Re: [VAC] Re: grey water use

["Scott & Lise Scheuermann" <schrmnns@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Darrell, First, the black water tank was not designed to hold gray water.
The gray water would just run out onto the ground or whatever receptical you
would place there. Years ago they did not care. Now its illegal in most
cases. It must drain into a sanitary sewer. So if you don't have a gray tank
(I don't) the only way to stay LEGAL (and to be considered a good neighbor)
is to drain into a COVERED container, and then dump as necessary where
appropriate. True, I have heard that you can plug the opening and force the
gray water back into the black tank, but this won't last long given the
small size of the black tanks back then. Even so, in mine the water would
probably back into the tub first, perhaps mixing with the black tank before
returning to the tub! Gross!

On to your question, you must be planning on doing a lot of boondocking to
want to conserve that much water! I suppose it could be done but it does
sound smelly to me. You would need a second pump along with an electrical
connection & switch, a strainer that was easily acessable and cleanable (to
protect the pump and comode), and a way to connect to the gray water tank
(perhaps the greatest problem). Also, you would need to be able to easily
switch back to clean water in case you don't have the gray water, or need to
thoroughly rinse out the tank in order to control odors. Really though, I
doubt that it would be worth the effort. Between my wife and I, I doubt that
we put more than 2 or 3 quarts water a day into the black tank. Is that kind
of water savings really worth it?????

If water usage is this much a consern to you, I would just train myself to
use as little water as necessary, as little conservation goes a long way.

Scott