|
|
07-26-2012, 12:48 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,889
|
Why is There a Black and a Gray Sewage Tank?
Ever wonder why there are two tanks instead of one larger tank? Is there some sort of law demanding this? Just curious.
__________________
Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
07-26-2012, 01:10 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cobden, IL
Posts: 219
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigd9
Ever wonder why there are two tanks instead of one larger tank? Is there some sort of law demanding this? Just curious.
|
You don't want a 100-120 gal tank with all that crap sloshing around when you are driving down the road! Talk about steering problems!!!
__________________
USAF Retired
2012 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32CA
2012 Equinox LTZ, RVI Brake System
|
|
|
07-26-2012, 01:12 PM
|
#3
|
Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 53
|
I can say I like the fact that the gray flushes the hose after dumping the black, especially if there is no water available at the dump station. Even if there were, clean-up would still be somewhat yuckier if everything dumped as one.
__________________
2011, 29' Earthbound, Copper Mountain - Ford F350 Powerstroke. Calgary, Canada
Darrel and Peggy
|
|
|
07-26-2012, 01:13 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NorthEast Texas
Posts: 671
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigd9
Ever wonder why there are two tanks instead of one larger tank? Is there some sort of law demanding this? Just curious.
|
Not sure why....but I am glad they separate them. I have been caught in a tight where I needed to get rid of some gray water without dump station. A little gray in a bucket then disposed of the best I could was not to big of a problem, any black could be a no fun, smelly task.
__________________
competitive shooter RVer
2006 Gulfstream Friendship G7 8411 400HP Cum.
RM Sterling/'07 Chevy Colorado CrewCab 4x4
|
|
|
07-26-2012, 01:21 PM
|
#5
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
|
I too am glad they are separate. When in a pinch, it might be possible to dispose of grey water when dumping the black tank would be out of the question. Plus, I really wouldn't want only the water in the P traps separating my kitchen sink from black water.
I'm sure the size of a combined tank is the reason for separating them. I have a 107 gallon fresh water tank and don't think it adversely impacts handling.
Rick
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.
2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
|
|
|
07-26-2012, 01:55 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 104
|
More than any other reason is the black tank of off the toilet(s) is a sewage/bio-hazard and needs proper disposal. The grey tank from sinks, shower, etc. is just dirty water, no hazard to to the environment and doesn't really need proper disposal. The age old concept simply keeps the real sewage to a minimum.
I used to do mobile and modular home setups. Mostly out in the sticks on private property. On quite a few of those setups, I'd split the plumbing system. Have the toilets go directly to the septic tank. The brown water would bypass the the tank and go directly to the lateral field pipes.
It is all just an old waist management concept from the backyard outhouse days brought up to current times.
|
|
|
07-26-2012, 11:46 PM
|
#7
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 8
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigd9
Ever wonder why there are two tanks instead of one larger tank? Is there some sort of law demanding this? Just curious.
|
At first it would seem easier to have just one .but anyone whos ever had that grey tank get so full it starts coming up into the shower are really grateful they separated the 2 !
|
|
|
07-26-2012, 11:55 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auto hauler
The grey tank from sinks, shower, etc. is just dirty water, no hazard to to the environment and doesn't really need proper disposal.
|
Don't try that in WA or OR, here grey water must be disposed of the same way as black. In OR it's been that way since the 60's or early 70's.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
|
|
|
07-27-2012, 12:23 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: San Tan Valley, Arizona
Posts: 220
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Savagendn
At first it would seem easier to have just one .but anyone whos ever had that grey tank get so full it starts coming up into the shower are really grateful they separated the 2 !
|
I second that thought, I'd hate to see any blackish gray water coming up in my shower. Also could you imaging the smell you might get while working over your kitchen sink
|
|
|
07-27-2012, 03:40 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFV, CA
Posts: 222
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auto hauler
..... On quite a few of those setups, I'd split the plumbing system. Have the toilets go directly to the septic tank. The brown water would bypass the the tank and go directly to the lateral field pipes.
|
Though you believed you were doing the customer a favor, there's a real problem with your method.
The solid organics from toilet and kitchen waste eventually become "bacteria poop", and fall to the bottom of a septic tank. It is much like carbon black at the end of several "layers" of bacteria "digesting" it all.
The body oils from showering, and vegetable and animal fats from dish washing, need to be also separated from the "clear effluent" that is sent to the leech lines. It is what develops into the "scum mat" that floats at the top of the septic tank.
The septic tank acts as a "filter" to remove solids from clear effluent. Both the carbon and the scum need to be professionally pumped out and taken to a real waste treatment plant every few years, frequency depending on usage. It's like cleaning the "filter".
With your way, the greases will "clog" the soil, resulting in premature septic system failure.
An exception to this might be the laundry water, laden with light soils, greases, and detergents. A small, separate seepage pit filled with crushed rock will save the leech lines from some effluent disposal, increasing their effective "life". The location would need to be changed periodically, too.
Health authorities DO frown on this, however, and will insist that it ALL go through the septic tank.
I realize this has nothing to do with our holding tank discussion, and apologize for going off-topic.
Pop
__________________
"You never know what's waiting around the corner,
but don't let that slow you down"
-Terry Baucom-
|
|
|
07-27-2012, 03:54 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
|
My 5er had 118 fresh and 40/40 B/G. Explain that.
|
|
|
07-27-2012, 03:58 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFV, CA
Posts: 222
|
Somebody WANTED you to have an over-flow, maybe?
Has it ever happened, or are you a "good manager"?
Pop
__________________
"You never know what's waiting around the corner,
but don't let that slow you down"
-Terry Baucom-
|
|
|
07-27-2012, 03:59 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 104
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpringerPop
Though you believed you were doing the customer a favor, there's a real problem with your method.
Pop
|
I totally get that! But that trick only happened per customer request. If they wanted it done, which quite a few did, and it meant keeping a sale, we'd go ahead and do it. I wouldn't do that separation to my own system, short of the laundry discharge as you mentioned.
|
|
|
07-27-2012, 05:23 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Woodstock, GA
Posts: 182
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dunner
My 5er had 118 fresh and 40/40 B/G. Explain that.
|
How about the extra fluids coming out of you and your camping bodies plus some other liquids you may decide to pour on the sink as you go?
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|