Just Say ‘No’ to Emptying Your RV’s Tank into Your Septic System

RV holding tanks and home septic systems both handle “household” waste. But an RV is designed only to transport the waste, while a septic system is designed to treat it and return clean water back to the water table. Two major issues arise when emptying RV holding tanks into a septic system, and both can lead to catastrophic system failure. Such failure can have devastating impacts on you and the environment.

Emptying RV holding tanks into a septic tank can overwhelm the system and cause a backup into your home or allow solids to flow out into the drain field. Flushing 58 to 109 gallons of anything into your septic system at one time is going to cause significant issues. That’s why it’s so important to stagger water-heavy chores, like laundry and the dishes, throughout the week to avoid overloading the system.

RV Holding Tank Chemical Treatments

Because of the close proximity of RV holding tanks to the living space, RV tanks are treated with chemicals to help break down solids and reduce odors. Many of these treatments include enzymes that break down the solids, and heavy perfumes to control odor. The enzymes used to treat RV holding tanks are similar to those found in septic additives, but are much more powerful. Emptying RV holding tanks containing these chemicals will overwhelm the system with an abundance of solids and alter the biological environment of your septic tank. Your tank’s biological environment is crucial to the proper functioning of a healthy septic system. Even when using environmentally friendly forms of these chemicals, dumping them into your household septic system can have devastating effects on the bacteria that keep your tank running properly.

Where to Empty RV Holding Tanks

RV Parks & Campsites

Most RV parks and campsites have the specialized equipment for handling RV waste. When you reserve a campsite, the maintenance of these offloading sites is often factored into the price you pay.

RV Dealerships

RV dealerships often rent out campers and, as a result, need to be able to service their campers upon return. For a small fee, you can often offload your RV waste at these locations as well.

Truck Stops

Many truck stops and gas stations have offloading locations where you can empty RV grey and black water holding tanks for a small fee. In many cases, this service is included when refueling your camper. Call ahead to plan your pitstops along your route.

Wastewater Treatment Plants

Specifically designed for treating significant amounts of wastewater, treatment plants will often accept RV grey and black water, again for a small fee.