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Chris Travels · 06-06-2016, 10:15 PM

Thanks for checking my post. I had someone ask me this question and I honestly had no idea how to answer it. I was hoping someone here could help me out with this. I have someone who is interested in purchasing a composting toilet but wants to divert the liquids (urine) to his then combined black and grey holding tank. The solids (poo) would be held and discarded in the composting toilet.

If the solids and liquids do not combine that is not sewage. Being urine is sterile would it be a candidate to place in your grey water holding tank? Would there be any smells he would need to worry about? Does anyone here have any experience with this?

Thanks!

Chris

Old-Biscuit · 06-06-2016, 10:42 PM

For many many years RVs only had ONE waste holding tank

Grey waste can be nasty due to food particles, sloughed skin cells, grease/oils, soap scum etc.
What's a little urine going to hurt.

alvo · 06-07-2016, 12:43 PM

Urine is NOT sterile, contrary to some frequent misconceptions. Mixing it with gray water means it has to be disposed of as you would black water. And it does produce odors, which can be reduced with chemical additives. Odor shouldn't be an issue inside if your plumbing has proper venting.

VACHZHD · 06-07-2016, 01:32 PM

I recommend you review these:

Composting Toilet

for some good ideas and advice regarding composting toilets. Should help answer lots of your questions.

Tom N · 06-08-2016, 07:31 AM

Urine is not sterile. IE: a bladder infections among many other diseases.

MapleKing · 06-08-2016, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvo

Urine is NOT sterile, contrary to some frequent misconceptions. Mixing it with gray water means it has to be disposed of as you would black water. And it does produce odors, which can be reduced with chemical additives. Odor shouldn't be an issue inside if your plumbing has proper venting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom N

Urine is not sterile. IE: a bladder infections among many other diseases.

True, but it's not like it contains as much bacteria as feces or grey water that has been sitting around does. Urine has no more bacteria than the rest of our bodies do.

The main problem that I have with a composting toilet is keeping the liquids separate from solids. Not every trip to the bathroom is for just "#1" or "#2" Sometimes you need to do both and switching things around or keeping things separate can be problematic. Not to mention, sometimes #2 isn't always "solid". That would be my concern about the composting toilet but from a bacteriological point of view, I don't see how urine mixing with bacteria laden grey water is a problem.

1bigmess · 06-08-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MapleKing

The main problem that I have with a composting toilet is keeping the liquids separate from solids.

Self admitted RV Newbie (as we all were at one time), do not think that the composting toilet designers haven't also realized this is an issue, and worked it out somehow.

MapleKing · 06-08-2016, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bigmess

Self admitted RV Newbie (as we all were at one time), do not think that the composting toilet designers haven't also realized this is an issue, and worked it out somehow.

The composting designs that I have seen all have levers that direct different things to different places but you need to make the switch before you start doing whatever it is that you are doing and switching mid-stream (pardon the pun) is not always easy. If the designers have worked out a solution, I'd be interested.

As for being a "Newbie", I just don't want anyone to think I'm an expert when I'm actually not. Some people just want people to think that they are experts when they are not.

LakeKerrGuy · 06-08-2016, 03:58 PM

Quote:

I don't see how urine mixing with bacteria laden grey water is a problem.

That's good because I don't think there is a man alive who has not taken a leak in the shower.

twinboat · 06-08-2016, 04:04 PM

One issue with composting is that some of the manufactures say it takes 2 weeks to break down the #2.

If you are fulltimer you need to store bucket A and use bucket B for 2 weeks. Otherwise you are just dumping a week and 6 days of "#2" in the trash.

Weekend campers will have homework.

1bigmess · 06-08-2016, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MapleKing

If the designers have worked out a solution, I'd be interested.

https://sustainable-solutions.info/u...sting-toilets/

Good reviews on the two being sold there.

Timon · 06-08-2016, 07:15 PM

When on BLM land where your allowed to dump gray on the ground you can only dump gray if you kitchen sink and dishwasher is not plumbed to the gray tank. BLM considers those sources to be black sources. Only the washing machine, shower and bath sinks are considered gray sources.

Most RV would require replumbing to allow this.

phranc · 06-08-2016, 07:23 PM

Most RV's have perfectly suitable holding tank systems. What is your friends compelling reason to reinvent the wheel ? Is the holding tank (s) broken or need more capacity ?

1bigmess · 06-08-2016, 07:24 PM

Not really. I found a plastic tub/basin that fits in the larger sink side, and wash dishes into it and dump outside where allowed.

If I am somewhere far from civilization that I am very unlikely to be easily seen outside my trailer and the weather is warm, I put on a pair of loose fitting athletic shorts and shower outside, where allowed.

In bear country in the Sierra Nevada range, for example, both are no-no's because the smells in a lot of soaps (flowery, sweet or food-like smells) and the food residue can attract bears.