Stealth grey water emptying?

[Svenn]

I have a shower in my vehicle and I use only bio-safe soap; I have it draining directly to the ground because I've only been in rural areas.  So it's not even really grey water because there's no food or black water in it.  Problem is, how can I empty it if I'm stealthing on pavement and I don't want a giant puddle emerging from underneath my vehicle?  Basically I'm trying to avoid building a grey water holding tank, which I don't have the clearance for.  Perhaps I could have a big sponge dangling underneath the drain that could slow the puddle formation?

 

[slynne]

Park over a storm drain? The ones around here are clearly labeled as such and you find one about every block or so

 

[speedhighway46]

I park over a parking lot storm grate at Walmart and drain it at night. I line up carefully so the "stream" runs directly into the opening; doesn't even get the asphalt wet.

Just my opinion . . .

 

[John61CT]

Take your showers same time you're switching spots. Maybe a shallow open tub, dishpan holds a couple gallons, underneath to catch it, then you choose when to empty it.

Can't see it being too "stealthy" anyway.

Over gravel or a dirt side road probably better.

 

[DuneElliot]

You should treat grey water, even with bio soap, like you do in the back country...don't dump it anywhere near other water sources that will drain into rivers or lakes. I have a grey water tank and like you only have the occasional bit of soap in it but I can choose when and where to dump.

Even bio soap is harmful to aquatic animals and plants.

 

[Sabatical]

We use a bucket under the shower drain and fling it so it doesn't puddle, or water the shrubs or grass. We use a dishpan for washing kitchen stuff and dispose of it in the same manner.
Those that live in boxes are appalled by those that use storm drains for dumping and those folks tell whoever will listen. It'll probably buy a ticket if seen by leos. YMMV.

Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk

 

[lenny flank]

At night when it's raining.

 

[Queen]

At night when it's raining.

Used to have a mental health client who was homeless, her favorite way to shower... butt nekkid/at night in the rain/under a high mounted downspout on an industrial building.  She enjoyed it so much, made me want to try it.

 

[lenny flank]

Used to have a mental health client who was homeless, her favorite way to shower... butt nekkid/at night in the rain/under a high mounted downspout on an industrial building.  She enjoyed it so much, made me want to try it.

Hah, I'm afraid I'd scare off all the local wildlife if I tried that.

 

[lenny flank]

You should treat grey water, even with bio soap, like you do in the back country...don't dump it anywhere near other water sources that will drain into rivers or lakes. 

I always prefer to dump it in grass, so it gets bio-filtered before it reaches the water table. But I only ever have half a gallon or so of greywater at any one time.

 

[DuneElliot]

I always prefer to dump it in grass, so it gets bio-filtered before it reaches the water table. But I only ever have half a gallon or so of greywater at any one time.

Good to hear. I hope I didn't offend. As an avid wilderness backpacker I get a little touchy about taking care of our water sources and such.

 

[rvwandering]

Do NOT drain your gray water directly onto a parking lot. This is one of the quickest ways to get us all banned from overnighting in parking lots and it is illegal in many cities. Catch it in a container and dump it where it's legal.

Remember there are cameras everywhere. A security guy at a casino told us that someone staying in the casino lot dumped their tanks into a storm drain in the middle of the night. The drains went directly to the river. He was fined $20,000.

Another time (different casino lot) a RVer was allowing his tank to drip slowly. When security noticed it he was kicked out along with several other RVers, us included, who were not causing any problems.

 

[lenny flank]

Good to hear. I hope I didn't offend. 

Not at all. I used to be an organizer for Greenpeace and the Sierra Club.  

 

[DannyB1954]

I find it odd that rubber residue from wearing tires, leaking oil, transmission fluid, and antifreeze, can go down storm drains, but the sweat and dead skin cells of my body are considered toxic.
Public water treatment plants do not have a soap separator that I know of. They treat for bacterial growth. Where does their soapy water go? I live in a house that uses a septic system. Guess where all my soap goes, and the environment couldn't care less. If anything it acts like a fertilizer.
So I think a lot of rules have more to do with politics and trying to control others. Let's pretend that we are taking worthwhile steps While we ignore everything else that we do.

 

[abnorm]

In Florida...........Storm sewers often discharge directly to bodies of water............Sanitary sewers are routed to the waste water treatment plant .....

In Orange County where Orlando is located.......They have a catchy slogan on the street storm drains..........""Only Rain Down the Drain""

Over 700 cities in the US have combined systems.........where both sewer systems are interconnected.......requiring a huge cost to treat all the water and posing a risk for overflow and contamination of surface waters....San Francisco is a famous example of a combined system

Here's an article/map that illustrates Where these old combined systems remain in service

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/09/americas-sewage-crisis-public-health/405541/

doug

 

[lenny flank]

Public water treatment plants do not have a soap separator that I know of. They treat for bacterial growth. Where does their soapy water go? I live in a house that uses a septic system. Guess where all my soap goes, and the environment couldn't care less. If anything it acts like a fertilizer.  
So I think a lot of rules have more to do with politics and trying to control others.

I can't speak to your conspiracy theory. I do know that water treatment plants do not just treat for bacteria---they have a whole host of processes which filter water, remove solids and allow contaminants to settle out, ozone treatments, and a battery of other processes to remove other stuff. "Soap" is one of the things they remove.

PS--if you think soap in the water has no effect, I hope one day you are camping downstream from some clod who dumps all his soapy waste into the water you are drinking......

 

[highdesertranger]

some places it's legal to dump your grey water, some places it's illegal. best practice is to not dump except at an approved location. highdesertranger

 

[dr_nelson]

(...) Catch it in a container and dump it where it's legal. (...)

Stupid question, as I am totally new to grey/black water: where is it legal?

 

[highdesertranger]

it's always legal at a dump station. highdesertranger

 

[Wabbit]

...She enjoyed it so much, made me want to try it...

I believe her! And...why haven't you tried it? You're an "adult" now right?

I find it odd that...

Are you trying to look being the curtain? PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN! Dam you! You'll get us all kilt!