R-pod Owners Forum : Composting Toilet

R-pod Owners Forum : Composting Toilet https://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Miscellaneous / Off-topic : Composting Toilet Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sat, 30 May 2026 15:09:50 +0000 Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:03:46 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 https://www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=15420 R-pod Owners Forum https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.rpod-owners.com/ Composting Toilet : I would not want to camp in... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149289#149289 Author: StephenH
Subject: 15420
Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 9:03pm

I would not want to camp in a place where the immediate prior occupant emptied the grey water tank. That is a health hazard. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should do so.

That being said, I once dumped an almost full black water tank on the highway when the factory (reinforced) hangers (yes, two of them) broke. The end dragged and the valve opened. I had to replace the valve and I now use a heavy muffler hanger to hang the pipe. There won't be a third time if I can help it. I am very glad I wasn't behind the trailer. The only thing was it was a hot summer day with lots of sunshine, so I hope the UV rays in the sunshine killed any bacteria quickly. I feel sorry for anyone who was back there. I did not even know about it until someone passing flagged me and let me know there was a problem. I did not know what the problem was until I got to an exit and pulled off though.

Check your tank hangers. A composting toilet (to get back on topic) would have helped avoid this situation as there would not have been a tank full of nasty stuff in the first place.

]]> Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:03:46 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149289#149289 Composting Toilet : Thanks, RoverPod. That's... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149284#149284 Author: gpokluda
Subject: 15420
Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 7:45pm

Thanks, RoverPod. That's how we understand it as well. Once, on an extended stay in a National Forest, the Ranger allowed us to drain some of our grey water. We used a garden hose adapter on our grey drain cap and bucket to water some of the trees and bushes in camp. I don't think the fact that we made the Ranger and camp hosts thin crust pizza in our portable pizza oven played any part in the deal. LOL

]]> Mon, 08 Aug 2022 19:45:38 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149284#149284 Composting Toilet : Originally posted by gpokludaDumping... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149281#149281 Author: RoverPod
Subject: 15420
Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 5:47pm

Originally posted by gpokluda

Dumping gray water is actually legal in most states, of course there are restrictions and caveats so best to consult local laws before doing so. New Mexico, for instance, allows 200 gallons of gray water to be discharged without a permit. BLM usually allows gray water dumping on surface but National Forests and Army Corps of Engineers do not. Best to know your options.

Here's an article written after some research on grey water dumping by Boondockers Bible.

https://www.boondockersbible.com/knowledgebase/can-i-dump-my-gray-water-on-the-ground/

]]> Mon, 08 Aug 2022 17:47:08 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149281#149281 Composting Toilet : +1. True graywater disposal systems... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149265#149265 Author: offgrid
Subject: 15420
Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 6:14am

+1. True graywater disposal systems are designed to immediately disperse the waste water into the soil. As soon as the water enters a storage tank in begins to undergo anaerobic decomposition which turns it into blackwater.

Composting toilets combined with graywater dispersal systems were a "thing" in the green homebuilding community 30 years ago until people realized that there was really no significant benefit (and a lot more complexity) vs just installing a traditional septic system. I could be wrong but I doubt anyone is installing these systems in new green homes nowadays.

For RVs if I were to get another one I think I'd consider a casette toilet and graywater tank combination like what is used on the Nucamp Tab trailers. Adds a little flexibility if one is camped in one of the few dispersed camping areas where immediate graywater dispersal is allowed and the casette can be emptied in a toilet or outhouse. ]]> Mon, 08 Aug 2022 06:14:57 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149265#149265 Composting Toilet : Again to reiterate what I have... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149260#149260 Author: StephenH
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 6:33pm

Again to reiterate what I have posted elsewhere, once grey water is put in a tank, it has to be treated as if it were black water in NC. You can use grey water only in a drought and then by hand watering non-food trees and shrubs. So, you could take your dish pan and water a shrub with it during a drought, but not during "normal" times. Put it in a tank, and then you would need to have a water treatment plant to run it though before being able to use that water. The grey water tank can stink pretty badly because bacteria also grow there. That is why it has to be considered the same as black water.]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 18:33:38 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149260#149260 Composting Toilet : The only federal land management... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149257#149257 Author: offgrid
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 5:19pm

The only federal land management agency that doesn't expressly prohibit graywater dumping is the BLM. I've personally never been in a state park that allows it. So it might be possible in some situations but for most folks most of the time, it's not allowed. ]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:19:17 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149257#149257 Composting Toilet : Dumping gray water is actually... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149255#149255 Author: gpokluda
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 5:11pm

Dumping gray water is actually legal in most states, of course there are restrictions and caveats so best to consult local laws before doing so. New Mexico, for instance, allows 200 gallons of gray water to be discharged without a permit. BLM usually allows gray water dumping on surface but National Forests and Army Corps of Engineers do not. Best to know your options.]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:11:07 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149255#149255 Composting Toilet : Thanks for the input everyone.... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149252#149252 Author: Linda&Gino
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 4:41pm

Thanks for the input everyone. We went with the composting toilet.]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 16:41:48 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149252#149252 Composting Toilet : The benefit of so called composting... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149251#149251 Author: offgrid
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 4:33pm

The benefit of so called composting toilets in rvs is not having to go to a dump station. But that assumes you empty your gray tank on the surface, which is illegal most places. I could see getting one if you were camping on private property where you could dump your graywater on the surface. Otherwise not so much.

I put composting in quotes because RV compostjng toilets aren't really true composting toilets, that usually takes many months and a big storage chamber. The RV "composting" toilet is more a way to store semi dry material for a little while until you can dispose of it. For that reason the RV composting toilets have to have a way to separate urine and feces, which are then disposed of separately. There is also a 12v vent fan to minimize odors. IOW, it's significantly more complex than having a flush toilet and blank tank.

You also typically have to add coconut choir or other similar material to balance out the organic content.

Another alternative to consider is the cassette toilet, which is basically a port a pot with a separate storage container you access from outside the trailer. That can then be dumped in a regular toilet or at a dump station, giving you options without the hassle of the "composting". ]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 16:33:20 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149251#149251 Composting Toilet : The only experience I have with... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149248#149248 Author: mjlrpod
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 2:26pm

The only experience I have with them is as follows. About ten years ago a major interstate rest area was completely overhauled, going in both directions. So that is two separate bathrooms that are on opposing sides of a three lane highway. When they opened they touted how great this technology was by having big signs telling us the were composting toilets, and how it works, and how it might save the planet. A few years after it opened, it suddenly was shut down. Soon after about 20 outhouses were brought in. The building (both sides) has been closed ever since. Not even the information area is open. YMMV]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 14:26:07 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149248#149248 Composting Toilet : No experience with composting... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149247#149247 Author: Tars Tarkas
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 2:05pm

No experience with composting toilets but a big reason to buy most RVs is to have indoor, self-contained plumping. With an R-Pod you have 30 gallons of fresh water, a 30 gallon grey tank and a 30 gallon black tank. Typically, you will always need to drain your grey tank before you need to drain you black tank, and you won't need to drain either until you need more fresh water. Meaning you'll need to find a dump station for your grey tank and may as well empty your black tank at the same time.

If you don't want to use that much water there are less expensive campers that aren't fully-enclosed. I figure if I paid for indoor plumbing (because I want it), I'm going to use it. There are ways to manage the water in an RPod so as to use less too, if you insist.

My mind isn't closed to the idea of a composting toilet but it seems like extra expense and effort to me to solve a mostly theoretical problem.

]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 14:05:48 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149247#149247 Composting Toilet : If you do a search " composting... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149245#149245 Author: David and Danette
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 1:19pm

If you do a search " composting toilet " on this forum you will find a couple of posts on it. They are old posts 2014 but may have some interest to you.]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 13:19:20 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149245#149245 Composting Toilet : Greetings all. Anyone have any... https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149244#149244 Author: gpokluda
Subject: 15420
Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 12:04pm

Greetings all. Anyone have any real world experience with composting toilets in an RV or van? We are specing out a new RV and trying to decide if we should stay with a typical black-tank flush toilet or composter. Our goal is to reduce water usage and have more flexibility regarding waste disposal. Lots of differing opinions on the internet ranging from truly horrifying and disgusting experiences to "no-big-deal". My wife and I are experienced back packers and bare bones campers and have had to dig our share of cat holes, so I can't imagine having a composter would be that bad but we would like to hear some opinions.]]> Sun, 07 Aug 2022 12:04:01 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420&PID=149244#149244