Where am I going to dump my waste water?

[angelmander]

Ive got a bathroom planned in my conversion. I already have the toilet, the clean water tank, and the dirty water tank and most of the plumbing is run. I am not worried about the feasibility of having a bathroom on the road, but I am concerned about how I'm going to get rid of the waste. I dont want to have to drive hundreds of miles to find the nearest RV waste dump or pay exorbitant prices for the use of them. I'm wondering, from you fellow RVers, how easy it is to find places to get rid of your waste water and how expensive it is, if there are certain requirements like the type of discharge hose (I bought an old aluminum gas tank as my waste tank and it's not configured for being a waste tank yet.

How few and far between are the RV places where you can dump? On a scale from 1-10 how illegal is it to find a deserted manhole cover and drop it right on in (kidding lol)

How am I going to do this? any help is appreciated

 

[tx2sturgis]

When you say 'dirty water' or 'waste water', we aren't sure of the exact meaning.

Normally we use the terms 'black tank' or 'black water' (or sewer line) for the toilet, and 'gray tank' or 'gray water' for shower and sink water. If you mix the two, then it just became black water. 

Black water HAS to dumped in a proper receptacle, usually at an RV dump station.

Gray water, well....that depends. A couple of gallons of mildly soapy water is not going to bring the EPA knocking on your door. But 35 gallons of it dumped beside your rig will probably get some attention, not to mention, make a mess.

You may want to fit standard RV valves and fittings so you can use dump stations as you find them.

There are alternative methods of dealing with waste...such as separating toilets like the C-head and of course, buckets.

 

[rvwandering]

Try this website - https://www.sanidumps.com/sanidumps_usamerica.php

  How often you'll have to dump depends on the size of your tank and how good you are at conserving water. If your tank is fairly large you should be able to go for the 14 days that is permitted for boondocking on BLM and forest land then plan your route to pass a dump station. Prices range from free to over $20.00 but most that do charge a fee are around $10.00.

 

[Elbear1]

If you get an annual interagency pass you can get campgrounds for 50% off. Often at the same price as a stand alone dump...$10.

Lot of pilots and flying j have dumps but theyre all on major interstates. The other option is just pay to dump at any campground.

Frankly I have a toilet but use bags for #2 and a bottle or bush for #1 (when no piblic option available) so i dont have to spend gas and fees for dumping.

 

[B and C]

Where you dump usually has potable water to fill tanks for the price of the dump.

Dumping even your grey tanks on public land (or private/municipale) could get you a serious fine.

 

[angelmander]

My waste tank is going to be 80 gallons, and its a mixed grey/black water tank. All of the water sources end up in that tank as per my design.

thanks for the responses

 

[highdesertranger]

yes RV dump stations are relatively easy to find they are everywhere. for those that don't have tanks it's best to know the local law. for instance in Arizona dish water is considered black water. please be good stewards. highdesertranger

 

[C-Cat]

A combined tank might make for messy hoses after the dumping... one advantage of having a separate grey-water tank is that you can dump it second (after the black tank) and thus rinse the hose with soapy (usually less nasty) water. Btw: 80 gallon is a lot... do you have an equally large fresh water tank? Otherwise it might be wasted space - and is your rig capable to carry that weight (close to 700 pounds)?

 

[tx2sturgis]

My waste tank is going to be 80 gallons, and its a mixed grey/black water tank. All of the water sources end up in that tank as per my design.

Ok, yeah....that will be considered a black tank. 

I assume you have or will provide a vent stack up on the roof for it...and you will probably by necessity need to install RV standard waste valves and couplings.

 

[maki2]

Some of the highway rest stops have facilities for emptying waste tanks. But using one of the apps that has a mapping service showing the one closest to you is going to be the easiest way to locate a place. Just remember sometimes they get out of date as changes happen at short notice if a problem happens at the facility. The best bet is to empty when half full if only to help save on your gas mileage. Water is very heavy to haul around.

 

[RoamerRV428]

rvdumpsites.net has locators if needed.

it won't be hundreds of miles and it won't be high priced you can dump cheap in a gazillion places.

 

[WanderingRose]

What everyone else said.

You can keep the frequency of dumps down by using public facilities wherever available, particularly toilets.

There is a ton of information out there on conserving water, too.

An 80 gallon tank seems really large, to me, and a lot to carry around fuel-wise.

Might consider something smaller.

 

[Qxxx]

"You can keep the frequency of dumps down by using public facilities wherever available, particularly toilets."

It was kind of a PITN for me being a van camper, but when I was in the LTVAs in Quartzsite and Yuma AZ this past winter, the areas right around the toilets were mobbed by RVs. I talked to one of the hosts, and he indicated likely people were doing that in order to cut down on trips to the black water dump station.

 

[RoamerRV428]

a regular rv black tank dumping into a regular old toilet? nightmare situation. you have to pull your handle and then it rips out full speed so a loaded 60 gallon tank is gonna rush out big time, what does one do, flush constantly LOL I mean it ain't happening in my eyes. A full black tank into a toilet isn't happening but for me I think it means more of 'use the public facilities for water situation and going to the bathroom to save on filling your tanks so you don't have to dump as much. I sincerely hope no one tries to dump a full big tank into a regular old toilet....yikes

 

[Qxxx]

No, no no, they were using the vault toilets in the LTVA for daily doo-doo duty so they wouldn't fill up their black water tanks so fast. Still going to the regular "dump station" to empty the tanks, but much less often. Senator Wash LTVA in Yuma was especially bad, the RVs were mobbed so close around the 2 toilets, I could barely find a place to park the van.

 

[highdesertranger]

you don't need to flush a toilet for stuff to go down it. it will except your shi eh stuff as fast as you can dump it in. however most people who dump into a toilet use a Mercator pump which slows the flow considerably.

BTW don't dump your tanks into just any toilet make sure you have permission from the toilet owner.

DO NOT dump into a pit toilet.
DO NOT dump into a septic system if you have used chemicals unless they are approved for septic systems and you have permission to dump in the system.

highdesertranger

 

[outermostsoul]

Many small towns have a free RV dump at the water department. Richfield and Wendell ID are the two I can think of off the top of my head.  Look for towns under 2K population.

 

[RoamerRV428]

OK OK got it, you had me wondering on that one LOL