings from horses, cattle, dogs, kangaroos, emus, etc., plus the thousands of birds that fly over and roam around these sites and sports ovals .

There are many CPs in our country areas that ask people to let the grey water run onto the ground and have done so for many years without any problems.