Septic Tank Maintenance in Charleston

Hitting the Road This Summer? What You Need to Know About Greywater and Blackwater Tanks

If you are hitting the road for the summer, it’s a good idea to make sure that you are ready. This is the information that you need to know about greywater and blackwater tanks from our experts at septic tank service in Charleston, SC!

RVs typically come with two different septic tanks: one that houses greywater and one for blackwater. Greywater tanks help to collect wastewater from both sinks and showers. It is called the “gray” tank because it contains things like soap and has a “cloudy” or “gray” look. Blackwater tanks, however, collect wastewater from your RV toilet, so they hold a combination of liquids and solids. Older RVs might have one tank, in which case it would be considered just a “black” tank. When you have two tanks, they have valves that control the flow of the respective tanks.

Greywater RV Septic Tanks

Any water you use in your RV, besides what is used for the toilet, is considered greywater and requires emptying. It is not toxic like blackwater is, but that does not mean that you don’t have to take precautions when emptying it. Some people will empty greywater into the grass, but most use a dumping station. It is always a good idea to empty the greywater after the black to ensure that you are fully flushing the remnants of the blackwater if you do use a dumping station.

Blackwater Septic Tanks

Blackwater septic tanks house anything that is flushed down the toilet. Always ensure that there is water in the blackwater septic tank before you begin using it. The water that remains at the bottom will help to absorb odors and stop solids from sticking to the walls. Blackwater tanks are often small and fill up quickly. Make sure to use a bio-solvent to help break down whatever is in the blackwater tank; this will help get rid of odors. And if you do put in an industry bioproduct, then it might help to give you an extra couple of days when you are on the road.

Important Tips When Dumping

Blackwater is toxic and needs to be handled in a specific way. Always check to make sure that you are using gloves. Also, ensure that there are no cracks or leaks in your sewer hose before you use it. Pull up to the right side of the septic system. It is similar to a gas station, so know where your tanks are before you drive up. Get close enough to the drain so that you aren’t stretching the hose too much. If you do, it can cause the hose to disconnect. Next, make sure that the valves are closed before you leave the station.

How Often Do You Need to Empty Your Septic Tank?

The frequency of emptying your tanks depends on their size. When you are using the RV, you will use less water than when you are at home. Taking just two RV showers that last about four minutes will fill up about sixteen gallons of water. Using water to wash your meals and utensils will probably use about six more gallons. With handwashing and other needs, you can safely assume that you will accumulate about 25 gallons of greywater a day.

If you have a lot of people on board, it might need to be emptied daily, but if you only have a couple of people, you might be able to stretch it to about once a week. Just make sure that you empty it before you head out to get the maximum number of days on the road.

Let Us Help

At Trash Gurl, we can help you with your septic tank needs. If you are going to head out on the road this summer, make sure to properly empty your tanks so that you can hit the road without worrying for a longer period. If you need any help, we are here. Contact Trash Gurl today!