Self Containment for Caravan

Ascot · Member

Self Containment for Caravan

madaboutled · Guru

Hi Ascot, its not just the toilet (black water) its also the waste water from the sink/s and shower you need to contain that in a tank as well (grey water). A bucket under the outlet doesn't cut it with some rangers (been there when we had our caravan). So you need to be able to show you can contain it which usually means fitting a grey water tank somewhere.

Hope this helps.

Regards Steve.

wendyv · Guru

Fresh water supply; grey water containment; shower; toilet & containment of black waste.

I included the shower because it is in the CMCA guidelines.

chopit · Senior Member

We carry a plastic 20 Ltr drum for grey water. ( With black texta pen writing all over it saying "Grey Water only")
From the sink water outlet we run a few feet of black flexi hose.
The hose goes into the drum.
We were quizzed at the Inglewood (Qld) free camp by council guys who said we complied with the rules as a screw cap made it self contained. ( As opposed to a bucket that can't be sealed for transport to a dump point ).
A dead cheap answer to the self contained issue that has proven to work for us ( once at least).

Ascot · Member

I should have stated grey water in the proposed 40 litre cassette because all our black water is contained in our toilet cassette.WE intended to use this method instead of a 20 litre drum because we have read you need to be able to hold approximately 15 litres /person/day for a van with shower onsuite.

Patty · Newbie

Hi Wayne

I think the term self containment means different things to different organisations so there is no simple answer to your question. The final decision as to the definition would be with the organization that has set their guidelines as to what self containment is.

The CMCA club have their meaning.

A local council may have a different meaning.

A Government body ( National Park or Reserve ) may have their own meaning.

IMO you need to ask the organization concerned what their definition is and then you can either comply and stay or not comply and not stay.

Hope that helps

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have the toilet cassette for black water and a 95lt grey water tank. All plumbing except toilet goes into the tank and can be stored for emtying into dump point later or let flow trough a flexi pipe into a drain at the time.

Having Solar Panels, Battery Power and 2x95lt fresh water tanks as well I am what they call fully self contained.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

the amusing thing is that many councils/shires that only have septic tanks (not a proper sewage system and treatment plant) don't want you putting grey water down the dump points - only black water as you will fill up the dump point septic tank too quickly which means they have to pay to empty more frequently

As Patty said - everyone has a different idea and even worse, you can strike a ranger who is happy with a semi sealed container like chopit uses and then another ranger the next day wont and tells you to sling your hook.

You cant win.............................

sandsmere · Guru

We have been living and travelling in our van for almost 4 years.

We have 2x20 litre screw top containers for grey water if necessary, ( only used them about 4-5 times ), and never had a problem.

Grey water becomes a problem if stored for more than 24 hours.

Ascot · Member

Thanks ever so much to you all for commenting giving your version of the interptretation.We will journey on with your thoughts in mind.Having said that if we strike an issue we will simply move on.

PeterD · Guru

Here is the CMCA piece on Leave no Trace. There are a few links at the bottom of the page worth a read.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

The "Leave no Trace" 'campaign by CMCA has been championed for some years now.

However, even CMCA's own literature does not state clearly how to "handle" grey water.

This is from the link PeterD provided -

"To qualify, vehicles should carry a minimum of 20 litres of fresh water, have a grey water holding tank with a minimum capacity of five litres per person or 15 litres per person if the vehicle is fitted with a shower, and have a portable toilet cassette or black water holding tank with a minimum capacity of the smallest portable toilet cassette."

and;

"...all you need is a qualifying vehicle that has the capacity to retain all waste within the confines of the vehicle."

The "policy/advice/requirement" simply states an RV needs to have a holding tank. It does not say how that that "holding tank" will be carried - affixed to the chassis of the vehicle? within the van as a sealable container such as bucket with lid or 20ltr drum with screw cap etc. Indeed, to qualify for the LNT accreditation one simply needs to have the capacity to retain all waste within the confines of the vehicle. It does not stipulate that the grey water cannot be captured and then returned to the RV for disposal at a suitable/acceptable site.

I have found that the only 'self-contained-only' places to sleep I have encountered are very close to, or within, a town and are not an actual "camping ground". I can understand that, at those places, within populated areas, attracting so many travellers who crowd into a 'rest area' there is wisdom in minimising/stopping the discharge of many litres of water.

I suggest this example gives weight to why the "grey water discharge issue" has arisen -

Free Camp 01.JPG