Grey Water disposal

I seem to remember reading a post on another forum from an owner of a CL about the disposal of grey water. It said that he, had asked his guests to spread the grey water amongst his trees.  He said despite this people constantly put it into his Septic tank, causing him problems.  His solution was to install soak away drains on each pitch.   This had three effects firstly it stopped people dumping the water at the CDP.  Secondly his trees got watered because it was just a soak away and thirdly he could increase his pitch prices because he was now offering service pitches.

I sense here a misunderstanding of what a "septic system" is compared to a "cess tank".

More water through a septic system does not lead to more emptying and a decent regular flow through is what it does need to stay in biological balance. And plenty of greywater to offset the damage done by persons using some loo chemicals is what it can desperately need to dilute them.

A cess tank, on the other hand, is a sealed enclosure that will need emptying so best only receiving what it has to take.

Interesting range of replies.

I had imagined that most dedicated grey water points were soakaways and I have been on numerous sites where I have been asked to put it under trees or into a hedge or through the fence in to the next field.

I am sure that chemical waste needs to be collected from a closed system and that it was not allowable to have toilet chemicals flowing into drains or soakaways.

So, if you put grey water into a chemical collection point you are in fact contaminating the grey water with toilet chemicals which means it will need treating before it can be used again.

Perfectly good water that many sites are happy to see returned to the land going off to the chemical treatment works, seems a shame!

We are careful to ensure that the grey waste contains no food particles, fat etc. so wherever we are in the UK or Europe the grey water goes in the nearest hedge. There are exceptions of course. Club sites don't have many hedges and the inhabitants would probably complain if they saw me doing it (after all, whats the point of a Wastemaster if you are going to dump grey water in the hedge?). Some sites are tight up, may have few trees and hedges and possibly a lot of hard standing.

So, if you are in a rural area (rather than something akin to a car park) use the hedges, trees etc. and recycle your waste.

There are some "responsible" people out there that only "grey" water they would ensure goes under hedges, but then there are others who do not care,ie barbeques/caddacs,that are dumped also,you only have to see what state dish washing areas are left,

Agree, but that has always been the case. Camping with the family 50/60 years ago there were "responsible" tent campers and "others" but that's not just grey waste, it includes litter, urine, noise and so on. As Club members I hope that the general standard of behaviour and hygiene on average is probably a little better than the norm., however, for that minority who are not so responsible I don't think rules or signs would make any difference nor will anything said on this forum.

From our earliest times Camping I was always taught to inspect a pitch after leaving it; picking up any bits of paper, rubbish etc. I still do it but I wonder how many others do?

I have seen a system like this used on a site.

http://www.reedbeds.co.uk/page/what-are-the-advantages-of-using-a-reed-bed-system.php