Dumping grey water while bush camping

[KeithB]

We have a small 45 litre grey water tank which takes water from the shower and the sink. We wipe our dishes down first and use some sort of enviro washing liquid that my wife buys. We have a small 10 metre dump hose which takes about 5-10 minutes to empty the tank when it's full. If the water stays in the tank for more than 24 hours, it starts to stink.

The question is, where do you dump your grey water when camping in the bush, always remembering to keep it well away from waterways?

1. Run a hose into the bush preferably away from the campsite?
2. As above but leave the valve tank open so that it immediately drains as the sink and shower empty?
3. Put a short hose on the outlet and run it out on the track while motoring along? I have heard people knocking this on other forums.
4. It it worth adding a bit of Napisan, enzyme drain cleaner or something like that to the grey water tank?

I'd appreciate any opinions.
Keith

[HKB Electronics]

At a camp site onto the grass or trees as long as it not going to make a smelly mess. If a dirt track or gravel road in the middle of nowhere then on the track, like you we clean the dishes with paper towel before we washup. Other times pick a suitable spot of the road. We only store around 15Ltr's though and only sink water.

[Fizzie]

2. As above but leave the valve tank open so that it immediately drains as the sink and shower empty?

We don't have a grey-water tank, so this is what we do, either over to the base of a tree, or just out onto the grass / dirt nearby.

[Steffo1]

I don't see a problem with just running it into the scrub, trees or dirt. We have a non treated, grey water tank for our house which takes our shower, washing machine and kitchen sink wastes and it empties by a float level controlled pump, through a sprinkler, which I move around the yard. Been this way for over 30 years with no ill effects.
We do use so called Enviro-friendly products, too.
Perhaps use a sprinkler to help disperse the water.

[austastar]

Hi,
   Bucket under the sink drain, emptied on a needy bush or tree.
Shower in the open, so it doesn't even get collected.
The sooner greý water hits the natural earth the easier it breaks down and by not storing it, the amount released at any time is less.
There some locations of course where any release of  grey water would not be appropriate.
Cheers

Sent from my SM-T380 using Tapatalk

[gronk]

Ironic sometimes when you look 20m away over a fence and cows are crapping and pi**ing  everywhere and you'd be frowned upon for dropping 2 litres of washing up water onto the paddock beside the cows.

We use minimal detergent in that 2 ltrs of water and yep, I've been guilty of letting a pea ( sometimes 2 ) fall onto that same paddock.

I also have a leak behind the nearest tree...if it's good enough for a cow ......

[Spada]

Depends on the location, but generally dump it somewhere where it wont be a problem for someone else. In a remote bush camp thats not used much, that could be straight onto the ground, in a popular camp it might be behind a tree/shrub/long grass (anywhere someone couldn't roll out a swag) which means either running a hose or using a bucket. In a proper busy campsite/park it goes to the designated area if there is one, otherwise it's taken away to somewhere else.

End result, which ever option is easiest for me that wont cause a problem (soggy ground etc) to the next person that moves into my camp spot. Acid test question is "could the next person put a swag on that spot?"

[HEM19X]

Add a stocking [or similar] to the end of the drain hose to collect any solids as they can attract animals/birds etc.

[#jonesy]

End result, which ever option is easiest for me that wont cause a problem (soggy ground etc) to the next person that moves into my camp spot. Acid test question is "could the next person put a swag on that spot?"

Probably better -
"could the next person would I put a swag on that spot?"

[KeithB]

I think they key is not to put any grease or food particles down the sink.
Does anyone add anything to their grey water tank to keep it from going smelly?
Keith

[MrCruza]

I think they key is not to put any grease or food particles down the sink.
Does anyone add anything to their grey water tank to keep it from going smelly?
Keith

I'm trialing Napisan at the moment. Early days...

[KeithB]

I'm trialing Napisan at the moment. Early days...

I am trying a bit of Napisan as well. It takes away smells from the urine tank on our composting toilet. In the main compost bed on the toilet I use this stuff:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/drain-clean-100g-active-enzyme-pellets_p4460366
It helps break down the solids really well and is claimed to remove drain smells. Might try some of that next.
Keith