How to Use Auxiliary Gray Water Tanks in an RV
In addition to fuel tanks, exhaust systems and transmission housings, the underside of a recreational vehicle's chassis typically accommodates cargo bays, generators and holding tanks, including a gray water tank which stores water previously used in the RV's sinks, baths and showers. At times, an RV's gray water tank is not large enough to meet the needs of the RV owner. Fortunately, aftermarket auxiliary holding tanks are available in a portable form, often complete with a sewer hose, caps and storage brackets. These blow-molded polyethylene tanks are also known as "blue tanks" or "tote tanks."
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Instructions
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Purchase a portable auxiliary gray water tank that uses the same fittings as your RV sewer connection. You must be able to connect your existing sewer hose to the inflow fitting of the portable auxiliary gray water tank to empty the on-board tank, and then to the tank outflow fitting to empty it into the sewer system.
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Ensure your auxiliary gray water tank is fitted with a float valve. This device will close off inflow when the portable auxiliary gray water tank is almost filled, avoiding messy overflow and ensuring the total weight does not exceed that for which the wheels of the portable auxiliary gray water tank have been rated by its manufacturer.
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Choose a portable auxiliary gray water tank wheel configuration suited to your requirements. Small, solid wheels that are fine for towing over regular macadam roads will be insufficient if the portable auxiliary gray water tank will be towed over rough ground or "washboard roads" to get it to the dump station.
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Practice using your new portable auxiliary gray water tank. Fill the RV's on-board gray water tank with clean water, then run through the entire process of vacating the RV into the portable auxiliary gray water tank, towing the tank and emptying the tank into a dump station.
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Wash out your portable auxiliary gray water tank on a regular basis, using a 10:1 bleach water mix. Always wear protective clothing and eyewear when dealing with gray water and when washing out the tank. Always dump gray water into a functioning sewer system.
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Tips & Warnings
Gray water pillow tanks are available to lease or purchase. These store massive amounts of waste water, but are immobile and must be pumped out by professional contractors.
Portable auxiliary gray water tanks are available in sizes that hold between 10 and 35 gallons of gray water. Base your decisions on a trade-off between convenience and manageable weight when full.
Portable auxiliary gray water tanks are available with tow handles equipped to fit directly over a typical vehicular tow ball.
Gray water should not be dumped into the environment. Detergents and soap will pollute standing water, and bacteria and pieces of food from dish-washing will rot and smell foul. In fact, gray water often smells worse than black water because RVers seldom treat it with as many chemicals. Stringent EPA regulations prevent gray water discharge in almost all campgrounds and state and national parks. Gray water should only be dumped into a sewer system.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sewer image by blacklight from Fotolia.com
