Grey Water Tank Flushes Toilet (to conserve fresh water)

[LittleRadio]

Anybody ever rigged a grey water tank to flush the toilet? I'm considering doing so -- it's such a waste to use fresh water, isn't it?

[dznf0g]

Gray water gets to stinking after awhile. I suppose if you drop a few drops of deoderizer in the bowl after a flush, it might be OK. I would think you would need sime kind of filter to keep food chunks, etc from clogging a pump.

[moosetags]

That sounds like an interesting concept. Other than the occasional Cheerio in the toilet, it should work. If I were to do it, I would want a valve to cut it on and off as needs dictate.

Brian

[au_ee]

Gray water will potentially have grease and other debris in it. This could clog up your line going from the grey tank to the toilet inlet.

[LittleRadio]

Good points, all. I'm thinking I'd need a machinating pump -- like a sewage ejector pump with blades. I'd also need a filter that could be easily serviceable/reachable. Power of pump should keep line to toilet from getting clogged. Alternate switch valve for fresh water when grey water tank is empty.

Perhaps one of the maintenance items is to drop in a tablet of deodorizer into the grey tank every month or something.

I really like the idea of water conservation -- especially when you're out boondocking.

[Aage]

I have two points:

1. I think it is too much trouble versus the potential gain. Taking "Navy" showers and not flushing every time (or in the case of #1, just a very quick flush) will allow campers to make available water last much longer. There are other ways of conserving too, lots of them are centered around kitchen wash-ups.
2. Something about it doesn't sit right with me. I personally don't feel that it is advisable having all the extra hair, body oils, soap, peas, carrots (whether mashed up or not) sitting in the black tank. The combo of that material and the normal black tank material could promote faster growth of undesirable enzymes, odours, and so on.

Focus first on what can be done without expensive modifications to your waste systems. The "human factor" can come up with more efficient ways of saving water simply by modifying their habits, IMHO.

Do that first, THEN, if you still aren't happy with your consumption, look back over the system side of it. Modifying your system involves using more plastic, adhesives, and creates waste that might be needless in the overall picture.

[pbearsailor]

Carlos Ferguson's thread has it. Sorry it's a very long thread and I'm not sure where it is, but I know he did it. Great thread anyway, so it's a good read.

cheers,
steve

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by LittleRadio

Anybody ever rigged a grey water tank to flush the toilet? I'm considering doing so -- it's such a waste to use fresh water, isn't it?

You have a gray water tank in a '66!
Neil

[eubank]

Might consider just a small, pass-thru gray tank off the bathroom sink to avoid kitchen sink debris. Just a gallon or so ought to do it. Probably have to install a filtered demand pump to move the water from the pass-thru tank to the toilet.

Lynn

[SouthForkAS]

Good idea - in theory. Next opportunity, sniff a grey tank.
The official line (from Park Ranger) is you can dump your sink water (.5-1 or 2 litres) into a bush but anything from grey tanks could be loaded with parasites and other pathogens (hence the stink).
Even if you clean religiously.
What else ya got?

[DKB_SATX]

It's a decade-old thread and this has probably been mentioned elsewhere, but especially when boondocking I usually keep a 2-gallon general purpose bucket (that has a pouring spout in the rim) in the shower. It collects some water while showering, and I can pour that into the toilet. It's also a plus for the fiddly macerator toilet that doesn't flow water through fast enough to clean with one flush...