Grey water disposal

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Grey water disposal

msg · Guru

Yep you gotta wonder. That's why I have a grey water tank. That I go and empty in a appropriate place.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Many of these had grey water tanks.
Cheers,
Peter

Brodie Allen · Guru

Maddening behaviour - all the ammo that holiday parks need to shut these
places down.

Is there local or other State or Federal laws that specifically prevents this sort of
vandalism?

I wonder if rangers could be contacted?

These A . . holes are likely the CO2 worriers - but anything goes for them.

GRRRR - kick them out!

ps - where are you - seem to recognise the place.

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 24th of August 2021 09:31:33 AM

Wanda · Guru

Had a similar experience at Marlgu lagoon near Parry Creek WA, caravan parked with grey water hose attached layed out on the edge of the lagoon. I nicely approached them, wife verbally abused me, husband was reasonable but denied they were going to dump anything, yeah sure!. I took picture of him, van and vehicle. Returned to Parry Creek and with the help of the staff there, rang and emailed pictures to local Park Rangers.
Don't know the outcome, but hopefully they copped a hefty fine, made me feel better as both my wife myself and another person ther were so angry, especially with the foul mouthed wife
Ian

peatop · Senior Member

Brodie Allen wrote:
Maddening behaviour - all the ammo that holiday parks need to shut these
places down.

Is there local or other State or Federal laws that specifically prevents this sort of
vandalism?

I wonder if rangers could be contacted?

These A . . holes are likely the CO2 worriers - but anything goes for them.

GRRRR - kick them out!
ps - where are you - seem to recognise the place.

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 24th of August 2021 09:31:33 AM

There are several laws state, federal and local but often don't get enforced and you also get monkey see monkey do far too often, it is sights like these that get our freedoms removed and park costs rise.

Ps, unfortunately our reporting of these blatant disregards are also used in further evidence to close areas from camping and rv's.

-- Edited by peatop on Tuesday 24th of August 2021 10:42:31 AM

JeffRae · Guru

Your photos made me think about the effect outboard motors would also have on the water quality.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

JeffRae wrote:
Your photos made me think about the effect outboard motors would also have on the water quality.

The sale of 2 stroke outboards is now banned for that reason.

Cheers,

Peter

Bobdown · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Many of these had grey water tanks.
Cheers,
Peter

One has to ask the question, "Is it a fully Self Contained Campsite or a NP?"

Not a good look with a lake there, but not illegal in some areas to water the lawn or a tree unless stated.

Where were you, Peter?

Cheers Bob

KevinJ · Senior Member

At home, I catch my shower and bath water (grey water) and store it in a tank before pumping on my lawn. I have very nice green lawn and the soap and hair detergent does not seem to hurt it.

oldbloke · Guru

Bobdown wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Many of these had grey water tanks.
Cheers,
Peter
One has to ask the question, "Is it a fully Self Contained Campsite or a NP?"
Not a good look with a lake there, but not illegal in some areas to water the lawn or a tree unless stated.
Where were you, Peter?
Cheers Bob

Yeh, may be legal. If the outlets are more than about 20 meters from the water it would be ok environmentally anyway I think.

-- Edited by oldbloke on Tuesday 24th of August 2021 05:16:07 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes they want to be close to water ! A few meters away like 50 or so would make a heap of difference !! This IS grey water though ! I hope ? Milk and food I try not to allow down sink for this reason !

KevinJ · Senior Member

What do the cows, sheep and horses leave behind?

watsea · Guru

KevinJ wrote:
At home, I catch my shower and bath water (grey water) and store it in a tank before pumping on my lawn. I have very nice green lawn and the soap and hair detergent does not seem to hurt it.

Running grey water over lawn areas is quite a bit different to releasing grey water adjacent to a fresh water lake or stream. The grey water contains nutrients and pollutants of some form. Excess nutrients can help with the growth of algae thus increasing algae concentration and in worse cases, algae blooms. Fresh water and native Australian plants have a lower tolerance to Phosphates which is still contained in many of our detergents. Phosphates also assist to promote algae growth. From Peter's information, there were about 200 hundred RVs around the lake/river, so if a similar proportion were discharging as they were near Peter, (ie 4 out of 6) that could mean that 133 were discharging very near to the water.

oldbloke · Guru

Mmm 133 is a hell of a lot. I didn't pick up on that. Does depent how close to the water though.

KevinJ · Senior Member

I live and learn every day

Phlipper · Senior Member

RE : " What do the cows, sheep and horses leave behind? "......Animals leave behind a natural product that has been doing good for the soil for billions of years, but still needs to be in moderation ....grey water may contain all kinds chemicals from various soaps, cleaning chemicals, toothpastes, mouth wash etc etc known to be an environmental hazard especially to waterways

-- Edited by Phlipper on Wednesday 25th of August 2021 11:13:14 AM

dogbox · Guru

133 rvs dumping 80 liters per day(approx average) = 10640 per/day x 7 = 75480 liters per week starts to add up

oldbloke · Guru

dogbox wrote:
133 rvs dumping 80 liters per day(approx average) = 10640 per/day x 7 = 75480 liters per week starts to add up

Not sure where you get 80ltrs a day from. We use about 30 or 40ltrs a day. But agree it is a lot with 133 vans.

There are a lot of variables, like, type of soil, time of year, type of vegetation, slope or flat, bugs in the soil. And of course how much grey water.

My understanding is provided its dumped say 20 or 30 meters from the water the environmental impact is generally pretty low. I suspect if it was a problem it would not be permitted and hopefully policed.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

We dont use detergents in grey water ., Makes me laugh at some people with these things .. people take their view etc to the empth degree . We take grey & black with us !! However !!

Brodie Allen · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
We dont use detergents in grey water ., Makes me laugh at some people with these things .. people take their view etc to the empth degree . We take grey & black with us !! However !!

WOT?

No washing up?

No bathing?

oldbloke · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
We dont use detergents in grey water ., Makes me laugh at some people with these things .. people take their view etc to the empth degree . We take grey & black with us !! However !!
WOT?

No washing up?

No bathing?

Yes, I'm puzzled also.

bomurra · Veteran Member

Dr. Robert A Patterson is a highly qualified expert in the fields of Waste Water Treatment and Disposal, and the other side of the coin, a Soil Scientist and Environmental Engineer.

His profile page for his website is here- www.lanfaxlabs.com.au then click on "Profile".

He has written (in part) a white paper on - Greywater from Caravans, a link to the paper is here - www.lanfaxlabs.com.au/caravans.html

He has consulted to local councils on the topic of caravan greywater, and his paper makes interesting reading.

Councils are very conservative beasts (in the main), and Robert makes the point in his paper that if we caravaners don't clean up our act, councils will take the conservative approach and simply lock us out of many of our favourite freedom camps and National Parks.

-- Edited by bomurra on Thursday 26th of August 2021 04:50:55 PM

oldbloke · Guru

Sooo, I read that article, interesting.

He was recommending the use of grey water tanks.

And never run grey water directly into water ways.

But I, like many we are unable to add additional tanks due to weight considerations.

So, reading the article I come up with a list of substances we should avoid.

Trilosan (in some toothpaste)
Chlorine (in most bleaches but also in our drinking water!)
Bicarb Soda
Phosphorus (in detergents)
Sodium (in detergents)
Talcum powder
Citric Acid
Eucalyptus
Selenium (dandruff products)
Many "disinfectants"

I'm sure many more.

For those interested I checked the Aldi wool wash we use and it sates Low sodium, septic and grey water safe. No idea what criteria that meets.

-- Edited by oldbloke on Thursday 26th of August 2021 05:41:34 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Can't add a grey water tank because of weight?
How much do you think a grey water tank will weigh?
Cheers,
Peter

oldbloke · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Can't add a grey water tank because of weight?
How much do you think a grey water tank will weigh?
Cheers,
Peter

I'm still trying to reduce my weight. Not add

oldbloke · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Can't add a grey water tank because of weight?
How much do you think a grey water tank will weigh?
Cheers,
Peter

I'm still trying to reduce my weight. Not add

Brodie Allen · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Can't add a grey water tank because of weight?
How much do you think a grey water tank will weigh?
Cheers,
Peter

80 kilos if the size of the regular water tank.

certainly not insignificant if you are close to weight!

oldbloke · Guru

Soooo, I have a compliance issue with weight if I fill both water tanks.

I am yet to camp where it is illegal to dump grey water on the ground.

P&M, what do you think should be the priority?

Although I'm comfortable with what I dump, and where I intend to check what our soaps etc are made of. Is that being irresponsible?

watsea · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Can't add a grey water tank because of weight?
How much do you think a grey water tank will weigh?
Cheers,
Peter
80 kilos if the size of the regular water tank.

certainly not insignificant if you are close to weight!

I don't think an empty grey water tank would weigh 80kg. Maybe a full tank would be 80+kg.

But if one is free camping, the water in the grey water tank is usually coming out of the fresh water tanks, so isn't that merely a transfer of weight amongst the tanks of the RV? Not really a gain in weight, except for the tank vessel.

-- Edited by watsea on Thursday 26th of August 2021 07:53:34 PM