Gray Water??

[spbiknut]

So I'm wonder if I need a "Gray" water tank? I'm going to have a a 10 gallon fresh water tank for cleaning dishes and tanking a quick backwoods bath, but if I'm using earth friendly soaps do I really need the gray water tank? Just wondering what everyone else is doing? Most of my camping will be done down in the Florida Keys at RV parks so I will have access to showers and cleaning station for dishes, but there will be times when I'm off the beaten path. Thanks for any input you can send my way.

-Troy

[kirkman]

5 gallon buck

[pete42]

I have been in some parks where dumping grey water is prohibited others allow it to be dumped on campfires.
when I had a pop-up I used a plastic kitty-litter bucket that had a lid. I cut a hose size hole in the top stuck
the sink drain hose in and dumped it at the dump station. I have never camped very far off the beaten path
I think those folks have their own way of disposing of the water.

[Shadow Catcher]

As indicated some parks require gray water capture and proper disposal and this can include shower drain water. Ours has a 16 gal RV type tank with a 3" RV gate valve. I was not happy with the bayonet type stinky slinky fittings and replaced it with camlock fittings. I just made an adapter from the 3" camlock to 3/4 hose and this will make it possible to use one of the five gallon flexible water containers to dump with out moving the trailer.

[pappaw]

The soaps we have these days break down right away and are harmless, so if your out where you can, you can use a bucket and then just go water a tree with it when you dump it. But I would not pour it in a lake or stream, let the plants and soil finish it off for you.

My 2 cents

[Shadow Catcher]

Biodegradable soap is not all that biodegradable and should not be used with in 200 feet of a water source
"All soaps, unfortunately even biodegradable ones, can contaminate fresh water sources.
Using a biodegradable soap doesn't reduce its immediate environmental impact...
..it just means that the soap will biodegrade in time."
http://www.backcountryattitude.com/biod ... _soap.html

I have been aware of this for some time and careful how we dispose of gray water.

[wagondude]

Campgrounds in the Black Hills area (like around Jewel Cave) all prohibit dumping of grey water. The soap can break down the mineral formations when it leaches into the caves.

[BrwBier]

I have never seen an established campground that allowed dumping gray water on the ground. There might be some but I have never encountered one. If you choose to ignore the rules do not complain when some one chooses different rules than you.
Brwbier

[pappaw]

"I have never seen an established campground that allowed dumping gray water on the ground"

Neither have we, but who said anything about that anyway?