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  1. #1
    Seasoned Camper Devinh2's Avatar
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    Using grey water for flushing??

    I'm planning to do around 8 months a year boondocking, so I have been doing a lot of thinking. A little too much cause my brain hurts now when I do it. So, onward with my current thought. Has anyone tried, or does anyone use their grey water to flush their toilet??

    Obviously fresh water is like gold out there, so why can't there be a way to use the gray water to flush the toilet?? Am I way off track, out of my mind, or just plain missing something?? OK all you engineers.....................GO!!

    I know it would be pumping dish soap water, shower water, and toothpaste water, but, it is flushing a lot worse down the hole. So what say you all, have I officially lost my mind or am I a genius??
    Devin & Roberta & Bizee (Border Collie)
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  2. #2
    Long Hauler Paul & Deb's Avatar
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    I don't think you're nuts at all but it would take some engineering. You'd need a line tapped into one of the gray tanks and then a separate water pump and switch. Then I would think you might want to be able to add a flow director so that you can go back to using the fresh water when not boondocking.

    Interesting thought but I don't know how practical.

    I'll be interested to see what others think and suggest and what you decide to do.
    Paul "Poppy" and Deb Cervone
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  3. #3
    Seasoned Camper Devinh2's Avatar
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    Hey Paul, I was thinking more along the lines of just cutting the water line to the toilet and splicing in a line from the gray tank. Even when hooked at a campground you are still saving water. Just wondering if there are any true cons to doing this.
    Devin & Roberta & Bizee (Border Collie)
    2015 Ram Laramie Cummins w/Aisin 4.10 CC LB 4x4
    Titan 55 Gal midship fuel tank
    2018 384GK Solitude
    B & W Companion Hitch
    4 - 165 watt solar panels, 2800 watt Magnum inverter
    Blue Sky 30/24il controller, 4 FullRiver 6V 250AH Batts

  4. #4
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    2016 Reflection 303RLS
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  5. #5
    Seasoned Camper Devinh2's Avatar
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    Thanks Phil, I assumed I wasn't the only one thinking about it. I was thinking of doing it all internal though. Punch a hole in the grey tank and go into a pump and into the toilet. Just an idea, but it will be in my head while boondocking next winter.
    Devin & Roberta & Bizee (Border Collie)
    2015 Ram Laramie Cummins w/Aisin 4.10 CC LB 4x4
    Titan 55 Gal midship fuel tank
    2018 384GK Solitude
    B & W Companion Hitch
    4 - 165 watt solar panels, 2800 watt Magnum inverter
    Blue Sky 30/24il controller, 4 FullRiver 6V 250AH Batts

  6. #6
    Long Hauler Paul & Deb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Devinh2 View Post
    Hey Paul, I was thinking more along the lines of just cutting the water line to the toilet and splicing in a line from the gray tank. Even when hooked at a campground you are still saving water. Just wondering if there are any true cons to doing this.
    My only concern is totally isolating the fresh water supply line from the gray line. I'm not sure just a shutoff valve would work for me but a plumber could certainly settle that in my mind. I wouldn't want any potential cross contamination. And obviously you would need a second pump as I mentioned and described in the article below.

    Quote Originally Posted by paphil View Post
    That was a fairly simple job! I still wonder about the potential of cross contaminating my fresh water with just the one valve but maybe I'm over thinking it.
    Paul "Poppy" and Deb Cervone
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  7. #7
    Seasoned Camper Bob/OlallaWA's Avatar
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    Hum, set a bucket under the kitchen sink and drain the rinse water into it and flush with that. Open the gray valve when you need to fill a container you use to flush the toilet with? No lines or extra pumps required and no cross contamination problems.
    2019 GMC 3500 HD:)
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  8. #8
    Seasoned Camper Dave27's Avatar
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    You might want to consider a "composting toilet". The Wynn's use one. http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/composting-toilet

    We don't have any personal experience with it.
    Dave
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  9. #9
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Devinh2 View Post
    Hey Paul, I was thinking more along the lines of just cutting the water line to the toilet and splicing in a line from the gray tank. Even when hooked at a campground you are still saving water. Just wondering if there are any true cons to doing this.
    If you commit to always flushing the toilet with only gray water, there is no chance of cross contamination with the fresh water system. You will need a dedicated pump, but this can work off an internal pressure switch just like the fresh water pump. No additional switch required. Pumping grey water is standard practice on boats. The shower sump is almost always below the waterline, so shower gray water has to be pumped.

    Rob
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  10. #10
    Seasoned Camper BjornF16's Avatar
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    Composting toilet looks interesting...I like the idea of expanding gray water storage since that is main concern on 2 week hunting trips
    Jeff & Deena
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