Emptying the Waste Water from an RV
Introduction
Are you about to embark on a trip in your camper van and wondering how to dispose of your shower and toilet water? This article is for you. It’s aimed at novices, not seasoned users, but it’s essential for beginners to avoid any mishaps. We’ll cover why it’s crucial to empty the waste tanks, how and when to do it, where to find service areas, and explore the alternative of dry toilets to save on “black water.”
Subscribing to our Vantour's newsletter means receiving, once a month, no more, the cream of the crop of our tips and stories. From van travel guides to everyday life hacks, to exclusive tips for fully embracing the nomadic lifestyle.
We promise, no abuse, just quality content to enrich your adventures.
Key Points for Emptying an RV
- Importance of Emptying: Regularly empty to maintain a healthy environment and avoid bad odors and health risks.
- Types of Water: Understanding the distinction between gray water (kitchen and shower) and black water (toilets) is crucial for proper management.
- Frequency of Emptying: Empty waste water every 2 to 3 days, especially in summer to avoid unpleasant odors.
- Waste Water Tank: Regularly check the levels and empty before the tanks overflow.
- Necessary Equipment: Use gloves and biodegradable cleaning products to prevent contamination and blockages.
- Dump Sites: Always empty at equipped service areas, never in nature to protect the environment.
- Useful Apps: Use apps like Park4Night or Caramaps to easily find dump sites.
- Dry Toilets: Consider dry toilets as an alternative to reduce waste and simplify management.
- Sanitary Precautions: Thoroughly rinse the black water cassette after each emptying to minimize contamination risks.
- Environmental Respect: Follow local regulations for waste water disposal and adopt responsible behavior to preserve the natural sites you visit.
We haven’t filmed the video on this topic yet. Instead, we offer you the video presentation of our camper van.
Why Empty Your RV’s Waste Water?
Well, it’s simple: to maintain a healthy environment and avoid unpleasant surprises on the road, like finding an overflowing waste cassette… (yes, we speak from experience). Basically, it’s better to prevent than to cure!
Differences Between Domestic Water and RV Water: At home, waste water magically disappears once it passes through the drain, but in an RV, it accumulates in specific tanks that need to be managed carefully. Imagine this: in a confined space, poor management can quickly turn into an olfactory nightmare, not to mention health risks (and it can get really unpleasant).
Waste Water Tank: Its operation and capacity vary depending on the model; yes, each RV has its own specifications. Generally, you’ll find a gauge indicating your tank’s fill level. Be careful, a full tank means it’s time to empty it (don’t delay this, especially in summer!).
Difference Between Gray and Black Water: Let’s be clear. Gray water (from the kitchen and shower) is less polluted and easier to manage than black water, which comes from the toilets and contains biological waste—yes, your pee, poo, and all that. Managing black water requires more precautions, as you might expect, because it poses a higher risk to the environment, public health, and bacteria in your small living space.
Our Personal Experience
Between a sedentary lifestyle and a nomadic life in a camper van, one major difference is the precious resource of water. In Western countries, it’s easily accessible, which might not be the case in other regions. To better understand this topic, we have an article that provides more information on water in vanlife. Feel free to check it out at the end of this article!
How to Empty Waste Water in Vanlife?
Gray water is usually emptied through a hatch or a valve accessible under the vehicle, while black water is generally stored in a cassette accessible through a side hatch.
Let’s go into detail so you can hit the road with peace of mind.
Emptying Gray Water (Kitchen and Shower)
Gray water comes from your kitchen and shower. Here’s how to manage it properly:
- Locate the drain valve on your vehicle; it is often situated under the chassis.
- Position your van over a drainage grid in a service area. These places are designed to collect and treat waste water without harming the environment. We’ll talk more about these dump sites later in the article.
- Open the valve and let the water flow until the tank is empty. Then close the valve to avoid leaks while driving (don’t forget to wear gloves for this operation).
To prevent odors and blockages, use biodegradable cleaning products and minimize food residues in the sink.
Emptying the Black Water Cassette
Black water contains biological waste and requires special attention to avoid contamination:
- Use the specific installations for black water available at RV service areas. These facilities are equipped to handle this waste safely.
- Wear gloves and make sure to thoroughly rinse the cassette after each emptying to minimize contamination risks.
- If possible, use eco-friendly disinfectants to clean the cassette.
Our Personal Experience
Our camper van has a typical system, except for one difference: the gray water handle no longer works. It has been replaced by a tap at the end of the outlet, which means your hand is almost in contact with the gray water as it exits.
When Should You Empty Your Waste Water?
Vanlife requires a lot of planning. You need to pay attention to signals and indicators to schedule your waste water dumps to avoid, well, a messy situation. Let’s take a closer look to be precise.
Emptying Indicators: Most modern RVs are equipped with level indicators for gray and black water tanks. A light or sound signal can alert you when the tank is full. If your vehicle lacks these technologies, it’s good practice to empty the tanks every few days of normal use, or more frequently if there are multiple people on board.
Planning and Anticipation: To avoid emergencies, it’s wise to plan your dumps according to your itinerary. Check the location of compatible service areas before setting out and plan strategic stops for emptying. This will help you maintain good hygiene on board and travel more smoothly.
What are the Risks of Illegally Dumping Waste Water?
Wondering what could happen if you illegally dump your waste water? The consequences can be severe: you risk heavy fines and significant environmental damage.
Performing illegal dumping is strictly prohibited by law. In the UK, dumping waste, including RV black water, can result in substantial fines and legal action. Illegal dumping, known as fly-tipping, is subject to penalties that can include fines up to £50,000 and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense and the environmental harm caused.
In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also enforces strict regulations against illegal waste dumping. Dumping RV black water on the ground or into water bodies is not only illegal but can cause severe environmental and public health issues. Fines for illegal dumping can be substantial, and repeat offenders may face even stiffer penalties. Furthermore, human waste in black water can lead to the growth of toxic algae, which poses health risks to both humans and wildlife.
To avoid these sanctions and preserve the environment, always use designated dump stations. Not only do these facilities ensure safe and legal disposal, but they also help protect the natural ecosystems you enjoy during your travels.
Our Opinion
Let’s do a bit of math with urine. In our experience, we’ve often been more troubled by the black water cassette filling up rather than the gray water tank. Our cassette holds about 15 liters, and a person produces around 2 liters of urine per day. This gives you an idea of how much time you have if you find yourself unable to relieve yourself outside.
During “intensive” use, we sometimes had to empty it every two days, which is one or two days less than during our “normal” use.
Where to Empty Waste Water?
Waste water must NEVER be emptied into nature and should be disposed of at service areas, campsites, designated dump stations on highways, service stations, or even large supermarkets.
Practices to Avoid: The first rule is to never empty your waste water directly into nature. This pollutes the environment and is often illegal. In the UK and the USA, as well as in France, it is strictly forbidden to dump waste water on public roads or in nature, with heavy fines as a consequence.
Service Areas for Waste Disposal: For hassle-free dumping, specialized service areas are available. These sites are equipped to handle both gray water and black water and often offer fresh water refills. You can usually find them in campsites, near service stations, or at dedicated highway rest areas for RVs.
How to Find Service Areas: Using dedicated apps like Park4Night or Caramaps can greatly simplify your search. These apps allow you to locate dump stations around you, often with reviews and ratings from other users (a real plus to avoid unpleasant surprises).
Eliminating Black Water: Dry Toilets as an Alternative
Wondering if dry toilets can replace traditional ones? Yes, they offer an eco-friendly and practical solution. Here’s why they deserve your attention.
Dry Toilets do not require water, thus reducing the liquid waste to manage. They use absorbent materials like sawdust to neutralize odors, making it easier to compost solid waste. This system is ideal for areas without dumping infrastructure, simplifying waste management while being environmentally friendly. By using dry toilets, you contribute to water conservation and reduce your environmental footprint, making your vanlife experience more sustainable.
Our Opinion
If we were to make a significant modification to our camper van, it would probably be replacing our chemical toilet with a dry toilet. This change would give us more freedom on the road. As I mentioned before, it’s the filling level of the toilet cassette that has sometimes forced us to leave a fantastic spot due to the fear of needing to empty it. Switching to a dry toilet would eliminate this concern, allowing us to enjoy our travels without worrying about waste disposal as frequently.
By following these tips, you can fully enjoy your RV adventures while respecting the environment and maintaining a clean and healthy living space. Regular and responsible waste disposal is essential for a pleasant and sustainable vanlife. Safe travels!
