Grey water disposal

peatop · Senior Member

RE: Grey water disposal

yobarr · Guru

watsea wrote:
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.

Careful Ted! Too much logic involved here.There is no way a grey water tank would EVER add 80 kgs to the weight of a van,as always the contents of that tank have come from the contents of another water tank.May affect towball weight etc,but won't increase total weight of van.Spare me.Cheers

msg · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
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?

If you have one full water tank and one empty grey water tank as you use the water in the full tank it goes into the empty tank. You will not increase the amount of water you are carrying. So it will not become a compliance issue.

Wanda · Guru

watsea wrote:
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

Great to see a common sense answer to a simlpe solution!

Tank and fixtures probably less than 10kgs

When full empty at an appropriate spot, simples!

Kiwi-as · Guru

Back here in NZ we have had to install grey water tanks. You can not join the Caravan Association without them. They have their own van parking areas dotted around the country. The Conservation Dept. have the same rules.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

plant based Enviroclean .

oldbloke · Guru

msg wrote:
oldbloke wrote:
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?
If you have one full water tank and one empty grey water tank as you use the water in the full tank it goes into the empty tank. You will not increase the amount of water you are carrying. So it will not become a compliance issue.

Doh we all know the water moves from 1 tank to the other. Pls give me some credit.

However the tank and additional fittings weigh something, say 15 kg. And if my earlier post was read you would realise I said I was trying to reduce weight not add weight.

And as there is no legal requirement to add one I will not.

Brodie Allen · Guru

watsea wrote:
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

Very insightful. Never thought of that!

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Friday 27th of August 2021 08:43:41 AM

iana · Guru

The grey water debate will go on for ever. What we should be discussing, is what we can do/use to make the grey water less harmful to the environment.

KJB · Guru

Brodie Allen wrote:
watsea wrote:
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
Very insightful. Never thought of that!

-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Friday 27th of August 2021 08:43:41 AM

It is just Common Sense ....."just look at the "Big Picture...."...simple really....(I think people confuse themselves by "overthinking a problem that does not exist"..) KB

-- Edited by KJB on Friday 27th of August 2021 11:34:21 AM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Maybe some are just annoyed they cant park close to water ?

dogbox · Guru

i have seen numerous caravans pull out on to the road with their taps open an grey water ?? spraying out behind them on to cars/trucks behind an onto oncoming traffic. this could create a real hazard for motor cycles next time it rains as the stuff in the fluid can become very slippery . so it should be disposed of with a bit of thought

Aussie1 · Guru

dogbox wrote:
i have seen numerous caravans pull out on to the road with their taps open an grey water ?? spraying out behind them on to cars/trucks behind an onto oncoming traffic. this could create a real hazard for motor cycles next time it rains as the stuff in the fluid can become very slippery . so it should be disposed of with a bit of thought

Yep, that is very inconsiderate. I always open the taps as we depart but make sure it is all empty by driving very slowly before I hit the road.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:

Yep, that is very inconsiderate. I always open the taps as we depart but make sure it is all empty by driving very slowly before I hit the road.

Not just "inconsiderate", but clearly illegal.

There are also risks of driving away, even with "empty" tanks because the drain is rarely at the very bottom and more comes out as the van corners, even km down the road.

Cheers,

Peter

Aussie1 · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Yep, that is very inconsiderate. I always open the taps as we depart but make sure it is all empty by driving very slowly before I hit the road.
Not just "inconsiderate", but clearly illegal.
There are also risks of driving away, even with "empty" tanks because the drain is rarely at the very bottom and more comes out as the van corners, even km down the road.
Cheers,
Peter

Nah, I have that covered Cobber, always drive out and wriggle the caravan to ensure all is out (;

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Is it grey water ?? The looks a get at times emptying grey tank when it is ok to do so !! Its one switch away ! Filtering food solids etc out . We often fit a sock over to filter .

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

oldbloke wrote:

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

Some of the above dangerous substances seem a bit odd. Eucalyptus for example. How many waterways in Australia aren't surrounded by eucalyptus trees shedding their leaves into the water. Many of the creeks even smell of eucalyptus. Sodium is another strange one. Its in normal table salt. I can see why we wouldn't want to turn our waterways into brine but it surely isn't a dangerous substance in moderate quantities.

Kewijo · Member

Why don't yo all get on in life and mind you own b business , if you wanna trip about and whinge about others, then stay the f home, all waste ends up in the wash at some time in the future anyway, dead animals, all there waste, cheers

bomurra · Veteran Member

Derek Barnes wrote:
oldbloke wrote:

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
Some of the above dangerous substances seem a bit odd. Eucalyptus for example. How many waterways in Australia aren't surrounded by eucalyptus trees shedding their leaves into the water. Many of the creeks even smell of eucalyptus. Sodium is another strange one. Its in normal table salt. I can see why we wouldn't want to turn our waterways into brine but it surely isn't a dangerous substance in moderate quantities.

Hi Derek,

Did you read the white paper or look at his website to familiarise yourself on the possible ramifications of "sodification of soils".

A small amount of sodium in isolation is usually able to be tolerated by the environment, the problem arises with the continued discharge to ground of hundreds of caravans, day after day into a concentrated area.

People usually use the same washing up detergent, laundry powder/liquid, shower wash, shampoos etc., that they do at home. The difference being, it is usually in a more concentrated form as we use less water, to conserve.

So, if you want to be part of the problem continue as you wish and we will all bear the brunt of councils closing these facilities in the future as problems arise.

Or, you can be part of the solution and adopt the responsible approach, look at Robert Patersons suggestions and act accordingly, that way, hopefully we can all look forward to having these facilities open in the future.

We all have a choice in this.

I am not a tree hugger, just a guy with a science background that loves caravanning and enjoys freedom camping and can see the logic in his argument.

Hope this helps

Bob.

msg · Guru

Leave nothing but footprints. If you can't do that then you shouldn't be camping in areas without the required facilities.

Mike Harding · Guru

I was very surprised recently to be informed that there is a soap which is suitable for washing oneself in rivers! I have no knowledge of the product or the veracity of my friend's claim.

oldbloke · Guru

Sodium is an element metal en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium

Salt is sodium chloride

Eucalyptus is everywhere up bush so this one has me stumped.

Chlorine is in bleach, e.g. white King, domestos, and in all drinking AU water. It does evaporate ifairly quickly, say 48 hours.

Talc is magnesium silicate an occurs naturally. Not sure why it's an issue in minutes quantities.

Phosphorus is in detergents and many are now considered "low phosphorus "

I think its just all about camping well away from water, minimise these substances going down the sink. Only dump grey water where it's permitted.

Heaps of this stuff goes down the local sewer and finds its way into the sea daily. Sewers mainly just remove the solids, so needs to be kept in context. Most of what you read is just repeated off the www and not fully understood, or just opinion. It is normal for the earth and waterways to breakdown and recycle many pollutants. Dead roos, sh1t from all sorts. If dumped a fair way from water the microphone, bugs, etc break down .any substances and the soil its self acts as a basic filter. It's mainly about how much and where.

A good example Ali's asbestos, if you breath enough over years it kills you but perfectly safe to bury. Perhaps not a good analogy but you get the idea.