Grey Water Tanks ?

[tracker]

G'Day all.....I don't know if this question has been raised in the past as i'm a newbie   But i'll ask anyway......Is there any strength in what i hear regarding grey water tanks being fitted before you can camp in some places?? I mean in CT's you set up a shower tent so how do you collect grey water...??Hoping someone can help with this   CHEERS

[Homer_Jay]

I have started to notice in a few of the camps on 'wikkicamps' that they are starting to say that you can only stay if you have grey water holding tanks.
I can only imagine that this is from people doing the wrong thing in the past??

Personally I really can't see how a bit of water does much harm. If it is washing up water we just catch it in a bucket and put it in a suitable place out of the way and water the grass. Shower just falls where it lands!

I have noticed on the caravan forums that it is a very touchy subject (but all subjects are with them), those who have grey water tanks think everyone else is ruling the world!

I wouldn't be too worried about it.

[Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback]

Seems to be effecting free camping areas and has found steam with the 'leave no trace' free camping hippie caravan movement.

If you're using biodegradable detergent and soaps wouldn't it actually be good for the environment? Watering trees and grass areas etc?

[Robbo]

I purchased two small inflatable paddling pools off ebay for $15 (one for a spare) they are 90cm diameter.
Put one on the floor of the shower tent and it will collect all the water from showering. Usually only around five litres per shower. If you are using a 12volt shower pump you can fill the pool with ten litres of water and lay the pump in the bottom of the pool and just recirculate the water. When finished, transfer the grey water into a bucket and dispose of it in a suitable place.
Once de-inflated the pool takes up no room to store away. Works well for me.

[KingBilly]

I am certainly no hippie but very strongly believe in leaving no trace when camping. The term I prefer is "leave nothing but foot prints".

As for grey water, it is like most things, the irresponsible few who spoil it for all the others.  I avoid free camps mainly because of the caravaners who pull up and don't use buckets to collect their waste, instead just letting it spill onto the ground.  Had waste water run under my tent once and the ignorant person causing it got upset when I pointed it out to them.

Now water with a bit of biodegradable detergent in it would be OK, but you get more than just water.  What about all the food scraps from the sink drain?  I've even had to step through this sort of filth in caravan parks because some lazy ba**ard has not attached a sullage hose.  Imagine what they would do in the bush.

What about the faeces and other bodily contaminents down the shower drain?  These things breed disease and you don't need much to get sick.  How many people have gotten food poisoning just because somebody hasn't washed their hands properly.  Happens in food establishments daily.  And you are happy to camp and walk around in this waste?  I'm not.

Collect and dispose of it away from camp areas but please not near water ways.

KB

[Talawana5]

Hi Thanks Robbo, I have been thinking of doing something like this. I will check out them and see if they are still available.
Cheers

[Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback]

I am certainly no hippie but very strongly believe in leaving no trace when camping. The term I prefer is "leave nothing but foot prints".

As for grey water, it is like most things, the irresponsible few who spoil it for all the others.  I avoid free camps mainly because of the caravaners who pull up and don't use buckets to collect their waste, instead just letting it spill onto the ground.  Had waste water run under my tent once and the ignorant person causing it got upset when I pointed it out to them.

Now water with a bit of biodegradable detergent in it would be OK, but you get more than just water.  What about all the food scraps from the sink drain?  I've even had to step through this sort of filth in caravan parks because some lazy ba**ard has not attached a sullage hose.  Imagine what they would do in the bush.

What about the faeces and other bodily contaminents down the shower drain?  These things breed disease and you don't need much to get sick.  How many people have gotten food poisoning just because somebody hasn't washed their hands properly.  Happens in food establishments daily.  And you are happy to camp and walk around in this waste?  I'm not.

Collect and dispose of it away from camp areas but please not near water ways.

KB

My apologies for the hippie comment 

[KeithB]

Isn't sink water classed as Black Water?
It's full of grease and food scraps after all.
Keith

[KingBilly]

My apologies for the hippie comment

All good mate.  Just wish I still had enough hair to even be considered a hippie 

[Mik01]

so its fine and legal (and natural) to do this on your own land, but somehow its irresponsible and naughty on a piece of land somewhere else?

I live on a rural property - grey water runs out on to the property and irrigates the land. this includes broken down food scraps and greases from the grease trap.  its considered the best possible use for the waste water.
we are prudent to use natural detergents etc, and careful what is flushed down the kitchen sink - but its being re-used.
its how we all lived for thousands of years before fancy septics/greasetraps and the like.

if you wanted to leave 'nothing but footprints' then don't go there - because your huge caravan/camper and 4x4 has just belched oil and smoke all over the place and torn up the road/track just that little bit more.  not to mention the oils from your bodies touching and walking all over the natural flora and fauna.

not having a shot at anyone personally - I find it amusing that there is lots of talk about leaving nothing behind yet just by going there we all contribute to its degradation.  I agree we should minimise where possible any waste and be courteous to others - but this sounds like a bit of an elitist position by those who have, against those who haven't.
pretty soon, camping will be off limits for all but the wealthy who can afford the multitude of tiny additional items required to keep the pc crowd satisfied.

the idea of the inflatable pool is commendable - but where do you dispose of the water? what is a 'suitable place'? do all camp places have 'suitable facilities' for disposal of grey water?

[krisandkev]

I wanted to say something but you said it perfectly Mik01.  We also live on a rural property and use our grey water in one of our paddocks.  Fantastic green grass that the horses love.   Good point about if we do not want to leave any trace, don't go in there. If the argument is minimal impact, then a lot of things/activities would still need to be banned.   Out of all our activities in National Parks it would seem grey water would be the least to worry about. But we all defiantly need to look after our lands.  Kevin

[KingBilly]

so its fine and legal (and natural) to do this on your own land, but somehow its irresponsible and naughty on a piece of land somewhere else?

I live on a rural property - grey water runs out on to the property and irrigates the land. this includes broken down food scraps and greases from the grease trap.  its considered the best possible use for the waste water.
we are prudent to use natural detergents etc, and careful what is flushed down the kitchen sink - but its being re-used.
its how we all lived for thousands of years before fancy septics/greasetraps and the like.

I think you will find that what you have been doing for years is neither legal nor sanitary.  Grey water is water from your shower and washing machine.  Can't see a problem with that being used in your paddock.  It is your grey water in your paddock.  But not so keen to see other people's grey water being used in a camp ground.  This grey water is from unknown sources on public land.  Two very different scenarios my friend.

In my local authority, black water from your kitchen or toilet can not be put onto your lawn or garden without treatment and then only on a graden that does not produce food.  Perhaps you should check your local authority's health regulations.

if you wanted to leave 'nothing but footprints' then don't go there - because your huge caravan/camper and 4x4 has just belched oil and smoke all over the place and torn up the road/track just that little bit more.  not to mention the oils from your bodies touching and walking all over the natural flora and fauna.

My moderately sized camper doesn't belch any oil or smoke nor do I tear up any tracks.  Not sure how my body oil is going to harm the environment because the last time I checked body oil was natural.  I stick to walking tracks and try not to step on any cute, little furry animals although I may have been guilty on occasion of squashing a bug or two.  My apologies.

And I'm also not having a shot at you personally either 

[Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback]

I get the theory behind collecting grey water when camping but I don't personally agree with it. By all means stop your food scraps from escaping and empty your water into a bucket to stop it from annoying others but I don't see the harm in watering a few trees and the grass around the place. 

I suppose its another situation where idiots haven't been practical and made a huge mess of places and ruined it for others.

I totally support the use of dump points for the emptying of portable toilets

   

   

[KingBilly]

By all means stop your food scraps from escaping and empty your water into a bucket to stop it from annoying others but I don't see the harm in watering a few trees and the grass around the place

And just for clarity, I agree with you and it is what we always do.  We collect our grey water and dispose of it around a tree or in some long grass where nobody has to set up camp on top of.

KB

[Robbo]

And just for clarity, I agree with you and it is what we always do.  We collect our grey water and dispose of it around a tree or in some long grass where nobody has to set up camp on top of.

KB

X2     

[Mik01]

I think you will find that what you have been doing for years is neither legal nor sanitary.  Grey water is water from your shower and washing machine.  Can't see a problem with that being used in your paddock.  It is your grey water in your paddock.  But not so keen to see other people's grey water being used in a camp ground.  This grey water is from unknown sources on public land.  Two very different scenarios my friend.

In my local authority, black water from your kitchen or toilet can not be put onto your lawn or garden without treatment and then only on a graden that does not produce food.  Perhaps you should check your local authority's health regulations.

My moderately sized camper doesn't belch any oil or smoke nor do I tear up any tracks.  Not sure how my body oil is going to harm the environment because the last time I checked body oil was natural.  I stick to walking tracks and try not to step on any cute, little furry animals although I may have been guilty on occasion of squashing a bug or two.  My apologies.

And I'm also not having a shot at you personally either 

It is legal. We don't all live in latte sipping suburbia.
I know the difference between grey and black. And I'm obviously not talking about toilet waste.

Kitchen waste goes into a grease trap, where it breaks down and is irrigated onto the land (actually there's quite a few steps inbetween that convert it to grey). Grey water is instantly pumped into the paddock. Livestock eat the grass. You eat livestock. Sanitary?
The 4wd you use to pull your camper belches smoke and oil, just like mine. Unless you have a magic engine that spews rainbows out the tailpipe. Your all terrains/mud terrains rip up the tracks.

You're deluded if you think you have zero impact on any environment you enter. Cumulatively, we all do. Even your 'footprints' in your chemically produced shoes leave some residue behind, which all adds up. Your pristine 'natural' body oils sweat out the moisturiser, deodorant, soaps, shampoos, sunscreen onto everything you touch.

Please - don't patronise us all with the 'I'm the only one who doesn't affect nature wherever I go' comments. No offence mate!

[Spada]

Break out the popcorn everyone.................................I can see where this is headed

[tracker]

G'day all again....really all i wanted to know was if it was going to be mandatory to install grey water tanks in CT'S in some sites either free camping or any were   ....

[Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback]

And just for clarity, I agree with you and it is what we always do.  We collect our grey water and dispose of it around a tree or in some long grass where nobody has to set up camp on top of.

KB

Awesome, we're on the same page

[austastar]

A 'T' junction,  a bung and a 10L Jerry will make your sink compliant.
An onboard portapotty solves the other requirement.

As far as impact is concerned,  I'm happy if I cant see any evidence of where we camped,  irrespective of any 'rules'.

Cheers

[macca]

I too am not keen on people dumping grey water in the middle of the camping area but have no problem with them collecting it and watering the trees away from the camp, thats what i have always done. May be a bit of a problem the way NP's herd you into a tiny area and then complain of over use, but I am yet to see it
I think if you look at some (if not a lot) of those grey water tanks you will find a small solenoid valve fitted so when they hit the road to the next spot they just flick the switch and its empty by the time they arrive at the next destination

[Homer_Jay]

The OP was about camping areas that will not allow you to camp unless you have a grey water tank to take waste offsite, this is becoming a little more common now days.

Most of the posts are more about people being inconsiderate with their waste (probably what has led to the above situation with grey water tanks).
I think everyone agrees, as long as your putting you washing up water in an out of the way place, then all good. I will stop at trying to catch my shower water.... But I wouldn't let it run through someone's camp, because I don't camp near anyone.

Back to the OP, yes this is starting to happen but in very places that I have seen. And is going to be a logistical problem having to try and fit extra tanks to hold waste in campers and small vans.

[KingBilly]

We don't all live in latte sipping suburbia.

Wow, you have a serious problem there mate.  Forget to take your little pills today?  .  No offence of course mate 

The waste water regulations I was referring to relate to the farm I lived on until a year or so ago.  That's a genuine rural property from which I earned an income, not some rural subdivision.

Livestock eat the grass. You eat livestock. Sanitary?

Comparing livestock eating grass watered with grey water to watering edible plants with grey water demonstrates your ignorance.  But not having a go at you personally mate 

The 4wd you use to pull your camper belches smoke and oil, just like mine. Unless you have a magic engine that spews rainbows out the tailpipe. Your all terrains/mud terrains rip up the tracks.

I have no idea what your fourbie belches but mine sure as hell doesn't belch "smoke or oil".   Yes there are emissions but they are minimal.  And I try my hardest to travel without "ripping up" any tracks.

You're deluded if you think you have zero impact on any environment you enter. Cumulatively, we all do. Even your 'footprints' in your chemically produced shoes leave some residue behind, which all adds up. Your pristine 'natural' body oils sweat out the moisturiser, deodorant, soaps, shampoos, sunscreen onto everything you touch.

Now whilst I am happy to debate Locard's Law of Contact with you all night, I think I would be wasting my time.  No offence of course mate 

KB

[KingBilly]

Apologies to the OP for going off topic.

Please resume your normal viewing

 
KB

[Mik01]

Wow, you have a serious problem there mate.  Forget to take your little pills today?  .  No offence of course mate 

The waste water regulations I was referring to relate to the farm I lived on until a year or so ago.  That's a genuine rural property from which I earned an income, not some rural subdivision.

Comparing livestock eating grass watered with grey water to watering edible plants with grey water demonstrates your ignorance.  But not having a go at you personally mate 

I have no idea what your fourbie belches but mine sure as hell doesn't belch "smoke or oil".   Yes there are emissions but they are minimal.  And I try my hardest to travel without "ripping up" any tracks.

Now whilst I am happy to debate Locard's Law of Contact with you all night, I think I would be wasting my time.  No offence of course mate 

KB

feel free to personally attack me - I don't mind.
you are proving one of us is ignorant - we can let the readers decide who.

your car, you, and all of your chemically man made products infect the earth as does mine - to say your impact is less than anyone else is just elitist rubbish.  maybe you should head over to the caravan forum for a rant, then have a good lie down?
hard to believe you would argue that your 4wd emissions are 'minimal' - I think you mis posted that comment - it should be in the joke thread