Dropping "grey" water in the road

[cyberyacht]

I've pressure washed, boiling water & washing up liquid, bio tabs my waste tank and it still pongs.

 

[poppycamper]

Maybe because of what you let enter tank...
Our van is 7yr old and apart from the yearly flush with Finnigan Tank Flush, we have no pong....

 

[TerryL]

Whilst doing a stint in our coach operations office, I had to call one of our drivers to stop - apparently his waste tank valve was open.

This was reported by a rather disgruntled lady who had been following him when a passenger inadvertently pulled the waste dump lever rather than the toilet flush handle..............

 

[VXman]

2 reasons. As Carpmart already said a serious hazard for motorcycles. Especially after the main flow is done. Every time you go round a bend or on a round about you splash more out at the worst place for a cyclist if they are not expecting it. Right on a bend or on a roundabout when unexpected changes in traction can be lethal.

The 2nd reason is it doesn't look good. The public for the most part do not know that it is only grey water and it looks bad. We have enough reputational issues without adding to them.

I will add one more. There is little if any reason to be dumping on the road, so why do it?

We empty ours at the side of the road occasionally - often just as we arrive home from a trip into a drain near our house. Otherwise carefully chosen grass verges in laybys and the like. Given the dirt and rubbish excreted by cars and lorries (fuel, oil, tyre, rubber, brake dust etc plus dead animal, human and animal urine) I don't think a bit of washing up and shower water will cause many problems. I agree not while you are driving as a hazard to motorcycles.

Reason - off grid camping. It can be difficult to find places to dump.

 

[Nanniemate]

To my knowledge, the only food waste that goes into my tank is off the washed plates etc. and I clean my holding tank once a year and dispose of the contents down my own drain.
As you seem to be of the dribble brigade that must trap the washing up waste inside your tank by not letting the full force of the water to remove them, how many times a year do you clean your tank?

Twice a year and every time the seal goes so rather regularly
I don't put dish water down there either the ridges on the drain pipes must catch crud which includes dead skin cells from the shower and hand basin and the grass that always seems to find its way onto the shower tray. Which I keep covered with a plug
Still not worked that out how it gets there
If you have any suggestions on how to stop the seal failing happy to try as many have tried
It seals for months with no problem and then gives up..
Any sensible suggestion are welcome if they have not been tried and failed

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[L' Hobo]

Twice a year and every time the seal goes so rather regularly
I don't put dish water down there either the ridges on the drain pipes must catch crud which includes dead skin cells from the shower and hand basin and the grass that always seems to find its way onto the shower tray. Which I keep covered with a plug
Still not worked that out how it gets there
If you have any suggestions on how to stop the seal failing happy to try as many have tried
It seals for months with no problem and then gives up..
Any sensible suggestion are welcome if they have not been tried and failed

A picture might be helpful but, if it's failing on a regular basis, is it hitting the ground?

As for grass getting into shower, just how much underneath clearance have you?

 

[Nanniemate]

A picture might be helpful but, if it's failing on a regular basis, is it hitting the ground?

As for grass getting into shower, just how much underneath clearance have you?

No it just don't stay sealed and its no lower than the fresh water drain pipe.or the step

 

[Sneds]

2 reasons. As Carpmart already said a serious hazard for motorcycles. Especially after the main flow is done. Every time you go round a bend or on a round about you splash more out at the worst place for a cyclist if they are not expecting it. Right on a bend or on a roundabout when unexpected changes in traction can be lethal.

The 2nd reason is it doesn't look good. The public for the most part do not know that it is only grey water and it looks bad. We have enough reputational issues without adding to them.

I will add one more. There is little if any reason to be dumping on the road, so why do it?

I don’t, was just asking.

 

[Marky146]

Guilty. Actually my waste is just from washing my cups and cleaning teeth. Luckily I park over a French drain in a car park where I get my weekly shop so I crack the drain cock then and it’s gone with no puddle by the time I get back. Problem solved.

 

[Landy Andy]

I've pressure washed, boiling water & washing up liquid, bio tabs my waste tank and it still pongs.

Try leaving everything open and air getting to it.
I have no traps on my wastes, and leave my drain tap open. I don’t clean my tank, and have no smells.

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[SwissBob]

Just to add to the should you shouldn't you debate I was surprised to find that on a narrow boat in the UK grey water goes straight into the canal. In France on the midi canal the toilet includes a masticator that dumps the results straight into the water which served as an excellent reminder to not fall in. At all the CLs we have stayed on we were instructed to dump it in the hedge ir on the field. Way back, to preserve water we were all told to dump household waste water on to the lawn or vege patch. I used to be very anti dumping grey water anywhere other than a service point. These days I'm fairly chilled about it so use a service point when available otherwise drop it out at a layby over a drain.

 

[L' Hobo]

OK, so how about grey down a street drain? I reckon there is a lot worse goes down them.

I personally, see nothing wrong in grey waste going down street drains IF that is the only place it goes but I am one of the people who are 'hung up' about it being released all over the roads.
The reason for this is that, on a very hot day a few years ago, I was leaving a Motorhome Show and the inevitable stream of waste water was on the roadway.
As I approached the dual carriageway/motorway roundabout, a motorcycle overtook me, slid on the wet/soapy road and I nearly ran over him.
Thank God all I hit was his crash helmet and bike.

Why should I, an innocent party, have to deal with the stress and trauma of accidently killing someone, just because of other people's ignorance and laziness!

PS. There was plenty of water
Water Dump stations on the Show ground, one of which they drove past as they existed the Show.

 

[Oldrat]

I personally, see nothing wrong in grey waste going down street drains IF that is the only place it goes but I am one of the people who are 'hung up' about it being released all over the roads.
The reason for this is that, on a very hot day a few years ago, I was leaving a Motorhome Show and the inevitable stream of waste water was on the roadway.
As I approached the dual carriageway/motorway roundabout, a motorcycle overtook me, slid on the wet/soapy road and I nearly ran over him.
Thank God all I hit was his crash helmet and bike.

Why should I, an innocent party, have to deal with the stress and trauma of accidently killing someone, just because of other people's ignorance and laziness!

I have some sympathy for your viewpoint but a bit of real life point of view from over here.

I don’t dump in the road mainly because it gives the anti camper brigade ammo.

I am a life long motorcyclist, police motorcyclist and been involved in motorcycle rider training education and safety.

On a dry day, if a motorcyclist cannot cope with soapy water dampening the road surface then they need to rethink their interest in motorcycling. On a wet day, it doesn’t really make a difference.

Per se, grey water isn’t more slippy than water on road surfaces, it might have the same problem when on tarmac over flashing or manhole covers: but these are the first things that a motorcyclist in the UK learns to be weary of.

Yes a trail of grey water might be an increased hazard, but nothing that a learner couldn’t cope with.

As an ex vehicle accident investigator, I’ve never dealt with nor heard of a fatal motorcycle accident involving grey waste..diesel spillage yes.

In fact I cant recall any accidents involving grey waste in the road ever.

Unless you know different?

 

[A S R]

Whenever I leave a site with a waste dump drain I always drive over and empty whatever is in the tank. I then close the tap and drive off. Sometime after that I stop in a layby and open the tap again so the last few litres empty out on the move. If there isn’t a drain then I keep it ALL on board until I get to a site where I can empty out. I always make sure the tank is empty before I get home.

 

[L' Hobo]

I have some sympathy for your viewpoint but a bit of real life point of view from over here.

I don’t dump in the road mainly because it gives the anti camper brigade ammo.

I am a life long motorcyclist, police motorcyclist and been involved in motorcycle rider training education and safety.

On a dry day, if a motorcyclist cannot cope with soapy water dampening the road surface then they need to rethink their interest in motorcycling. On a wet day, it doesn’t really make a difference.

Per se, grey water isn’t more slippy than water on road surfaces, it might have the same problem when on tarmac over flashing or manhole covers: but these are the first things that a motorcyclist in the UK learns to be weary of.

Yes a trail of grey water might be an increased hazard, but nothing that a learner couldn’t cope with.

As an ex vehicle accident investigator, I’ve never dealt with nor heard of a fatal motorcycle accident involving grey waste..diesel spillage yes.

In fact I cant recall any accidents involving grey waste in the road ever.

Unless you know different?

Probably you cannot recall any accidents involving grey water is because, as the Police stayed that attended this accident, how can they prove which vehicle did the dumping and IF it was the cause.

This last fact was harder to prove because, as I said earlier, it was a VERY hot day and by the time they arrived, the stretch of road I, and the other vehicles stuck behind me, were on, had nearly dried out!

PS. It surprises me that you, as a life long Police Motorcyclist, have never encountered how slippery tarmac get can get when a thunder shower hits VERY hot tarmac?

I have, both here and other countries, when test driving both cars and trucks many years ago!

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[Oldrat]

Probably you cannot recall any accidents involving grey water is because, as the Police stayed that attended this accident, how can they prove which vehicle did the dumping and IF it was the cause.

This last fact was harder to prove because, as I said earlier, it was a VERY hot day and by the time they arrived, the stretch of road I, and the other vehicles stuck behind me, were on, had nearly dried out!

PS. It surprises me that you, as a life long Police Motorcyclist, have never encountered how slippery tarmac get can get when a thunder shower hits VERY hot tarmac?

I have, both here and other countries, when test driving both cars and trucks many years ago!

I was just trying to give a little perspective.

Grey water is pretty much the same hazard as rain water. As I said, a motorcyclist should be able to cope with trails of water/ grey waste.
Now, diesel/petrol is an entirely different matter

If you want me to go into technicalities, hot tarmac has the same coefficient of friction as regular tarmac ( there is a small difference but pretty much inconsequential) its the tyre temperature that makes handling feel different.

 

[Paulypaul]

I reckon that any grey waste dumped in a pissy laybye can only be a good thing. As a lorry driver, I hate having to stop in laybyes to take a break when all you can smell is wee. So anything that could flush that away can only be a good thing.

That could lead on yo the disgusting lack of facilities on offer to truck drivers but that's another subject.

 

[L' Hobo]

I was just trying to give a little perspective.

Grey water is pretty much the same hazard as rain water. As I said, a motorcyclist should be able to cope with trails of water/ grey waste.
Now, diesel/petrol is an entirely different matter

If you want me to go into technicalities, hot tarmac has the same coefficient of friction as regular tarmac ( there is a small difference but pretty much inconsequential) its the tyre temperature that makes handling feel different.

But not when the hot tarmac is covered with oil etc from standing vehicles waiting to join a busy roundabout and sprayed with water (of any kind but especially washing up soap that is designed to break the surface tension of said water!)

 

[Oldrat]

But not when the hot tarmac is covered with oil etc from standing vehicles waiting to join a busy roundabout and sprayed with water (of any kind but especially washing up soap that is designed to break the surface tension of said water!)

Surface tension has nowt to do with coefficient of friction of the road surface.

Sorry I’ve said my piece.

I’m out.

Have a good day.

 

[Pedrogee]

Maybe because of what you let enter tank...
Our van is 7yr old and apart from the yearly flush with Finnigan Tank Flush, we have no pong....

We always carry 2 litres of water, diluted with 50ml approx of green toilet chemicl with us. After emptying at a site, I pour this down the sink and shower drains. On the journey to the next site, or home, the chemical splashes around in the tank and kills off any bacteria etc, it would seem, as our grey waste hardly ever smells, even after a couple of days.

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[Oldbob]

We get that bin lorry runoff every fortnight.
Smells as bad as any silage effluent.

Nothing wrong with silage effluent, cows love it !

 

[Thommo]

I definitely don't approve although I have done it accidentally once or twice. Yesterday I was walking along a quiet country lane on the outskirts of my village when along came a wheelie bin lorry. Copious quantities of fetid liquid was pouring from a pipe on the nearside of the vehicle, leaving a noticeable trail which I tried to avoid as I returned home. Once back into "civilisation" I realised that it was "garden waste bin" day, so presumably this fluid is the decay from a fortnight of dead plants plus the water from discarded vases of flowers, possibly food peelings, etc. It makes my grey water seem sweet!

Gordon

Hi
New to this group we are travelling in our 7.5m Frankia motorhome. We are from Australia where we are encouraged to drop the grey water at a lot of campground to water the grass and plants. We find it interesting the difference in how the practice is viewed.

 

[Nanniemate]

Hi
New to this group we are travelling in our 7.5m Frankia motorhome. We are from Australia where we are encouraged to drop the grey water at a lot of campground to water the grass and plants. We find it interesting the difference in how the practice is viewed.

Just goes to show how we take water for granted

 

[TheBig1]

The worst thing in the waste tank is actually the soaps. These can mix with any oil residue on the road creating slippery slime. The smelly food particles being digested are less of an issue. As said it is good stuff to water hedges and flowers with, water and organic fertiliser

 

[BOWHOUSE52]

Ok, ready to be slated but why not just let it run out?
It’s just water, maybe a bit of toothpaste and some soap?

Totally agree

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[L' Hobo]

Hi
New to this group we are travelling in our 7.5m Frankia motorhome. We are from Australia where we are encouraged to drop the grey water at a lot of campground to water the grass and plants. We find it interesting the difference in how the practice is viewed.

Hi Thommo,
I was born in Australia at the end of the war and lived back there in the mid 70's for quite a few years so Welcome!

When I was working there, there was a saying about the first thing one got asked at dinner parties.
If the dinner party was in Sydney, one was asked, "How much do you earn?"
If in Melbourne,"What school did you go to?"
If Perth, "How bigs your lawn?"

One had to be rich in Perth to maintain and water a large lawn as it was so dry.

As you may have read, most people are not too concerned about releasing water on grass, except when the next occupant of the pitch might be in a tent or with small children, it's the thoughtless and selfish dumping of waste water on driveways and roads that annoy some of us as it portrays a poor image of Motorhomers to the general public and could possibly be dangerous.

Even the Brits have been known to be asked to drop their waste water on the pitch in times of drought!

 

[Reallyretired]

Mine doesn’t smell; well doesn’t most of the time!

No doubt your farts don't either

 

[Nanniemate]

No doubt your farts don't either

And

 

[leggings]

I empty my grey while travelling to try and wash away the spills left from bin lorries.

Not funny.

 

[Cartela]

To my knowledge, the only food waste that goes into my tank is off the washed plates etc. and I clean my holding tank once a year and dispose of the contents down my own drain.
As you seem to be of the dribble brigade that must trap the washing up waste inside your tank by not letting the full force of the water to remove them, how many times a year do you clean your tank?

How do you go about cleaning the tank?

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