Sewer System

========================================================

Black Tank: The waste from the RV toilet is contained in the stinky-poo Black Tank to keep it separate from the rest of your not-as-bad shower and sink water. Adding some black tank chemicals will cut down on the odors and speed up the breakdown of the.. stuff.

Dump Station: A sewer connection location where you can empty your black and gray water tanks in a safe manner. A concrete pad with an opening for your sewer hose that empties into a sewer or septic system is typically used. Campgrounds or public works departments generally have dump stations. There are phone apps that will help you locate a dump station while traveling.

Holding Tanks: Refer to an RV’s fluid storage tanks. This usually consists of three water tanks: black (stinky waste), gray (slimy shower water, sinks), and fresh water (potable until it goes into black and gray).

Honey Wagon: A sewer truck with large a liquid tank on it that can come to your RV and pump out your waste tanks. For Class-B vans, with our small tanks, the high price makes it difficult to justify. They are generally used at conventions and other gatherings.

Macerator: A waste solids grinder, similar to a sink garbage disposal, that allows the contents of black and gray tanks to be dumped into a remote sewage connection using a regular hose and upward inclines.

Non-potable Water: Water that is not suitable for human consumption. Non-potable water is usually located at dump stations. Which is not a good place to find drinking water!

Potable water: That’s stuff you can drink.

Sewer Doughnut: A rubber ring that seals any space between an RV’s sewer hose and the campsite’s sewer opening so gases and odors don’t escape. And no, it is not edible.

Stinky Slinky: Slang for the flexible sewer hose used to dump the RV’s waste tanks. The metal coil in the hose reminds us of a toy slinky, but you should wear rubber gloves to play with it.

========================================================

TIP: Emptying the gray tank last allows the gray water to flush any black tank waste out of the macerator and sewer hose. If the black and gray tanks are at the same level, some people leave the black valve open to allow the gray water to back-flow into the black tank to rinse it.
TIP: If you find your gray tank fills up much faster than the black tank, one option is to use a bucket or pot in the sink to wash dishes. When done, empty the bucket in the black tank (toilet) instead of the sink drain (gray tank). Some campgrounds have a sink by the rest rooms for washing pans & plates.

TIP: Purchase a dedicated black tank flushing water hose to be used exclusively for sewer tasks.

TIP: Many dump stations have a large rock or brick lying there that folks can place on top of their hose to keep it from popping out of the honey-hole.

TIP: If you site also has a sewer hookup, it’s possible someone rinsed their sewer hose using the water faucet. You may want to sterilize the water faucet using a spray bottle of bleach before connecting your drinking water hose.

Warning: NEVER, ever use your drinking water hose to rinse the sewer hose. Carry a dedicated black hose for sewer related tasks.

========================================================

Macerator:
Our van has an onboard macerator, so the process is slightly more complex with a few additional steps than with the gravity dump process, which is affectionately known as a “stinky-slinky.” The slinky is a 3-inch-diameter accordion-type hose that attaches to your waste valve, and the other end goes into the sewer drain.

What is a macerator? It is a bladed grinder, very much along the lines of a kitchen sink garbage disposal machine. The advantage of a macerator is that it will grind up any solids into small pieces and push them through a small hose, even going up an incline, a long distance, or up and over into a toilet.

Disadvantage: They are more expensive, need more water in the slurry, and may require maintenance of the blades to clean hair and debris occasionally. They are slower than gravity feed and feel especially slow when you are trying to dump, and there are four more RVs waiting behind you. Running the pump dry for any period of time can damage the pump or blow the fuse. As an option, you may be able to add a 3-inch stinky-slinky drain and valve to provide an alternative option for dumping in the event of a failure of the macerator.

========================================================

Dumping Procedure – Inline Macerator

3. Hold the sewer hose with the cap facing up to avoid spilling any remaining contents in the hose. Remove the hose cap to allow air into the hose so it will extend.
4. Extend the hose and insert the end into the sewer drain, making sure it is secure. Trust me – you definitely don’t want this thing to pop out while you are emptying your tanks. Many dump stations have a rock or brick lying there that folks place on top of their hose to keep it from popping out of the hole.
5. Empty the black tank first by pulling the black valve handle. Press and hold the power switch for the macerator until you hear that the tank is empty and the sound of the macerator changes. Release the switch.

7. Close the black tank valve and open the gray tank valve. Again, press and hold the power switch for the macerator until the sound changes.
   TIP: Emptying the gray tank last allows the gray water to flush any black tank waste out of the macerator and sewer hose.
   Note: Some have mentioned that their black valve needs to remain open for their gray to empty properly.
8. Drain the sewer hose. After both tanks have been emptied, raise the sewer hose at the closest point near the RV and walk it towards the sewer inlet, draining the hose of any water and waste inside the hose.
9. Holding the open end facing up to avoid any spills, compress the hose back into its storage tube, screw on the end cap, and re-attach the support sling.
10. When you’re done, dispose of your gloves and wash your hands with soap and water. Just to be doubly safe, I like to use a hand sanitizer after that.

========================================================

Dumping Procedure – Gravity-Dump

2. Remove the access cover to the tank valves. Inspect the hose O-ring to make sure it’s still there, or you’ll have a mess. (Maybe carry an extra O-ring.)
3. Attach the hose to the RV valves and twist, making sure it’s firmly locked in.
4. Extend the hose and insert the other end into the sewer drain, making sure it is secure. Trust me – you definitely don’t want this thing to pop out while you are emptying your tanks.

7. Close the black tank valve and open the gray tank valve.
   TIP: Emptying the gray tank last allows the gray water to flush any black tank waste out of the macerator and sewer hose. If the black and gray tanks are at the same level, some people leave the black valve open to allow the gray water to back-flow into the black tank to rinse it.
8. Drain the sewer hose. After both tanks have been emptied, raise the sewer hose at the closest point near the RV and walk it towards the sewer inlet, draining the hose of any water and waste inside the hose.
9. While the sewer hose is still in the sewer, unhook the end from the RV and rinse the inside and outside of the sewer hose.
10. Pack the hose away, dispose of your gloves, and wash your hands with soap and water. Just to be doubly safe, I like to use a hand sanitizer after that.

11. Add holding tank chemicals and some water to the black tank. Leave a little bit of water in the toilet to keep the seal from drying out. Also, make sure the sinks and shower P-traps have water in them to block tank odors from coming into the coach through the traps. If they are dry, using the roof-mounted exhaust fan may draw odors into the coach.

Warning: OK, one last time: DO NOT use your potable water hose to rinse your sewer hose. There are all kinds of nasty germs growing in that fecal soup.

========================================================

Recreation Vehicle Toilet Paper:

TIP: If you really want to have the thick, velvety softness of a multi-ply toilet paper, many people use a lidded trash container to receive the used toilet paper. It may sound disgusting, but it is a common practice in many countries around the world. These folks probably have never had to deal with a clogged pipe either.

========================================================

RV Toilet Types:

There is nothing like traveling with your own clean, private bathroom just steps away. No more mapping out rest stops or waiting for the cleaning crew to finish mopping the floor. Now that we have selected our roll of toilet paper, let’s put it to good use and dive deep into the toilet operation. Wait, I didn’t mean to actually dive into the toilet. It’s just a figure of speech.

Camping toilets come in many different configurations. They range from a plastic bag in a 5-gallon Home Depot bucket with a pool noodle for… comfort? All the way to a china bowl with a bidet and a built-in macerator. Portable toilets have a water tank and a waste tank that can be detached and emptied into a sewer connection or dumped in a toilet.

Gravity Flush is the most common type of RV toilet. There’s either a lever or a peddle that operates the water valve and dump valve. Pushing part way adds water to the bowl, and pushing all the way down opens the valve, and the water rinses the waste down into the black tank. Some offer an optional kitchen-type sprayer for knocking down those stuck-on stinky bits. One disadvantage of the gravity toilet is that it must be located over the black tank.

Macerator toilets have a garbage disposal type of motorized bladed gizmo, so when you flush, it pulverizes the waste and washes it into the black tank. Macerator-style toilets use much more water than gravity-drop toilets and also need electricity for the motor. An advantage of a macerator toilet is that it pumps the waste and doesn’t need to be located near the black tank. In large Class-A motorhomes, it can even be installed as a second toilet some distance from the black tank. Instead of flushing with a lever or mashing a pedal, macerator toilets have a couple of power switches for fill and flush.

Bidet Toilet: A fairly recent addition to the RV toilet lineup is the bidet toilet. There are several models in several price ranges. You can opt for a simple seat replacement and water hookup to a full-feature, top-of-the line bidet package with dual nozzles spraying nice warm water where the sun don’t shine. Again, they may require electrical power and can set you back over $1,000. If you like the idea of a bidet on a less expensive budget, portable, battery-powered butt showers are available, and some will even warm the water for ya.

========================================================

Locating Dump Stations:

Dump stations can be found in most campgrounds, and you can sometimes pay a small fee to dump even if you are not staying there. Other options include: some gas stations like Flying J and Pilot, outdoor stores like Cabela’s, some highway rest areas, and many state and national parks. There are phone apps that will direct you to dump stations in your area.

Honey Wagon: If you’ve ever been to an RV convention or other large gathering like the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the dump station can come to you. It is known as the “Honey Wagon.” Septic companies come to your site, hook up their vacuum hose, and suck your tanks dry. For our vans, the cost is a bit high for the small size of our tanks. Some companies charge $40-$50 for a friendly, personal pick-up.

WARNING: One thing to be careful of with a honey wagon – the suction from these trucks can easily collapse your tanks, so you will need to hold the toilet valve open for air to rush in.

========================================================

Dump Station Etiquette:

• If other people are waiting to dump, be courteous and skip rinsing your tanks for some other day.
• Make sure your hose is secure in the hole and never dump directly onto the disposal apron.
• Don’t put your rubber gloves down the sewer hole. There should always be a trash can or dumpster nearby.
• Don’t leave a mess for the next person. Pick up any garbage, even if it’s not yours, and leave it cleaner than when you arrived.
• Keep a spray bottle of Lysol Multi-Purpose Cleaner handy, and spray down your handles and other touch surfaces when you are finished.

Side Bar: Most people who have been RVing for a while have a dump station horror story. Mine involved a dump station in an Alabama State Park where, unbeknownst to me, someone had jammed a 2×4 deep down into the sewer dump hole. I sure miss those shoes!

========================================================

========================================================

More Tips:

• I’m not sure if this still applies to vans with a macerator, but it is recommended to have the tanks 2/3 or more full when dumping.
• Unless you are sure your black tank is super clean, never store it empty. Any solids will dry up, and you will end up with a concrete poo-pyramid that can’t be easily be removed.
• The best way to store an RV is with the tanks partially full with black tank chemicals in the water (or anti-freeze in winter storage).
• Some companies can clean your tanks with a pressure washer wand to get out that stubborn sludge.
• Some people like dropping in a dishwashing machine soap bomb. They are non-foaming.
• Others have recommended dumping in a bag of ice before you go driving around. One website tested the idea and says this is ineffective.
• If you don’t enjoy getting down and yanking valve handles, electrically operated valves are available. They require an electrical hookup and a location for mounting the switches.
• Always use a dedicated black water hose. Some RVers use expandable hoses. Be aware that they are hard to clean, and the outer mesh can harbor all kinds of nasties if you drag them through the sludge at a dump station.

========================================================

========================================================

Maintenance:

RV sewer systems do need occasional maintenance and repairs from time to time. The built-in macerator used in our RV has a clear plastic cover for visual inspection of the blades. If there is a broken impeller or debris wound up on the blade, you can access it by removing this cover. You may want to consider carrying a spare cover and O-ring since the housing hangs very low under the van and the covers are easily broken. Some people have even constructed metal shields to protect the housing and cover.

Macerators can blow a fuse under heavy loads, so you may want to locate the fuse ahead of time and carry a spare.

As a backup dump option in the event of a failure of the macerator, we have added an additional dump valve to the macerator housing. This enables the use of a stinky-slinky to dump the tanks using the gravity dump method. It also provides an access port to blast any debris from the macerator blades with a high-pressure garden hose nozzle. Removing the glued-on cap is a challenging task, and a Dremel grinder can help chip away the cover.

Our dump valves are on the opposite side of the RV from the dump handle and are operated using sheathed cables connected to the valves. If the dump handles are difficult to operate, you can try lubricating the cables with a dry lubricant that contains Teflon or a marine grease like Quicksilver 802859Q1.

Our drain T-handles are held onto the cable using a cotter pin through a hole. If the handle pulls off, you can use a small nail or cotter pin to hold it back on. A better alternative is to replace the handles with the Valterra metal threaded screw-on handles, part number 1215.1124, available on Amazon.

Another option for hard-to-pull valves, we have replaced ours with electrically powered valves. The control switches can be placed in a convenient location, so you don’t need to get down on the ground to pull the handles. I like to imagine a remote control that can crack open the black valve slightly to deter tailgaters.

For improved tank ventilation, you can install a Camco Cyclone plumbing vent on the roof vent stack. It weathervanes with the breeze to pull fumes from the tanks.

========================================================

Sewer Parts: