Grey water tanks

briche · Guru

Grey water tanks

aussie_paul · Guru

Great Briche, a few pics would be nice.

Aussie Paul. smile

briche · Guru

Ok will get you some

briche

briche · Guru

Photo as promised

briche

-- Edited by briche on Friday 15th of April 2016 05:51:19 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Well done Brian, looks like a bought one.

You will be busy doing the dishes now to fill 'em up.

Keep Safe on the roads when you get out there again.

Dunmowin · Guru

RE: Grey water tanks what is the storage capicity

briche · Guru

RE: Grey water tanks

PeterD · Guru

Dunmowin wrote:
What is the storage capacity of esch tank?

I calculate 15.708 litres approx plus a bit in the pipes..

Mobi Condo · Guru

Very nice work - timely for me to read as well. Coupla questions.
a) are there any baffles to prevent slosh motion etc
b) any clues as to how to valve the shower run to prevent "slosh back" into the shower?

Cheers - Ian

briche · Guru

Hi Moib Condo, did consider that but no baffles installed 'mainly as I don't intend to travel too far with water in the tanks. we would drop the load ASAP leaving the site where the tanks have been in use. I am sure the local trees and shrubs, etc will say thanks.

the piping from the shower is located higher than the tank so I am thinking that we should not be a problem but as mentioned no not intend to leave it there for any lenght of time.

hope that makes sense.

briche

-- Edited by briche on Saturday 16th of April 2016 10:13:14 AM

Treecrest14 · Senior Member

Another idea..

As we free camp, I installed another 95litre tank and put in a T piece with a stop **** on the tank to divert the grey water into the tank by opening it and also closing the exit outlet stop ****. Decided to install S traps under the sink and ensuite basin to ensure we didn't get bad smells back into the van from the holding tank. Shower outlet is too low for a S trap, so intend to put a plug in the drain when not showering. Couldn't find a large enough one way device to stop water in the shower drain pipe coming back when travelling. We would close the grey water stop **** when moving the van with grey water on board, to stop water sloshing back into the shower.

95 litre will hold a few days free camping - and wont increase our weights as we are basically transferring the water from one tank to another, mind you we do have 190 capacity of potable plus the grey water tank.

Glen

Ron-D · Guru

Our set up is a 20 liter container that is connected to the drain outlet on the van ,and it is placed on the ground .I have another drum in the car as well so 40 lts capacity all up.

I use 20 lts containers because there easy to lift..

What I like about this system is you don't have to take the whole show to a dump point.

Ron..

P/s I have never been to a freecamp yet where I have ever been required to use it, I think the idea has Merritt in certain circumstances ,but to force everyone to have grey water tanks fitted in my view ,would mean a lot of people with there old vans and camper trailers would be excluded from free camps just because a toffe nosed motor home club decided to force every one onto there leave no trace policy ...

-- Edited by Ron-D on Saturday 16th of April 2016 08:46:03 AM

Mutley · Senior Member

Leaving no trace is good in my opinion. There are elements in grey water that, over time, with lots of people dropping it in close proximity, would change the soil profile. This might not matter in some free camps, but will matter in others.

Changing the soil profile changes the ecology of the area. Areas where weeds & feral pests could not flourish in the past become viable for them with grey water getting dropped regularly. Natives evolved in the area as it is naturally & do not need the "drink" that so many think that they are giving them.

Now, I'll put my flame proof suit on lol! :)

erad · Guru

My main concern with your setup is the lack of clearance betwen the grey water tanks and the axle. You may have contact if you hit a large bump.

-- Edited by erad on Saturday 16th of April 2016 09:47:24 AM

briche · Guru

Did consider that erad, and at the end of the day came to the conclusion that it would be enough given that we don't venture onto roads that are in bad state of repair. Also the actual tanks are suspended in a harness that allows movement and all the connections are via rubber hose so I am trusting that all goes well.

I guess over time we will see how it pans out so I will keep an eye on to see how it copes.

briche

Lorries · Veteran Member

Ron-D, Always one isn't there? Why the heck do you feel the urge to bring up a so called "toffe nosed motor home club" - what proof do you have that they are forcing anyone to have tanks fitted - none because it doesn't exist (except in your mind) - even their latest policy to members suggests the use of totes for grey water collection. Just don't dare use any free camps set up under the RVFT scheme, any dump points sponsored by them etc you may just have to share with us "toffe nosed motor home club" members. Get real please.

Ron-D · Guru

Yep there always one and that one has there right to an opinion!!!! this my last post on this and that is just read some of the unbiased posts on the Internet in depth ' and if you can't see That CMCA lobbying has been responsible for this your as bright as the old kerosene lamp...

dazren · Guru

smile Spot on !! -- Ron D

-- Edited by dazren on Saturday 16th of April 2016 09:00:10 PM

dazren · Guru

Mutly wrote ... Leaving no trace is good in my opinion. There are elements in grey water that, over time, with lots of people dropping it in close proximity, would change the soil profile. This might not matter in some free camps, but will matter in others.

Changing the soil profile changes the ecology of the area. Areas where weeds & feral pests could not flourish in the past become viable for them with grey water getting dropped regularly. Natives evolved in the area as it is naturally & do not need the "drink" that so many think that they are giving them.

Now, I'll put my flame proof suit on lol! :)

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No need for your flame proof suit there Mutley, this has been discussed many times on many forums, with the vast majority of opinion, is that it does No harm whatsoever, !! we are all entitled to our opinions, some go with majority, some go with minority, ! -- so lets all just follow whatever our personal opinion is wink smile

-- Edited by dazren on Saturday 16th of April 2016 09:09:13 PM

landy · Guru

I respectfully suggest that if it is a condition of any free camp that we do not release our grey water we need to abide by those rules, regardless of whether we agree with them or not. To ignore them only plays into the hands of those who would like to see free camps closed. Bickering about the merits of these rules will achieve nothing. Do I need a fireproof suit too ??. confuse

Landy

-- Edited by landy on Saturday 16th of April 2016 11:31:37 PM

PeterD · Guru

Ron-D wrote:
Yep there always one and that one has there right to an opinion!!!! this my last post on this and that is just read some of the unbiased posts on the Internet in depth ' and if you can't see That CMCA lobbying has been responsible for this your as bright as the old kerosene lamp...

It's probably just as well this is your last post on the subject. There are a lot of us here that don't appreciate your biased opinion. If you were attuned to the proceedings you would have known that self contained camping was introduced to save authorities from closing camp grounds. Some of the proposed closures were reversed by allowing those who leave nothing behind still camp there. That's where self containment sprung from. And yes, CMCA is our saviour, they were the initiators and are now being supported by the majority of caravan clubs through MouTOURing Australia.

You are not forced to fit grey water tanks. However you are also not able to access the camp sites that would otherwise have been closed if they were not self contained only sites. Sounds like you are just a whining sore looser as these camp grounds are not available to you.

iana · Guru

Nice job "briche", I too am installing a grey water tank north/south. I am re-arranging the Jayco installation. My van has independent suspension, and the tank fits quite nicely between the wish-bones. It is a 70lt tank and yes I spent some thought on the lack of baffles, but as you say the distance traveled when full will be small, and baffles would only make the cleaning of the tank harder. The problem I have is that I feel just too old now for this kind of work, especially when I spend all week at work doing similar things. I have brought a 40lt trundle tank to use for emptying as required. Will post some pictures when finished.

Sorry did I bring the thread back on track?

dazren · Guru

Landy wrote [ in part ] --- I respectfully suggest that if it is a condition of any free camp that we do not release our grey water we need to abide by those rules,

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confuse confuse confuse I for one ALWAYS follow any Legally placed Campspot Signs, as should everyone !! I fail to see in any of these posts, anything to say that those rules would be ignored !! confuse confuse confuse

Ron-D · Guru

Sory I can't help but reply to the post for obvious reasons ,you seem to think my opinions are biased as yours are also biased, your correct many will not agree my views ,and from the p/ms i have rceived many dont agree with yours!! if you bothered to read my post I did say leave no trace has its Merrits .

Your obviousely, an unbiased member of CMCA lol.(probably on the board)

My point is that motor homes come stock standard with grey water tanks

Motor homes can camp in residential areas boat ramps parking lots ect where water would be a big issuer on the black stuff.

Caravans are usually in bush camps or caravan parks . I have been a free camper for many years and usually very tidy even without the fabulouse grey water tank?

I have a portable grey water set up to use mainly on the black stuff,and iff need be camp sites,

The system is not broke as far as Iam conserned and I resent arrogant people trying to force there viewson people we have enough common sense to know how to camp without the fabulous CMCA lording it I over us it over us.

My Biased opinion.Ron...

-- Edited by Ron-D on Sunday 17th of April 2016 01:17:35 PM

briche · Guru

I find it a bit of a sad story that this post has degenerated into a bitchIng session about grey water management. If you must have a say on the topic please take it to the "I digress" tab and leave the topic as it was intended not a place to voice your so called " right to have your say"

it does nothing to add to the benefit of this site and only goes in part to drive people away

so I have had my say

briche

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Mutley · Senior Member

dazren wrote:
Mutly wrote ... Leaving no trace is good in my opinion. There are elements in grey water that, over time, with lots of people dropping it in close proximity, would change the soil profile. This might not matter in some free camps, but will matter in others.

Changing the soil profile changes the ecology of the area. Areas where weeds & feral pests could not flourish in the past become viable for them with grey water getting dropped regularly. Natives evolved in the area as it is naturally & do not need the "drink" that so many think that they are giving them.

Now, I'll put my flame proof suit on lol! :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No need for your flame proof suit there Mutley, this has been discussed many times on many forums, with the vast majority of opinion, is that it does No harm whatsoever, !! we are all entitled to our opinions, some go with majority, some go with minority, ! -- so lets all just follow whatever our personal opinion is

-- Edited by dazren on Saturday 16th of April 2016 09:09:13 PM

And of course the majority wins - over a doctorate in botany & 3 other degrees in sustainability which say the opposite! ;)

landy · Guru

dazren wrote:

Landy wrote [ in part ] --- I respectfully suggest that if it is a condition of any free camp that we do not release our grey water we need to abide by those rules,
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I for one ALWAYS follow any Legally placed Campspot Signs, as should everyone !! I fail to see in any of these posts, anything to say that those rules would be ignored !!

Dazren. Just to clear up any confusion I certainty was not suggesting that you or any of the posters here were doing anything wrong and I apologies if I gave any posters that impression . I have however seen a lot of people ignoring grey water restrictions and camping in parks that are for fully self contained vans only, when they clearly are not. The point of my post was whether or not you agree with the need to contain grey water it is something we all need to equip ourselves for if we intending using these sites. People ignoring the rules will end up getting more camps closed down. Unfortunately with you not Quoting my full post it loses some of its meaning.
Landy

Bill B · Guru

I have no problem with catching grey water at sites that require it, but the sites that demand a built in grey water tank to catch it get up my nose.

GerryP · Veteran Member

Bill B wrote:
I have no problem with catching grey water at sites that require it, but the sites that demand a built in grey water tank to catch it get up my nose.

I know where you're coming from Bill and fully understand your sentiment. I actually asked a caretaker in one such site why only built in tanks were accepted. His response was that far too many people (mainly those with buckets), firstly let them overflow and secondly, simply emptied them on the ground somewhere when full. The only exception he made was for proprietary portable grey water tanks as they are made to seal, rather than overflow when full.

I guess it's the same old story... if everyone did the right thing, most of the rules and restrictions imposed on us all, would not be necessary.