The question nearly always comes up among boondockers on whether it is legal to dump gray water (from the RV shower and sinks) onto the ground, into a freshly dug hole, or onto a thirsty bush while boondocking in the desert. There are, of course, minor drawbacks here and there, but overall, it can work just as well as visiting a local RV dump station. In most cases, it is legal to dump both your RV black and gray water tanks into an approved residential sewer system. Sort of. Earlier this week we posted an article on collecting rain water. It is possible to use a house's sewer clean-out for dumping. This was buried about 6 ft underground. Gray water in flooded structures that remains untreated for longer than 48 hours may change to category 3 - black water. At home, however, I occasionally dump grey water into our flower beds. In general, a neighbor will not be responsible for damage to your property caused by runoff from naturally occurring rain and land conditions. if any unnatural condition of his structures, (i.e., things which did not exist before the structure, hardscape, landscaping, etc. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems. There is net metering in Florida for grid-tied solar systems. Dump stations are provided by the state, and while grey water is technically legal in most cases, it truly depends on the context. Now water departments, NGOs like Water CASA, and the state environmental health department can offer advice, brochures, classes, and financial incentives to encourage safe, legal greywater reuse. It is legal to dump RV black and grey water tanks at home, but the wastewater must go into an approved residential sewer system. Generally, grey You can have a completely off-grid solar system. The author of this blog, Marcy Mullins, is an Environmental Resources and Compliance Specialist with Global Water, one of 18 water partners. However, you can scatter ashes in the ocean. We thought the question was a little crazy at first, just because it had never dawned on us that it might ever be illegal to collect rain water. Watering plants with washing machine, bath, shower and bathroom sink water is fine - it's called grey water. Having said all that, certainly in low density human population areas, the gray water if dumped on the ground is unlikely to get into the local drinking water or local streams. We just bought an old (1910) house on the eastern shore of MAryland, about a half block from the bay. It’s not a fun chore, but it must be done (and done properly!). The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. They will be able to tell you in what instances it's legal to dump gray water. RV portable waste tanks usually have wheels and a handle, so they can easily be pulled across the campground for dumping. Visiting family but need to empty your RV black tank? Dump station tips Remember these tips from www.rvdumps.com when emptying your gray water holding tanks: Use a heavy-duty sewer hose about 6 to 8 feet long to make handling easier. Since much fresh drinking water comes from rivers, lakes, streams and connected tributaries, these bodies of water all are off limits in Florida. Welcome to www.rvdumpstations.info where you'll find information about RV dump stations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Therefore, I highly recommend trying it to any RVer worth their salt. Here is how. Select a state or province from the list below for RV dump stations information. Think twice about dumping anything into a storm drain! I carry an accessory tank with me to drain grey water into, should the need arrise. Water. Please bear in mind that some Councils are now adopting a 'zero tolerance' policy regarding grey water. These tanks come in various sizes and allow you to transport your waste water to a dump without picking up and moving camp. Plants love it. If you are permitted to drain the grey water onto the ground and you have a holding tank, then please do this by 'drip feed'. We just discovered through an odd sequence of events that the old owner (1) never hooked up a sewer line to the washer, it jsut dumps grey water beneath the house into the sump pump and (2) the sump pump takes the water onto the yard - no gravel pit, just the dirt yard. Many facilities that allow RVs to camp also have areas for dumping waste. Arizona’s success was emulated by other states, including New Mexico and Wyoming. Figuring out where to dump black water tanks can be a challenge. All boats dump grey water directly overboard. (top of barrel about 18″ below level ground) I also installed a vent with a cap close to ground level. It must be disposed of into a dump point, which may mean taking it off site. Oh yeah that didn’t even cross my mind Reid. Note : Some boondockers have stated that this only applies to gray water from a shower or sink that was captured in a tub or bucket, but water that was allowed to drain into the gray tank is not. In case your unfamiliar with the term “gray water” already, it’s the waste water you produce from a day of operating your mobile kitchen. Now the state Legislature has decided to allow companies to dump "treated" sewage into drinking-water sources. The main concern with sewage in our waterways is bacteria and nutrients. With 90% of Florida’s potable water supplied through ground water, it is imperative septic systems be properly designed, installed, and maintained to protect this natural resource. For what you're doing it sounds fine. You need to be very sensitive, especially in Florida with all that limestone substrate, with the chemicals and additives you are using, and that you discharge into the environment. When water damage may have been caused by a neighbor, serious disputes can arise. Much to our surprise, we got emails from Florida residents asking if it is illegal to collect rain water in our state. It ensures that your waste won’t make anyone sick or backup sewer systems of your local municipality. Surface Water. It is completely legal to dump grey water directly into a lake or ocean. Carry an extra garden hose for rinsing in case the dump station doesn’t have one. Rene March 24, 2019 at 9:46 am • Reply. From time to time, Water – Use It Wisely features guest bloggers who write about topics related to water and water conservation. Sewage On-board sewage management is not a fun thing to think about, but it is a necessary part of your boat's systems. Don’t Dump into Drains. However, after doing some research we did discover … Off-grid solar is legal in Florida. Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Florida. This web page is for finding locations to empty your gray and black water … (For several years we've had a grey water system that waters four fruit trees, it works fine - it doesn't poison the trees). Patti December 19, 2018 at 10:09 am • Reply. Gray water may contain chemicals, biocontaminants (fungal, bacterial, viral algae) and other forms of contamination including physical hazards. The best grey water recycling system is a simple one that operates without pumps and filters. One abundant source of grey water — that is, non-toilet water used for washing — is your washing machine, which processes an average of 41 gallons of water per load. Scattering of ashes in a public waterway also is illegal in Florida, to ensure that people do not accidentally ingest particles of human remains. Don’t Dump into Drains. After a few months, it appeared this solution could not handle the volume of water. Grey water is used household water sourced from baths, showers, bathroom basins and laundries, but doesn’t include toilet, kitchen sink, or dishwasher waste. Knowing how to dump RV waste at home is not only easy, but it also saves money and helps get rid of waste faster. Different areas may have specific local ordinances, and as a responsible RV owner, you should look into them before dumping your tanks. On top of the legal ramifications, disposing of this waste water correctly is the right thing to do. Many municipalities have regulations that govern residents' use of grey water, but if you reside outside city limits you may have the freedom to design your own system. It is a common misconception that storm drains lead to a wastewater treatment plant, but in many urban and rural settings, the water entering drains receives no treatment and is discharged directly into the closest waterway. Time and temperature aggravate category 2 water contamination levels significantly. Well, it's possible. The point is the video was about evaporation of grey water in a desert where the BLM is WATCHING YOU!! Environmentalists are … The enforcement actions usually come in when someone has their washing machine dumping outside the home and not into a spetic or sewer system. Herein lie some of the benefits of a water recycling system using greywater. It is illegal to dump any amount of grey water on the ground, and you WILL be fined. But that is your choice, not necessarily the law. Thanks for the enlightenment. Also when we run out the gray water we run it through the same hose we used to dump the black water which has fecal (poop) material left in the tube. Call your local department of environmental health, or water and sewer department. Water can into those areas of our home that are most vulnerable and causing the most mayhem possible. But the bottom line is that in most cases it is legal to discharge grey water directly. While it is illegal to just dump grey water, there are a few other options if you’re nowhere near a dumping station and have a full grey water tank. These are just dry-wells placed at various points around the campground. it is a situation which you should address quickly due to the very real possibility of … Here are ten places you can go to safely offload your grey and black water tank: 1. Re: Water from neighbor drains into my yard. Florida Septic Tank Regulations play an important part in protecting our drinking water. Greywater is any household waste water with the exception of waste water from the toilet or kitchen sink, which is known as black water. I contacted the BLM with a request to point out the applicable regulations and to clarify some gray (no pun intended) areas. But not at the curb down a … The first is to buy a portable waste tank. Grey water may be re-used for low-risk purposes, such as subsurface irrigation of lawns, ornamental gardens, or toilet flushing. Previously, Marcy worked for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) as the coordinator … Remember that scene in the Christmas Vacation movie where Cousin Eddie emptied the black tanks of his Class A wreck of an RV into the city sewer outside Clark Griswald's house? It has wheels and then is wheeled to a grey water dumping station. There may be local ordinances and restrictions, and you should check them. Grey water, if left to sit, will eventually turn to black water in a matter of 48 to 72 hours. 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