Brodie Allen wrote:

---

Just perusing a newsletter about a new campervan and was surprised to

see that it had one 100L water and one 100L greywater tank.

 

Crossed my mind that 100L for greywater is a huge overkill - I have

gotten by with a 20L occasional use drum for those hysterical mainly

Council camps that demand that the grey be contained for later disposal -

goodness knows where, and 200L of water would be a better use of

facilities and space.

As far as greywater is concerned, I am of the opinion that other than

heavily populated camps it's better on the grass and the hose be moved

regularly. One of my family's homes has a transpiration area not just for

greywater but for the lot. And a transpiration area is a very close equivalent

to grey on the ground.

 Never been a problem.

 Can't understand a commercial manufacturer being so over the top with

greywater containment. Hate to see the mess coming out of the grey tank

after a fortnight's containment.

 

 

---

 Agree that 100 litre grey water tank is an 'overkill' when that area could be used for a far more useful 100 litre water tank. Although I have 70 litre grey water I rarely use it, and it never looks like filling.

It was fitted only because some free camps and National Parks have 'FULLY self-contained' policies, so no need to rock the boat!

Perhaps there's room for a much smaller tank somewhere on the camper van, but a 20 litre bucket MAY be acceptable? 

As you suggest, the grey water's always going to end up on the ground somewhere, but getting it out of the actual camping area is most important, I believe?

Often I see bigger vans, with families on board, simply letting their grey water out right where they've been parked when it is time to depart. 

Inconsiderate, and leaves a big mess for the next visitor to contend with. "Don't care" attitude. Cheers

A 100 litre grey water tank seems excessive to me. 

I have long held the view that the capacity of a grey water tank should ideally be no larger than required for a vehicle's/van's occupants for a 24 hour period. 

Any longer & the contents become stinky & a potential health hazard when dumped. If dumped before reaching that stage they can safely be dumped on the ground in appropriate places where they will not cause problems, or into a dump point, although a certain amount of behavioural practice helps. ie. Wiping dishes & pots clean before washing to avoid 'lumps' in the grey water which sits on the ground surface. 

Often though I think that places which expect full self containment (their prerogative)  have made that decision because of the quantity as well as the quality of grey water that folk create & dump. 

In our current travel outfit we are not fully self contained, but when required can generate minimal amounts of grey water compared to many. We flannel wash using a 2 litre ice cream tub with no more than a couple of inches of water in it, & can wipe dirty dishes clean, to wash more fully elsewhere, or choose to eat without cooking or using dishes. Just needs a bit of pre-planning. In reality we have rarely done the latter, but always carry the makings of a non cooked meal in case. So we can if required limit our grey water to less than a litre of body wash lightly soaped grey water. In most bush settings throwing this on the ground immediately after washing is of no consequence. 

We have stayed in a self contained only camp just once, with permission, having explained that we have no built in shower (a requirement of the camp) and having agreed to 'wash' using only 'wet wipes' which we would dispose of off site. We consider the requirement to have a built in shower  in any camp ground unnecessarily discriminatory but on that occasion found the camp's operator to be unusually considerate when approached and asked about behavioural approaches, rather than just 'equipment' approaches (which as we all know are no guarantee of acceptable behaviour). 

Worst I've seen was the dumping of the full stinking contents of a large tank from a large motorhome (I would guess at least 70 chunky litres) , directly onto the site immediately before departure in a NP campground, rendering the site unusable to anyone else. And a line of caravans all with grey water hoses running down a bank & directly into a river.  No doubt they were all 'fully self contained'. 

We are all different & have different needs, but I would suggest that a grey water capacity of a max of 12 to 15 litres multiplied by the number of beds in the RV should be adequate for most. For self contained only camps where multiple nights are allowed then I consider it reasonable to expect that they have suitable facilities for emptying grey water tanks daily. I also consider that portable grey water tanks are in many instances a more flexible option to 'built in'. 

We have had an 80 litre grey water tank under our van that has been used for past 10 or more years , has not been a problem to use or not use ....10 litres or 80 litres - does not matter . 80 litre tank is not a huge investment and certainly no inconvenience to have on board. Also beside it is a 90 litre black water tank and it has never been a problem either- do not have to use it to its total capacity but it is there if required. Weight (if that is a problem for some ) is negligible when they are empty.

vince56 wrote:

---

Am I missing something here?? Doesn't dumping the contents of your grey water tank just before leaving totally negate the whole idea of holding the water in the first place? I have a portable 40 litre tank under the van that I can unbolt and use if needed, 7 years of caravanning and never used it. I have heard of a common practice of dumping grey water as you drive and have seen people who do not connect their waste to sullage in a caravan park and dump as they leave, why?? Surely it's not too hard to connect a hose...

---

 Not everyone uses Caravan Parks and not all Caravan Parks have a Grey water /Sullage disposal point at each site..

Some National/State Parks require caravanners to contain their grey water and take it with them.

When "bush camping" in sandy soil it is not a big problem to let run on the ground but in clay soil regions it can leave a big wet mess. Besides I do not think that anyone appreciates standing in a greasy, soapy, smelly wet patch in the vicinity of their van.

vince56 wrote:

---

Am I missing something here?? Doesn't dumping the contents of your grey water tank just before leaving totally negate the whole idea of holding the water in the first place? I have a portable 40 litre tank under the van that I can unbolt and use if needed, 7 years of caravanning and never used it. I have heard of a common practice of dumping grey water as you drive and have seen people who do not connect their waste to sullage in a caravan park and dump as they leave, why?? Surely it's not too hard to connect a hose...

---

        No I don't think you are missing something at all. You are 100% correct in your thinking, but sadly there are ignorant & selfish people who think differently. I presume they don't want their stinking grey water on the ground around their camp, but don't give a toss about leaving it behind for someone else. 

Dumping as you drive is probably more common, but just as anti-social. Driving behind someone doing that & discovering it on your windscreen, or worse if you are on a motorcycle is far from pleasant. And if you are on a motorcycle, the greasy mess left on the road is potentially lethal after a light shower of rain. 

It really annoys me seeing folk driving out of camps or caravan parks with 'incontinent' vans or motorhomes, but sadly plenty seem to consider it ok.