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How do you drain the water out of a pop-up camper?
- Locate the sink drain on the side of your pop-up camper and remove the cap.
- Screw the drain hose onto the sink drain.
- Place the end of the hose into the bucket or the 5-gallon tank so the sink water drains into the bucket or tank and not onto the ground.
Do pop-up campers have GREY water tank?
Generally, most pop-up campers do not have onboard gray water holding tanks. However, there are lots of portable gray water tanks that you can buy online. Otherwise, you can just run the hose from the drain plug on your pop-up to the sewer connection.
How many gallons of water does a pop-up camper hold?
Tank Capacities
The freshwater tanks range from 17 gallons to 36.5 gallons and the gray-water tanks from 7.5 gallons to 11 gallons. The black-water tanks only hold five gallons.
How to Drain Sink Water from a Pop-Up Camper
Can you empty GREY water on the ground?
Bureau of Land Management
Generally, as long as your gray tank contains water that was used for washing, it’s legal to dump it on the ground.
How to Drain Sink Water from a Pop-Up Camper
Boondocking on BLM lands
Can I dump my gray water on the ground?
Of the six different federal state administration offices, only the BLM does not prohibit the introduction of gray water onto the soil. Technically, they use the term “washwater” when describing what types of waste are exempt from landfill. Below are subsections for each of the Land Management Agencies and their regulations…
Office of Land Management
The BLM is the only state agency that does not specifically prohibit gray water discharge on the ground. This is based on a BLM rule codified under CFR Title 43, § 8365.1-1 Sanitation stating…
“In all public lands, no one shall, unless otherwise authorized: (3) discharge sewage or petroleum products, or dispose of refuse or refuse, except to wash water from trailers or other vehicles, except in places or receptacles designated for that purpose;”
The regulation does not explicitly define “washing water”, but it does mean any water that has been used for washing (i.e. hands, dishes, shower, clothing, brushing teeth, etc.) that meets the definition of gray water, or water from a gray tank. As long as your Grautank contains water that has been used for washing, dumping it on the ground is generally legal.
Note: Some farm workers have indicated that this only applies to gray water from a shower or sink that has been collected in a tub or bucket, but not to water that has been allowed to drain into the gray tank. However, the actual Code of Federal Regulation (above) does not make this distinction.
Also note: the above rule applies only to “public lands,” a term the BLM uses to describe all lands they manage, excluding built-up areas (campgrounds, visitor centers, OHV areas, etc.).
US Forest Service
The US Forest Service has rules codified under CFR Title 36, § 261.11 Sanitation stating…
The following are prohibited: (b) Possessing or leaving any trash, debris or refuse in an exposed or unsanitary condition. (c) Placing any substance in or near any stream, lake or other body of water that pollutes or may pollute any stream, lake or other body of water. (d) Failure to dispose of all garbage, including paper, cans, bottles, sewage, sewage or material, or waste either by removing it from the site or area or by depositing it in containers or at designated locations.
The last rule (d) specifically prohibits the discharge of gray water on the ground. However, we’ve heard from farm workers who claim they got permission from rangers to dump their gray water on the ground. Since laws and rules are only as effective as the officers who enforce them, the matter is a case-by-case decision.
National Park Service
The National Park Service has rules codified under CFR Title 36, Section 2.14 Sanitation and Waste, which states that…
(a) The following are prohibited: (1) Disposal of waste in other than waste receptacles. (4) Discharging refuse from a trailer or other vehicle, except at facilities provided for that purpose. (6) Pollution or contamination of any body of water or watercourse in the Park area. (8) Disposal of human waste in built-up areas, except in designated places or facilities. (9) In undeveloped areas, disposal of human waste within 100 feet of a water source, high water mark of a body of water or campground, or within sight of a trail, unless otherwise noted.
The National Park Service specifically defines “garbage” as…
Waste means waste, litter, trash, waste paper, bottles or cans, debris, waste, oil, solvents, liquid waste or other discarded materials.
Office for Reclamation
The Bureau of Reclamation has codified rules under CFR Title 43, § 423.34 Sanitation stating…
(a) You shall not dump or improperly dispose of waste on reclamation facilities, property or bodies of water. Both the owner and the waste bringer or remover can be given a notice of violation of this provision.
The Presidency defines “decline” as…
Waste means all human or pet waste, litter, litter, litter, litter, debris, contaminants, pollutants, waste liquids or other discarded materials.
Since the Bureau of Reclamation focuses on bodies of water (lakes and rivers), it is understandable that discharge of sewage of any kind on the ground is not permitted.
Army Corps of Engineers
The Army Corps of Engineers has rules codified under CFR Title 36, § 327.9 Sanitation which states…
(a) Garbage, refuse, refuse, gray water or other waste materials or liquids generated by the Project and arising from any permitted recreational activities shall be either removed from the Project or disposed of in designated containers. Improper disposal of such waste, including human and animal waste, on the project is prohibited. (c) The spilling, pumping, dumping or disposal of contaminants, pollutants or other waste, including but not limited to human or animal waste, petroleum, industrial and commercial products and by-products, on Project land or Project waters is prohibited.
With the Army Corps of Engineers primarily focused on construction projects around waterways, it’s understandable why dumping gray water on the ground isn’t allowed.
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The USFWS manages all National Wildlife Refuges in the United States. They have rules codified under CFR Title 50, §27.94 Disposal of Waste, which states…
(a) It is prohibited to pollute, dispose of or dump garbage, sewage, mud, dirt, rocks or other debris in a National Wildlife Refuge except at points or locations designated by the Refuge Administrator, or to dump or dump oil, acids, Dispose of, or otherwise pollute, pesticide residues, toxins, or any other type of chemical waste into any body of water, waterhole, stream, or other area within a National Wildlife Refuge.
While the above rule doesn’t actually describe sewage or wash water, they do use the term “garbage effluent,” which many would argue includes greywater. The term “chemical waste” is also used, which can include soaps, detergents, or other cleaning supplies that you might flush down your gray tank.
State public lands (parks, forests, beaches, etc.)
State laws and regulations vary from state to state and vary from one park, forest or beach to the next.
Even if you camp on BLM or USFS land, your sewage may flow or drain into underground aquifers leading to sources of drinking water (lakes, rivers, steams, reservoirs). Most states have laws and regulations related to public safety or environmental quality that make it a crime to pollute these sources. Even when it’s perfectly legal to dump gray water on BLM land, state officials can still bring you up (and arrest you) for violating state laws.
Many local water districts own land that is remote from homes and businesses, and often these properties are adjacent to BLM and USFS land. In Southern California, for example, the Metropolitan Water District owns millions of acres of land, many of which are adjacent to BLM and USFS areas. When discharging gray water, make sure no water district employees are nearby or you could face charges of contaminating your water sources.
Many states now allow the use of gray water to water lawns and gardens, but this is only permitted if gray water is used primarily for that purpose and not as a secondary benefit from draining RV tanks.
Idaho
Department of Parks and Recreation…
IDAHO ADMINISTRATION CODE, IDAPA 01/26/20…
200. CAMPSITE.
06. Disposal of liquid waste. All gray water and sewage waste shall be contained in closed units or collected in watertight containers in accordance with government recognized standards and disposed of in sanitation facilities designated for the disposal of such waste.
Fish and game department…
IDAHO ADMINISTRATION CODE IDAPA 01/13/03…
100. PUBLIC USE RESTRICTIONS.
01. Prohibited Activities Without Director’s Approval. Except as expressly authorized by the Commission or under any lease, permit, contract or agreement issued by the Director, Regional Supervisor or other authorized representative, the following activities are PROHIBITED:
l. Dispose of dead fish, birds, animals or parts or remains thereof, sewage, metal cans, bottles, plastic or paper cartons, shotgun shell cases, garden and agricultural waste, garbage, machinery, equipment or other waste on or in any land or water.
Department of Lands (State Endowment Lands)…
The Ministry has not yet issued general regulations regarding the discharge of sewage, including black water. However, the ministry has spun off 10 different “supervisory branches” of the state for the purpose of managing endowment lands, and each branch is empowered to set its own policies relating to sewage, gray water, black water, sewage and waste.
Keywords: gray water dump, gray water dump, rules for the gray water dump, rules for the gray water dump
Can I water my grass with GREY water?
Grey water can be used on the garden and lawn either by bucket or a grey water re-use system. Grey water is the wastewater from washing machines, laundry tubs, baths, showers and wash basins.
How to Drain Sink Water from a Pop-Up Camper
Gray water is the wastewater from washing machines, laundry tubs, bathtubs, showers and sinks. Waste water from the toilet, dishwasher or kitchen sink is not included as these can contain unwanted solids and potentially unhealthy contaminants.
Gray water can be used in the garden and lawn either by bucket or through a gray water reuse system. It’s a great way to recycle your gray water, freeing up sewage systems and saving valuable drinking water and money. If you choose to use greywater, be sure to use friendly, appropriate cleaning products that will not harm your plants and lawn.
Use suitable cleaning agents
One of the most important things to keep in mind is to use proper cleaning products that are low in phosphorus and low in sodium. These types of cleaning supplies are readily available at your local supermarket.
A few ways to use greywater:
A diversion system diverts gray water from your drains to your lawn and garden. A few systems are available, the simplest is just a bucket, or you can set up a pump with pipes and drip lines. A treatment system is used for stored gray water and requires treatment to remove unpleasant odors and harmful microorganisms and other objectionable matter. Once treated, the water can be used in the garden and to flush toilets.
Soil type is another consideration when deciding to use greywater in the garden. Clay soils retain the water’s solid particles far more firmly than sandy soils, to the point where the levels can be harmful. Flushing the soil with clean water will help remove these particles. Long-term continuous use of greywater can cause problems. Sandy soils that drain and leach easily don’t suffer nearly as much from this problem.
Finally, regulations vary from country to country and municipality to municipality, so you’ll need to check with the relevant authorities to determine what’s legal and appropriate for you. Your water utility and community should have the appropriate guidelines on the use of gray water. For more information, it is best to contact a specialist in your area.
For more helpful tips and advice visit the Lawn Solutions Australia lawn care page.
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Is it OK to leave grey water tank open?
Remember that while you can leave your gray tank open, you should only open your black tank after it has filled and you’re ready to dump.
How to Drain Sink Water from a Pop-Up Camper
What is it about holding tanks for mobile homes?
There is a significant difference between your black and gray tanks. A black tank holds all the water that has passed through a toilet. This includes human waste, which you must dispose of hygienically.
Your RV will also likely have a gray tank that holds water from showers and faucets. Gray water also contains water from your kitchen sink, which may contain food debris. Although greywater does not contain raw human sewage, it can still smell awful.
Full connections are luxurious
Many RV parks have full hookup locations. Keeping your RV connected to the sewer and being able to empty your tanks quickly is a luxury. It can save you a lot of time and trouble.
RVs love full hookups for convenience. You don’t have to worry about throwing your tanks into a portable bin or finding a disposal station. You can empty your tanks quickly and easily without having to pack up your entire site every time.
As luxurious as full hookups are, this is also where people wonder if they should leave their tanks open. Let’s see why you should keep them closed here too.
Black Tanks on Full Hook-Ups: Leave them closed
It’s a common mistake many motorhome owners make to leave their black tanks open when using full hookups. Leaving your black tanks open allows any liquid that enters your tank to drain immediately. This becomes a problem as solids are left in the tank.
As the solids build up over time, a “pyramid of poop” can form in a tank. It doesn’t take long for these solids to merge. They can create a mass that is too large to pass through the valve for deflation. This will clog your tanks and create a frustrating and disgusting situation.
You can reduce your chances of getting a “pyramid of poop” by keeping your black tank closed and using plenty of water with each flush. This will help break down solids while they are in the tank. When you later empty the tank, the force of the outflowing water washes out the solids as well.
Pro tip: Add a scoop of Happy Camper to each gray and black tank to help break down solids and keep odors at bay.
How long does it take to fill a black tank?
The time it takes to fill up your black tank varies from RV to RV and from camping style to camping style. Black tanks come in a variety of sizes, typically from 20 to 60 gallons. You can find some 100 gallon tanks out there. Check your RV owner’s manual if you’re not sure what size tank you have.
Another factor to consider is how many people will be using the toilet in your RV. A large family fills the tank faster than a solo traveler or a couple. Just for reference, it takes two of us nearly two full weeks to fill our 50 gallon black tank.
When camping in a campsite, you can keep your black tanks free by using the campsite’s facilities. There are even some campers who only camp at established campgrounds and use the campground’s restrooms. That means they don’t use the toilet in their RVs.
Gray tanks with full wiring: leave open
Many RVs leave their gray tanks open for up to a day or two before planning to dump their black tanks. This allows them to drain their black tank and then use the soapy gray water to flush the drain hose. This helps to avoid odors or coarse effluents.
Even your kitchen gray tank needs a good rinse every now and then. Food leftovers from dishwashing can accumulate at the bottom of your gray tank. It’s important to regularly refill your gray tank to flush it out. You don’t want rotting food debris sitting in your gray tank. This can result in odors that rival even black tank odors.
Pro tip: If you leave your gray tanks open, create a “U” shape with your drain hose and make sure some water gets in there. This will prevent odor or waste flies from entering your system.
Can RV sewer odors get into my RV?
RV plumbing systems use a mechanism known as a P-trap to keep odors out of the living space. A P-Trap uses two 90 degree connections and an overflow pipe to hold water to block the passage of odors.
Alternatively, if your RV does not appear to have a P-Trap, you may have an air intake valve. This valve performs the same function as a P-Trap, preventing sewer odor from entering your RV.
From time to time you can smell something coming from your system. You usually only smell it when you empty your tanks. If the odor persists, you may need to verify that your P-Trap is working properly.
How often should you flush and clean your holding tanks?
The more you use your RV, the more often you need to flush and clean your holding tanks. If you use your RV for weekend trips, you should flush and clean your holding tanks after each trip. You don’t want raw sewage or leftover food in your tanks, especially when there are weeks or months between uses.
Many full-time RVs flush and clean their tanks whenever it is convenient for them. That is, if they are in full port locations or at a disposal station. We typically clean our tanks the day before or the day we leave a full port location.
We try to clean our tanks every time we empty them, but that’s not always possible. When that happens, we only find that we might need a few extra flushes the next time we fully hook up.
Are holding tank sensors accurate?
It’s a common joke in the RV community that holding tank sensors are only accurate until you use the toilet for the first time. If something sticks to the sensor, it will falsely show that it is fuller than it actually is. Sensors can even indicate an almost full tank immediately after emptying.
Many RVs use tricks like adding dish soap to their tank, using large amounts of water, or emptying an ice pack into the tank. These methods are not guaranteed. The more you use your RV, the more you will intuitively learn the tricks and status of your tanks.
A trick many RV owners use to know when to empty their black tanks is to listen for the “burp.” As liquids and solids replace the air in your tanks, you may hear a burp. Then you know it’s time to empty your black tank.
Pro tip: If you really want to be confident in your tank sensors, you can always upgrade to the SeeLevel tank monitoring system.
Conclusion: gray tank open, black tank closed
While draining your tanks is never a great job, connecting to a full hook-up point means you can worry less. Keep in mind that while you can leave your gray tank open, you should only open your black tank after it’s filled and you’re ready to empty it. This can help save you from the dreaded “Poop Pyramid” and get you back to the RV. How often do you clean your tanks?
Last update on 07/31/2022 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Is washing machine water considered grey water?
What is graywater, exactly? Household wastewater from washing machines, bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtubs is considered “gray” because it is only lightly soiled and poses a minimal health risk.
How to Drain Sink Water from a Pop-Up Camper
In contrast, blackwater — what you flush down the toilet — needs intensive treatment before it can be reused in the landscape, which isn’t a feasible (or legal) DIY project.
There are brain-dead easy ways to recycle gray water — we list a few here — but they require sloshing around with a bucket or some other form of manual labor every time you want to water. And there are also high-tech methods, but these require serious plumbing skills and a significant financial investment. The washing machine method falls in between – anyone with basic household tools and good mechanical skills can do it in a weekend. It’ll cost you a few hundred dollars for supplies.
The basics
Washing machines are equipped with a pump to push the waste water out of the machine into a drain pipe. The brilliance of this system, first developed by Art Ludwig of Oasis Design in Southern California, is that it uses a washing machine’s built-in pump to distribute wastewater through a system of underground pipes to water individual plants in the garden. The water flows into mulch-filled pools around each plant where moisture can be accessed by the roots.
This design is most effective for watering fruit trees, berry bushes, edible vines, and other large perennial plants. It does not make sense to water many small plants, such as flower beds, lawns and annual vegetables.
A few other caveats:
You cannot water areas uphill from the washing machine (the pump is not powerful enough)
You also can’t water plants on a slope (although you can run the water downhill from the machine to water a flat area below).
Don’t use this method if you’re washing dirty diapers in the washing machine (that makes it blackwater)
Do not apply the gray water to plantings along streams or on swampy ground (to avoid contamination).
You must only use biodegradable products in your washing machine (i.e. no bleach, borax or sodium).
is it legal
Gray water systems are increasingly being adopted by authorities across the country, particularly in water-stressed regions. Most gray water systems require a permit (and often a licensed plumber) to install them, but the washer system is unique in that it’s specifically legal for homeowners to install it without a permit in five states – California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming – and with a little negotiation with your local building department it will likely pass muster in most locations (although a permit may be required).
Municipalities are usually lenient when it comes to regulating gray water systems for washing machines as this approach does not alter your household plumbing and the gray water remains underground at all times, eliminating any health risks. Still, check with local authorities before proceeding. Greywater rules for a number of states in addition to the five above can be found here.
Step one: Calculate the system size
Before you get your tools out, grab a pencil and paper and determine how many plants you can water. Engineers have sophisticated methods to perform such calculations, but this is not necessary for our purposes. For each load of laundry per week, plan to water 1 to 2 fruit trees, 3 to 4 berry bushes, 3 to 4 edible grapevines, and 6 to 8 smaller perennials (like roses, lavender, or artichokes) per load.
These guidelines are based on 20 gallons of water per load, which is typical for most washing machines. However, it’s best to consult your owner’s manual for your model’s exact water usage and adjust your plans accordingly (compact and water-efficient machines may use half that amount).
Also consider your soil conditions. If the soil is sandy, the irrigation water drains quickly; conversely, drainage in heavy clay soil is poor. If drainage is very poor, spread the waste water over twice as many plants as recommended above. In extremely sandy soils, halve the number of plants to ensure there is adequate moisture.
Finally, use common sense when calculating the watering needs of individual plants. A newly planted fruit tree requires a fraction of the water required by a large mature tree. And drought-tolerant species like olives and figs require far less water than moisture-loving ones like blueberries and asparagus.
There’s no need to get too scientific with the calculations – when in doubt, it’s better to overwater with this system, as the mulch pits act like a sponge, allowing the roots to absorb the water they want and minimizing the risk of plant drowning.
Step Two: Dig the trenches
Washing machine pumps are not very powerful, so plants to be watered should be less than 50 feet from the machine, assuming the terrain is more or less flat. A network of flexible hoses buried in trenches underground provide water to each plant. The ditches may go up and down over modest hills and valleys in the landscape, but should not go directly uphill. (The 50 feet does not include the distance the pipeline travels down an incline to reach the planting area, as gravity does that part).
Starting from the outside wall of your home closest to the washing machine, dig a shallow trench (2 to 3 inches) to the nearest plant you want to water. Stop digging at the edge of the plant’s “drip line” — just below the outermost leaves and branches — and from there, dig a ditch to the next plant’s drip line, to the next, and so on.
Then dig a trench about 10 inches deep and 8 inches wide in a circle around the drip line of each plant. Another option that works well for smaller plants planted in a row is to dig a straight trench along the edge of the drip line on one side of the row (to a maximum length of about 12 feet). The ditches are filled with mulch to contain the gray water.
Step Three: Lay the pipe and spread the mulch
Lay 1-inch flexible HDPE pipe (often referred to as poly pipe) in the shallow trenches, cut and insert “Ts”, “elbows” and other barbed fittings as needed. Run a ½ inch hose from the 1 inch main line to each of the deeper trenches, leaving a few inches of hose extending into each trench. Secure the fittings with hose clamps.
Washing machine pumps are only powerful enough to push water through 10 to 12 watering points at a time. If you want to water more plants, divide the pipe network into two zones with a three-way valve. The valve should remain accessible in a valve box so you can operate it manually.
1-gallon plastic pots provide an easy way to keep the mulch in the ditches around each plant away from the outlet of each pipe so water can flow freely. First cut off the bottom of the pot. Then drill a 1 ¼ inch hole in one side of the pot, about 2 inches off the bottom. Fill the bottom of the trench around each plant with 4 inches of wood shavings (compacted with your feet). Slide the pots over the ends of the pipes in each trench with the bottom of the pots facing up so the top of the pot is resting on the mulch.
Then fill in the rest of the trenches around each plant with wood shavings. Use a concrete stepping stone as a lid for each pot. Cover the pipes in the shallow trenches with soil, leaving a few feet exposed at the end at the house to connect to the washing machine.
Step 4: Connect the washing machine*
Locate the flexible drain hose behind the washing machine and remove it from the rigid “standpipe” that drains the waste water into a sewer or sewage treatment system. Connect the flexible drain hose to a 1-inch three-way valve with a 1-inch barbed adapter and hose clamp. Connect one side of the valve to the sewer standpipe with 1-inch diameter PVC pipe and fittings, reconfiguring the piping as necessary so that the valve is in an accessible location near the standpipe and at least a few inches above the The height of the washing machine against the wall.
Select where the pipes will go through the wall to connect to the pipes to the outside. Drill a test hole through the wall with a ¼-inch drill to make sure there are no bolts, wires, or pipes in the way behind the wall. Then drill a 1½ inch hole through the wall. (Another option is to run the pipe through the floor and out through the outside wall of a basement room).
Run 1-inch diameter PVC pipe from the open end of the valve through the wall, leaving about two to three inches of the pipe protruding on the outside of the wall. Use 1″ pipe straps on either side of the valve to support the horizontal pipe and attach to the wall.
Connect a 1″ PVC tee fitting to the open end of the pipe outside the wall, with the open ends of the fitting oriented vertically. Connect the bottom of the T-connector to the poly tubing on the floor using 1″ diameter PVC tubing and fittings if needed. Cover the last piece of poly tubing with soil.
Connect a length of 1 inch diameter PVC pipe to the top of the tee, long enough to rise above the indoor three-way valve. Connect a ventilation valve (also known as an “auto air vent”) to the top of the pipe (this device prevents foul-smelling air from recirculating back through the washing machine and into the house). Seal the hole where the pipe runs through the exterior grade caulk, both inside and outside the wall.
*Use Teflon tape on all threaded connections. Glue unthreaded fittings together with PVC glue.
operation and maintenance
The system works independently unless you use multiple watering zones. In this case, you need to turn the three-way valve in the valve box outdoors once a week. Simply divide the total number of loads you do each week into two equal sets. After the first set is complete, turn the valve to water the other zone for the rest of the week.
The mulch in the ditches will slowly decompose and settle. Top up once a year, and every few years scoop up and replace all of the mulch (spread the old mulch around your plants). You may also need to regularly increase the diameter of the mulch trenches as the plants grow (especially on trees).
With the three-way valve next to the washing machine, you can divert gray water into the sewer standpipe instead of into the irrigation system in the event of heavy rain or repairs. This is also useful if you occasionally want to use bleach in the washing machine.
These are general guidelines only. For more information, graywater system accessories, troubleshooting advice, and guidance on using this method in a variety of contexts, see the San Francisco Graywater Design Manual, Oasis Design, Clean Water Components, and Greywater Action.
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11 Smart Pop-up Camper Gray Water Tank Ideas
Generally, most pop-up campers do not have onboard gray water holding tanks. However, there are lots of portable gray water tanks that you can buy online.
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A Better Way to Deal with Grey Water – The Southern Glamper
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Do they make a hose for the gray water discharge port?
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RV Sewer Hoses – Walmart.com | Gray
Shop for RV Sewer Hoses – Walmart.com | Gray in RV Waste Water and Sanitation at Walmart and save.
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Our Gray Water System
When I first got our little pop-up RV, I knew nothing about freshwater, graywater, or blackwater systems. I mean, I knew blackwater was the stinky stuff, but not much more than that. 😉
We have a sink in the PUP, but technically I had no idea where the water was coming from or where it was going – or what the difference was when we were camping with hookups versus dry camping. I wasn’t even sure what to do with the waste water at the campsite. After a little research I figured it all out, and it really isn’t that hard. If you’re just getting your first pop up camper, you might have some of the same questions I have. Now that we’ve found a system that works well for us, I thought I’d tell you how we collect and dispose of our greywater.
Okay, so first things first… what exactly is greywater? Well, gray water is the relatively clean wastewater from your RV’s sinks and showers. It can contain things like soap, toothpaste, and leftover food. I’ve learned from our tent camping years that most campgrounds won’t allow you to dump your gray water on the ground. Actually, every campsite we have ever visited had a sewage ordinance. It is best to inquire beforehand about the campsite’s specific waste water regulations. Some allow you to divert gray water into campsite toilets or comfort stations. Others make you drag it to the disposal station. This is one of the first questions we ask ourselves when we check in at the campsite.
Our pop up has a gray water drain on the back of the RV. It was even marked for us…before we removed all the stickers during our exterior painting project. 😉 We bought this black drain connector so we could connect our gray water drain to a regular garden hose. Then all we had to do was run a hose from our drain to our gray water tank or sewer. If we are in a campsite with full hookups, our setup will look like the image above. We have purchased hoses in different colors and store them separately so our gray water hose is never confused with our fresh water hose. Egg! 😛
Since we use a hose for the sewage drain, we bought a sewage fitting from Amazon so we don’t get any leaks or odors when we connect it. It works like a dream and I love it when we have full connections. However, when we camp in more remote areas, full hookups are never an option. In these cases, we rely on some sort of tank to collect our greywater.
You don’t actually have to do anything special for a gray water tank. In fact, on our most recent trip, we arrived at our first campsite and realized we had forgotten our usual gray water tank. A gallon-sized water bottle worked well, although we had to empty it quite a bit.
We went to the store before our next stop and picked up a 7 gallon aquatainer that held a little more gray water. These are available at Wal-Mart and many sporting goods stores, but you can also buy one from Amazon. A lot of people use these for their regular gray water tanks, which is perfectly fine. I feel like it fills up a bit too quickly for us when we’re camping and I prefer to stay as long as possible before making the trip to the dump station. It’s also quite heavy and awkward to carry when full.
This is our usual gray water tank. We love using this 15 gallon Barker Tote Tank to collect our rinse water. We bought it from Amazon but I also saw them at Camping World. It’s a little pricey, but for us it’s worth every penny. It holds a lot more than the aquatainer and has wheels so we can roll it to gray water disposal. It also has a trailer hitch so we can attach it to our vehicle and tow it to the landfill. A short length of garden hose runs from the drain connector to the storage tank. Recently, Mr. TypeTwoFun used some PVC pipe and fittings to construct a small vent to allow the sink to drain faster.
We never really had a huge issue with the sink resetting initially, but I’ve found this little mod to help things drain faster. It’s a really simple mod and well worth the 15 minutes it took to put it together. The parts are all things you can find in the plumbing section of your hardware store, but make sure the top fitting is a swivel hose fitting. The longest piece of PVC pipe is the actual vent. Ours is about 12″ because I didn’t want to find a place to store anything longer, but technically you want your vent to be higher than your sink drain – just in case you have the sink back up. Otherwise water will come out of the vent. Again, we never had any issues with the sink resetting, so it was never a big deal to us.
We use the drain connector and garden hose method to drain our gray water because they are simple, versatile and take up very little space in the RV. However, you don’t have to use this method. If you find that your sink is draining too slowly for your liking, consider a system that uses larger PVC pipe or flexible hose to drain the gray water. If you’re interested, there are some great ideas to check out on the pop-up portal forums.
When we first got our carry tank, it had hard plastic wheels. While there’s nothing wrong with the plastic wheels, they made SO much noise when we were hauling the stretcher to the disposal area. When we towed it behind the car, people would come out of their campsites and onto the streets to see what was going on. It was more than a little embarrassing. 🙁 Mr. TypeTwoFun decided to replace the plastic wheels with 8″ pneumatic tires. You can find them at hardware stores and the like or on Amazon, but we found ours cheap at Harbor Freight.
Mr. TypeTwoFun simply unscrewed the axle nut from one end and removed the axle. Then he replaced the tires on the transport container with pneumatic tires. To keep the new tires from rubbing against the tank, he added a couple of 5/8″ inner diameter washers. We didn’t do that when we first changed the tires and after a few months we had quite a bit of wear on the tank.
After we added the washers everything was much better. Thread your tire, 3 washers and the black spacer (this originally came on the axle) onto the axle and insert it into the channel in the bottom of the tank. Then thread the black spacer, three washers and the air hoop onto the other end. Gently tap the axle nut with a hammer.
You may have issues with the original axle being too short to accommodate all of the new components. We made. In this case, you can buy a new piece of 5/8″ diameter metal rod and cut it to size with a hacksaw or wheel sander. We bought ours at Home Depot for about $8. Mr. TypeTwoFun cut it about 3/4″ longer than the original axle and solved the problem.
Once the axle nut is in place, check that your tires aren’t rubbing against the sides of your tank and you’re good to go. If you want to run a plastic epoxy bead down the channel before inserting the axle, it will make it safer. However, it is not necessary.
When your tank is full you can simply drag it to the disposal area. The large black cap on the tank connects to a flexible drain hose that comes with the tank. You can simply attach the hose, tuck the end into the designated disposal area and tilt the stretcher forward to empty the tank. Dead easy!
Our tank came with the hitch which I love. If the landfill is a fair distance from where we are, we simply hitch the tank to the trailer hitch and tow it to the disposal site. Mr. TypeTwoFun is no longer embarrassed to drive it to the dump. Yay! 😀
Keep in mind that every pop-up camper is different, so your system may not be like mine. You may have a very different way of doing things. My way isn’t the only way – it’s just what works best for us. If you have another way to deal with your pup’s gray water, I’d love to hear it. Feel free to share it in the comments or on our Facebook page.
Happy camping!
Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. The Pop-Up Princess is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program that allows websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means if you decide to purchase an item through a link in this post, The Pop Up Princess will earn a small advertising fee to pay for future projects and posts… so thank you! 🙂
Happy camping!
11 Smart Pop-up Camper Gray Water Tank Ideas Family Travel Fever
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Pop-up campers are very compact with minimal water systems. Since you are staying in a mobile home, you should wash your hands and dishes. So what to do with the gray water? In this article, we discuss some pretty clever ideas for dealing with gray water in a pop-up camper.
Pop Up Camper Graywater Ideas:
Independent
aquatainer
Collapsible gray water tank
Hydra roller
Bucket
Assemble a tank
Use a large container with a trailer hitch
Connect to the duct connection
Connect to gray water connection
Clean the dishes and use a strainer
Reuse greywater
Let’s start with the basics: RVs have two different types of drains. The black water and the gray water. The black water is the wastewater that comes out of your toilet, so it contains human waste and is unsafe. Gray water, on the other hand, comes from your shower, kitchen and sink and contains soap, food particles, bacteria, grease and dirt.
Do pop-up campers have gray water tanks?
In general, most pop-up campers do not have gray water tanks on board. However, there are many portable gray water tanks that you can buy online. Otherwise you can just run the hose from the drain plug on your pop-up to the waste water connection.
Because gray water contains soap, food particles, bacteria, grease and dirt, it should not be dumped on the floor. It’s illegal in some areas and you’ll face a hefty fine if caught doing it. These sectors are mainly concerned about the phosphates in soap and the organics in food particles, which are bad for surface water and cause algae growth.
However, some areas with particularly high levels of precipitation allow gray water to be distributed directly onto the ground.
Although you might be the camper type who rarely throws anything down the drain that would be dangerous or harmful. Maybe it could just be water and hand soap to wash your hands occasionally.
Nonetheless, this guide will help you with 11 smart pop-up camper gray water tank ideas and a few tips to keep your portable holding tanks clean and odor-free.
Before we continue, for more gray and black water resources check out these:
How do you know if you have a gray water tank?
A pop-up camper van at a campsite
Newer RVs have both gray water and black water tanks. Pop-ups, on the other hand, typically don’t have gray water tanks.
Although many pop-up campers don’t have a built-in gray water tank, there are some PUP models that do. The easiest method is to run a little water down the sink drain and see if it drains anywhere outside of the RV. At the outlet, look for a valve and tank.
You always just have to ask the manufacturer before planning a purchase.
Greywater solutions for your pop-up camper
Be self-reliant
Of course, having a self-contained greywater system on a pop-up is ideal. The first thing you should check is whether there is a holding tank on board your motorhome.
However, most pop-ups do not come with built-in greywater systems. Some people actually have a 7 to 10 gallon water tank like this mounted under their RV. The tanks and all connections can be found here on Amazon. This allows for very little water retention.
Note: If you try this because some campgrounds only allow “self-contained units”. If so, ask what they actually mean by autonomous.
Use an aqua trainer
Aqua Trainer is one of the most popular portable gray water tanks that you can buy in the market or online. It is mainly used by RVs that have PUP.
It’s only a 7-gallon container, though, so you might need two of these to use one for your shower and one for the kitchen sink. Check the price of the Aquatainer on Amazon here.
You also need to empty it frequently, especially if you shower frequently, wash your hands, or cook frequently.
Use a collapsible gray water tank
This collapsible container is also great for storing that greywater you can buy. It comes in 2 to 5 gallons so you might need about two of these too so you have one for your shower and one for the kitchen sink.
Collapsible portable tank is good because it doesn’t take up extra space when empty. These collapsible tanks are very inexpensive and come in sizes from 2 to 5 gallons, making them easier to carry. Check the price on Amazon here.
Use a wheeled hydro scooter
A hydroller is an upgrade of the aqua trainer. It’s from the same manufacturer but more durable and on wheels. The good thing is that it is larger with an 8 gallon capacity. It also comes with a fold-up handle so you can easily take it to the campsite landfill or anywhere you can dispose of the waste water it contains.
You can buy the 8-gallon hydroler on Amazon or at Walmart. If you prefer to have a longer time between dumps, this portable holding tank is ideal. (Check price for Camco 21 gallon tank on Amazon.
Use a bucket or gallon of water
If you’re on a budget or just don’t feel like buying those portable tanks, you can just use a 5 to 10 gallon bucket to hold your gray water. Simply place the bucket on the sink spout in your motorhome.
You can get even fancier by covering the bucket. Just put on a lid and cut a hole in the top for the tubing to fit.
Mount a gray water tank on your PUP
Mount a gray water tank on your PUP. You can still use your kitchen or bathroom sink without the hassle of placing the tank under or at the back of your PUP to hold gray water.
If you’ve decided to mount your tanks in your RVs, make sure you also use two brackets so it’s stable even if you hit the brakes while driving.
Use a large container with a trailer hitch
Lifting or hauling 8 gallons of water to the nearest landfill can make your back ache just thinking about it. There are larger containers that last a long time and can then be towed to the landfill.
You can also use a towing bracket to tow Blue Tote portable waste water tanks to the nearest disposal station. This is especially useful if your tank is too heavy.
This system features a 32-gallon fuel tank and hitch. Check the price on Amazon here.
Connect the pop-up camper directly to the sewer connector
Campsite waste water connection for black and gray water tank
Get a hose and hook up a pop-up RV directly to the sewage hookup in a full-connection location.
However, you need to make sure you have the correct connection to the camper and hookup. Also, a drain fitting is generally a larger diameter pipe.
Connect your gray water to a campsite sewage connection, you need this RV sewage connection.
Connect to the gray water connection
Some campsites do not have a full sewage connection but instead have a gray water line. This is more common at campsites in the Northeast.
The gray water discharge line can be smaller than the full sewage connection and easier to connect. If you want to try this, ask the campsite when making your reservation.
Wipe the dishes and use a strainer
Use a paper towel, it would be better to clean and wipe your dishes first before rinsing. Just like the sink strainer, it prevents food debris from getting into your tank, which can cause damage if you don’t dispose of it properly.
Using a flushing strainer will help you prevent solid residue from entering your gray water tank. With this you don’t have to empty your tank from time to time as it consists mainly of water and soap.
Reuse greywater
When you’re camping, lugging water to and from your RV for disposal is a lot of work. Whenever you can, try to reuse greywater directly on your RV.
You can use a dishwashing bowl in the sink to catch the water. (When camping, I use this collapsible flushing bowl.) It can be used to put out the evening fire, flush the toilet, wash the mud off the car or boots, and more.
Tips for cleaning your portable pop-up gray water tanks
Portable holding tanks are very easy to find and use. Just make sure you follow these three simple steps to keep it clean and it will be odor free
Be sure to rinse and clean the gray. water tanks after use. Leaving it uncleaned is dangerous and can cause a bad odor in your RV.
Use and approve gray water treatment in sink drains. It will help remove all the dirt in the odor in your gray water tanks.
After emptying your gray water tanks, use dishwashing liquid in the sink. Then, shower down your sink drains with water so it can remove grease and odors that can build up in your gray water tanks.
Allow your portable tanks to dry before using them again. It also helps you keep your gray water tank clean and odor free.
Important Related Questions
What do you do with gray water when camping?
When you go camping, you need to be mindful of the condition of your gray water tank. If you think it’s already full or almost full, you can dispose of it at the campsite’s garbage stations.
Is it okay to dump gray water on the ground?
If you are camping or traveling with your rig you should not dump your gray water on the ground as it will still contain soapy and oily water which is not good for the environment.
Also, most campgrounds already have policies on disposal of gray water from RVs, so you need to make sure you follow them. The same goes for most cities. They have designated waste water where you can dispose of waste water.
Can urine get into a gray water tank?
Urine should not get into the gray water tank. (In a pop up there should be no way for urine to get into the tank)
Urine can contaminate your tank and leave a bad odor in it even after you’ve emptied it. If you plan on having a composting toilet and letting the urine flow into the gray water tank, be sure to dispose of it at an appropriate disposal station right away.
You can find more information here: Can I pee in the shower in the motorhome? (Questions about gray water tanks)
How many gallons of water does a pop up camper hold?
In general, pop-up RVs can hold 5 to 15 gallons of water. Hyrbid pop-up trailers can have up to 30 gallon holding tanks.
What is a porta potty?
A portable potty is a portable toilet used by RVs. This is very easy to use and dumping waste is pretty easy too. You just need to connect it to the designated sewer to discharge black water around the campsite or other areas where there is one.
I love my porta potty! I take it everywhere and use it as a van on road trips. Seriously, I would never leave the house without mine. That’s exactly what I have (here on Amazon).
Final thoughts on smart pop up camper gray water tank ideas
Being an RVer means you have to be more creative and imaginative as camping and boandocking may require you to do things that you won’t see in your rigs.
It’s great that people came up with these portable water tanks that pop up owners can use since they didn’t have gray water tanks built in.
But most important of all, don’t just dump your rubbish anywhere. If you are at a campground be sure to follow their policies, if you are outside do some research and find out what the city you are in has policies on landfilling.
Before we continue, for more gray and black water resources check out these:
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How to Drain Sink Water from a Pop-Up Camper
Many modern pop-up campers these days are almost as beautiful as camper vans. You can have sinks in kitchen and bathroom to wash hands, face and dishes. The waste water from the sink, the so-called gray water, must be disposed of properly. Most pop-up trailers don’t have a gray water tank like RVs do. Instead, you have to configure yourself how to drain the gray water from the trailer in order to dispose of it properly.
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