Portable grey water tank

[Dobbie]

This is the second niggle we've addressed.

We had a manky old 20l container we'd been using for grey water and it was past it's day so we now have a portable tank. We wanted to avoid an onboard grey water tank but have something that would satisfy the gey water requirements from local councils....

This one

• is portable
• self contained
• can be wheeled so weight is less of an issue
• easy to throw up on roof rack when not needed
• and looks like a designated grey water receptacle...it is

As it's brand new it can be used for extra water till we have to use for grey water....and that will be only when absolutely necessary to satisfy the grey water police.

It's all about weight and simplicity for us so we can now happily order a single axle van without having to add extra tanks and extra solar.

99% of the time this won't be used but it's there if we need it.

 

[Vere]

I have purchased 2 of these for the same reasons. I going to look at best way to chain them together.

 

[Dobbie]

80 litres! You must be worse than us.

I actually found the old 20l one we used was enough....and a bucket is even easier.

But needs must, I guess.

I'm quite impressed with them. I filled the tank, gave it a good shake, no spillage so I put it in the car and took it for a drive. It sloshed a bit but then I don't really intend to carry it filled (if I can avoid it).

It should be easy to empty at a dump point if I do need to do that...same principal as the toilet cassette.....and it's got wheels!

 

[Vere]

I have a shower and a wife! both use water, My theory is I have 2x90L factory water tanks so to aim for a worst case of 80L sounds reasonable if the water police are watching

 

[Drover]

I reckon if I wanted a portable one then I would get an extra can for the dunny, would serve 2 purposes then, grey and black.................Found my 90lt polly pipe grey water tank does a marvelous job, satisfy the greenies and stops back up to shower also means I only need a 25mm drain pipe not a 40mm sewer main size..........................weighs bugger all.

 

[Dobbie]

Aaaghhhh.....but you're capably of doing those things and I'm not!

And I'm lazy.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

I'm going to get one of these before our Christmas trip.

Trouble with the extra toilet cassette is its only 20l and very expensive in comparison

 

[Drover]

Not having to carry and dump a drum of water makes me lazier than you oh DobbieSan, plus in the dark of night :spy: a long hose can make more room in the tank and a tree 30mts away greener.......:wink:



Yep @Bellbirdweb looks like 40lt grey is about the same price as 20lt black.....expensive things all round.............actually about the same price of the poly pipe and fittings if you built your own.

 

[achjimmy]

There is a formula for the size the grey water tank needs to be to meet the requirements? Can't recall but it was like a third of your total water capacity iirc.

 

[Dobbie]

Hey @Drover ....we did think about the extra toilet cassette as an alternative cos it makes sense but....

The cost was at least four times the cost of the Grungy Grey Tank we've ended up with...but don't intend to use it unless the grey water cops insist on it.

And the extra toilet cassette was ridiculously expensive.

 

[achjimmy]

Hey @Drover ....we did think about the extra toilet cassette as an alternative cos it makes sense but....

The cost was at least four times the cost of the Grungy Grey Tank we've ended up with...but don't intend to use it unless the grey water cops insist on it.

And the extra toilet cassette was ridiculously expensive.

How much? I thought the cassettes were about $120?

 

[Dobbie]

$289 or $259.....it's not the standard Jayco one.

Portable water tank was $65 on special

 

[Drover]

My orange/grey thunder can was about $160 from caravansplus, needed a spare.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

I purchased on of these tanks today as well.

You guys cost me a fortune

 

[Dobbie]

We aim to please.

 

[coled1970]

Not sure what toilet you folks have but i have a brand new cassette that has never been in the van, my old expanda came with it as the hi level switch was playing up and the original owner bought a new one and gave it to me, if its the same one that fits any of your vans its yours for $50 if you want it. One in my starcraft is different so no good to me.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

There is a formula for the size the grey water tank needs to be to meet the requirements? Can't recall but it was like a third of your total water capacity iirc.

I have been researching grey water requirements, and from what I've been able to find, there aren't any.

National Parks, Dept. Of Envirinment, Water etc, there are no regulations or legislation I can find on line.

Are there any laws relating to it, or just some greenies trying to convince people that there are ?

 

[Dobbie]

I did some reading as well, though not for six months or so, and reckon the regs are set by local councils and others who provide the free camping areas to get people into their towns etc.

Nothing I could find from state governments or feds.

As they provide the opportunity to free camp, they also have the right to regulate the use of these areas, imho. Most campers abide by common sense approaches but, unfortunately, some don't and its these idiots who either don't know or don't care that mean the rest of us have to be regulated.

It's a shame but it's life....and it's only going to become more widespread.

I'll carry my portable collection tank to comply as it's easy but will be righteously displeased if I'm stuck next to someone who couldn't give a damn, particularly if the locals require some care in the use of their area.

So...I don't think it's a legal requirement, but just good common sense

 

[Dean Anderson]

I would assume the requirements would be covered by local council By-laws or by National parks etc....I don't think you'll find anything that stipulates an exact requirement for volume it will just be a blank statement like "Grey water must be contained" or "Fully self contained".....
And everything would depend on where you are.....National parks for example you can dig a 15cm deep hole and deposit a number 2 when you go bush walking....

The only legislation you will find is that which allows local government to set their own regulations and fines. Most local governments probably wouldn't be bothered with more than a sign. Some might occasional send a local council enforcement officer to check... if they have had problems.

 

[Bellbirdweb]

I did some reading as well, though not for six months or so, and reckon the regs are set by local councils and others who provide the free camping areas to get people into their towns etc.

Nothing I could find from state governments or feds.

As they provide the opportunity to free camp, they also have the right to regulate the use of these areas, imho. Most campers abide by common sense approaches but, unfortunately, some don't and its these idiots who either don't know or don't care that mean the rest of us have to be regulated.

It's a shame but it's life....and it's only going to become more widespread.

I'll carry my portable collection tank to comply as it's easy but will be righteously displeased if I'm stuck next to someone who couldn't give a damn, particularly if the locals require some care in the use of their area.

So...I don't think it's a legal requirement, but just good common sense

Yeah I agree, that's why I got one, but in reality we use grey water to water our garden at home so it's not really an environmental issue, more a common courtesy sometimes.