Dealing with Wastewater
Every drop of water that comes into a camper must go somewhere. Campers have two systems to handle wastewater, typically referred to as a black tank and grey tank.
The black tank handles the waste that comes from the toilet. There are a few keys to making sure this system works well during your outing: Use plenty of water when flushing- this helps solids and paper dissolve and makes emptying easier. Always add fresh toilet chemical if you empty the black tank during your trip. Don’t put anything in the toilet except for single-ply toilet paper; everything else must go in the trash!
If the campsite has full hookups (there is a sewer drain at the campsite), it is important to leave the black tank closed. If left open, the water will drain and the solids will stay behind and harden. This is affectionately known as the “poop pyramid” and it is crappy to deal with… sorry for the bad pun😉
A black tank will typically last about 15 people-days. What is that??? The number of people times the number of days. So, 3 people for 5 days is 15 people-days. Two people should be able to go a week without emptying the black tank. Of course, this all depends on your use. One other factor… heat is not your friend; you may have to empty the black tank more frequently in the middle of summer.
The grey tank stores the wastewater from the showers and sinks. (Note: some campers have more than one grey tank and you must drain them all.) It is easier to work with than the black tank, but it does fill up quickly.
The best way to handle the grey tank is to use it as little as possible. Take advantage of the campground bathhouse for showers. Clean your dishes outside. (This is especially important if you are cleaning greasy, messy dishes because the food and grease will rot in the grey tank and not smell pleasant.) If you must take showers in the camper, take quick ones. Best practice is turning on the water to get wet and then turning it off while you clean. Then turn the water back on to rinse, using the least amount of water possible.
Grey tanks typically have 30 gallons of capacity. That is about 10-15 minutes of shower time so you can see how the tank would be full after a couple of normal showers. If the grey tank fills up, it will back up into the shower. (I have seen it back up into the sink but not often because the shower drain is lower.) When this happens, drain the tank quickly or it will begin to stink.
Without full hookups, even the most experienced campers will need a way to deal with the grey tank if camping longer than a couple of days. One option is a “tote tank.” It is basically a grey tank on wheels that looks like a wagon. Drain the grey tank into the tote tank and haul it to the dump station. (I like to do this every morning while my coffee is brewing. When I get back from dumping, I shower and then start my day.) We rent tote tanks for your convenience.
Another emergency option is to drip the grey tank onto the ground. Most campgrounds frown on this, so don’t make a habit out of it. If you must do it, try to do it at overnight so the water will be absorbed into the ground by morning…
Dealing with wastewater is one of the biggest learning curves for new campers. Camping provides a completely different “back to nature” experience than staying in a hotel. Make using as little water as possible one of the adventures of your camping experience and use it as a teachable moment for the kiddos!