Collecting Grey Water

Getting slightly off topic here, but I had not heard of RVs having a waste treatment system that injects waste water into the exhaust. For disclosure, I have been an RVer for going on 3 decades, everything from diesel pusher motorcoaches to a Class B campervan. I looked it up... this is the reference I found...

http://rv-pro.com/news/invention-offers ... k-disposal

It has not yet been brought to market (according to the article), and the cost is $15,000; weight 120 pounds. Yes, there were some different waste/exhaust systems attempted in the 70s, but none that are currently in use. Not sure if the EPA had anything to do with that.

If you are at anchor or at a dock for any period of time, this would not be practical - you have to have some high exhaust temperatures (at least 550º) to "sizzle" the waste water.

RV parks do not allow gray water to be dumped on the ground (there are a few, rare exceptions); I can see where the government will be convinced that we need to be "saved" from ourselves on the water. Dilution is the solution.

In the meantime, there are a LOT of boats that would not be able to meet "nothing overboard" standards.
 
To answer questions on the Airhead.
You really do not need to use the coffee filters. I never have used them and I never have to worry about aiming. It all goes right where it is supposed to.
The fan draws very little amps something like .5 miliamps and with the solar panel more than makes up for it.
No smells, no fuss no muss.
We live on the boat full time for three months in the winter and then do week long trips and long weekends in the summer in RI. We do use marina bathrooms when available. We go from January to October without having to clean it out.
To clean it out you can dump it in a plastic garbage bag and put it in a dumpster. It smells like wet leaves in the fall. Or I dig a hole and bury it in the roots of my nice green beautiful and flowering forsythia plant. Gee I wonder why it flourishes so well. Do not put in vegitable garden!
The biggest inconvenience is the urine. don't leave it in there if you are going to be away for a while. if you are using it full time you will have to empty it after about 4 days. adding a bit of sugar in the tank eliminates any smell. To empty tank you simply unscrew it and it has a carry handle and cap and you dump it in a toilet.
The height of the toilet can be handled by making the support ledge a bit larger so you can rest your feet on it or a very small step stool about 3 inches high will work as well.
Boats are a compromise. The pros of the Airhead, in my opinion, is I have no pumpout or discharge issues, no clogged toilet, no smells, no plumbing, no controllers or pumps to break vs. emptying the urine tank every few days and empty the airhead once a year and niether are time consuming nor offensive.
Believe me, I did my research and I could not find one bad comment on this unit.
I also now hold 75 gallons of potable water. In the event of a gray water discharge issue I will just go back to using the holding tank for gray water. This tank will hold 40 gallons, so when I am out of water I will need a pump out and fill my water tank. Pretty simple.
 
Thank you so much for the input and advise. You guys are a great source of info.
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I am not ready to ripe all the plumbing from my new boat to install a airhead just yet but, I will replumb and add a 18gal grey tank. ............ Airhead, Maybe that will be next winters project.
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I can see the rules and restriction get tighter all the time. Dont get me wrong, I don't like to, or want to, pollute my lake....BUT, IN Tahoe the TRPA (tahoe regional planning agency) would love to see all the boats gone except for "no touch systems" Like a paddle Kayak, sail boats with electric kickers, paddle wheeler with a sealed system and no heat exchangers. You would have to have a radiator to deal with the heat like a airboat. Bilge pumps would be run thru a hydrocarbon filter to separate potential oils. OH YES, things will be changing count on it.
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The inspection station is a money generator. You dont launch without an inspection. $100 for the launch and inspection....that is if your boat is clean.....if not they will charge you to clean the bilge. If there are any invasive species found or have been in the Colorado river system they may not let you in at all.
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Things will be changing in the future. We just happen to be on the leading edge of what is going on.

I too hope the Factory takes an interest here. Keeping up with the current politically correct BS.

TANKS again for the assistance Reno
 
And what about all the mammals, animals and fish that do their business in the waters?
Hard to control or restrict that!
 
i had to get all the way to the bottom of the thread to read what I was going to point out. As you look at the wonderful whales, fish you catch, seals etc they are all doing their business everyday. So are the millions of them you do not see. The oceans and rivers are large and are able to absorb it. It is the circle of life. But at the same time we should minimize what we put out as grey water and be responsible. Just not crazy the other way and ban it all together. Pretty hard to re-plumb all those fish and whales.
 
I just read this whole thread, and came to one thought. Install a Gray Water holding tank in the cave? Filled from the top via the shower sump. A drain controlled by a valve into the black water tank. Pump out the black, drain gray into black continue to pump out. A lot less plumbing. Maybe...
 
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