I was dropping my kids off at school this morning and I drove through the housing tract across the street (typical suburban neighborhood) and I saw a woman dumping her tanks into her sewer cleanout on the front lawn. I actually turned around and drove past her again to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was. I couldn't imagine that was legal but I was curious so I called our city's code enforcement department and they told me it was. They suggested I check with the water/sewer company but as far as the city was concerned, it was ok. I called the water company and they don't have any regulations for or against doing this. She also told me that she knows of many people that dump their tanks this way. I am really surprised- seems kind of gross to me, but this is where the sewage from the house goes so what really is the difference? I wonder about using tank chemicals though. I'm not sure I will ever do this but I find it interesting that we can. Anyone else have similar regulations like this?
not unusual, many people put dump stations on their property so they can dump at home of if they have house quests that stay in the TT for a weekend. chemicals these days are safe for sewers or septic tanks
Very common to use the sewer clean-out (not the storm drain which I have also seen). Lots of people tap into this to sep up there own dump stations at home. I don't because my clean out is in the garage and the driveway is steep. I would need a pump and since I have a station at my storage lot two blocks away I see no need to shell out the cash on a pump.
Crossroads Sunset Trail 30BH
Dodge Ram 1500 TV with dual exhaust and K&N cool air intake
2003 Polaris 600 Twin ATV
2006 SunL 110 ATV
1979 Honda Goldwing (riding restore)
considering all the stuff that people flush down the toilets, black tank waste is probably some of the cleanest waste that gets processed. I have seen the results of people flushing toys, rags, tampons, condoms, paper towles, q-tips, paint chemicals, used oil and trash of all sort. Unbelievable. RV owners are unlikely to put all that stuff in their tank.
Alyson & Mark plus kids
Toyota Tundra 2004 Double Cab w/ Tow Package
2005 Citrus Cruiser C243S hybrid
$3k+ in warranty repairs & climbing plus
$3k+ of my time to finish building this one
Stay away from R-Vision like your life depends on it
We happen to have a hole in the front of our house that leads to the sewer. DH usually dumps at the campground and after I clean the trailer, he will dump the residual and clean the tanks. It's no dirtier than dumping at a campground, probably cleaner. I personally think it's convenient to have a sewer access because if the line is long at the dumpstation, you know you have a nice dumpstation at home.
I would suggest that before you start doing this, is to check with local sewer utilities.
Some may not allow this operation as there is no trap between cleanout and mainline.
My answer might give you some greater understanding. First, it is common and I have no knowledge that it is illegal anywhere and there is no need for a trap provided you are only sending wastewater down. You MAY need a permit and pay an additional fee because the local MUA might say you're dumping is beyond your residential allowance contained in your sewer bill (assuming you are unmetered from the get go). This happened to my sister when an MUA employee observed her dumping tanks. I told her to write a letter to the MUA explaining that the argument doesn't hold because while the family is away, LESS wastewater is generated as there are no daily showers, daily dishwasher runs, etc. and the dumped volume was actually less and this could be shown by actual measurement. So instead of paying an extra $25 per quarter flat, it forced the MUA to install a meter at her curb cleanout to measure flow on their dime because the grievance was in writing! So far it's shown that this was indeed true! You MAY also need a permit and a key to open your curb cleanout (our town has special cast iron locking covers to prevent tampering). This would be for me, except that I have a standard cleanout WITHIN my property line (built the home and added lots of things like this). So I do not need a permit and I am free to dump as long as the camper is registered to my ownership and the address under local ordinance. I really enjoy this convenience as I'll dump the bulk at the CG and flush once home when not staying at full hook-ups.
Regarding the traps, they serve two general purposes: 1) keep sewer gases from backing up and 2) catch foreign objects, but even that is only to a degree when talking 3-4" DWV piping. Anyway, you have traps and a vent system in the home that will protect any back-up generated from disposal down a clean-out. Anything that passes a stinky slinky through a 4" cleanout will not affect a main 8" and up.
The environmental field is my livelihood, and I know a few things about water treatment... The tank chemicals aren't going to affect the treatment processes. Moreover, think about where the waste from a dump station goes - to the wastewater treatment plant! Nearly all are now nothing but underground holding tanks waiting for pump-out and disposal.
Its hard for me to imagine that being regarded as legal because it would be open sewage until it is actually gone into the drain. When the authorities said it was legal I wonder if they actually understood what they were answering to; like maybe they really don't understand the RV situation. Otherwise, wouldn't that mean you could carry a bucket of human waste out of the house and pour it down a sewer drain?
I've been wanting to bury a line from where I park my TT to the clean-out in the back yard, just haven't got to it you. It's on my long-long list of "to-do" jobs someday. Meanwhile, if I need to dump, I use my Blue Tote and drain it in the clean-out. Nothing in the books says you can't. Considering the water and sewage is on the same bill from the city and the sewage cost is based upon the water amount, if the water comes from the house, why not dump it back into the city system? And when I take water out of the house (in the fresh water tank), I don't feel bad about bring home a tank of black or gray water and "returning it to the city!"
DutchmenSport
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo
Century Truck Cap Commercial /Toolboxes
Northeast Outfitters Canoe
In most cases it would not be illegal provided you are actually dumping in the sanitary sewer system. If however, you are dumping into the storm sewer system, it is not only illegal, but you could be creating a significant health hazard at the downstream outlet (as in fecal coliform). If you are dumping at your house, for the sake of the kids playing in the crick downstream, make sure you are dumping into the sanitary sewer system not the storm drainage system. Most newer homes will have connections to both, make sure you know which is which.
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