Don’t do this at the dump station! There are a few important rules of dump station etiquette that are for everyone, not just newbies. I was recently reminded of this…
After a season with mostly full hookups and no need to go to a dump station, I was first surprised by the line… until I realized that it was Sunday and the weekend warriors were on their way back to their day jobs. We have been full-time RVing so long I forgot about the Sunday line. It was taking a very long time and, not known for my patience, I tried to figure out what was wrong. What I saw was a good reminder.
Don’t do these things at the dump station
Do NOT flush your tanks when there is a line of RVs behind waiting to dump. It was a long, slow line. As I craned my neck to see what was taking so long, I saw that the RV in front was flushing, FLUSHING their black tank.
Do NOT flush with a fresh water hose. The fresh water hose will become a harbinger of contaminants and can cause severe illness. Always flush with a different hose, particularly a different color for quick identification.
Do NOT read the instruction manual at the dump station! It is too late. Read the instruction manual before coming to the dump station. Even better, ask someone what to do. RVers love to help others.
Do NOT rinse the sewer hose at the fresh water faucet. Their RV creeped forward and while I thought they were putting their sewer hose away. I realized they had actually rinsed the sewer hose hugged up to fresh water fill faucet. Rinse the sewer hose at the dump station that has the dedicated rinse hose. Note to self: Spray fresh water faucets with disinfectant at dump station and at campsite!
5. Do NOT leave spillage at dump station. Clean up the nasties. Rinse area clean for safety and for the next people.
6. Do NOT leave garbage, gloves, rags, paper at dump station. Pick it up and toss in garbage can or take with you.
As the summer season ramps up and more RVs will be sharing the dump stations across the country, it is good to remember dump station etiquette and that we want to share the station, not the germs.
Related article on Dump station etiquette
##RVDT1846
I use gloves and shoe covers
seems like gloves and shoe covers would require many trips between the RV black/gray outlet and the dump station hole. using a hose instead would be much more effiecient. ;o)
HA!
Loved your wit! Especially after reading “it’s all about me…I’ll flush if I want”!
Never thought of shoe covers, I always wear an old pair of shoes with the laces real loose so I can slip them on and off easily and keep them in their own plastic container. Now where can I find size 16 shoe covers?
Glad makes 1 gallon plastic freezer bags Joe! Might fit a 16!
Don’t fill your freshwater tank with the dump station faucet as it is probably contaminated.
When you approach the front of the line DO get out of the vehicle and get your hose and other equipment ready to use.
DO NOT pull up to the dump station and then get out and start searching for everything.
+1
Really? For me it is a 3 step process. 1. Remove the hose from storage. 2. Hook up the hose. 3. Open the valve. Duh! What are you doing, dragging the attached hose along on the ground?
Nothing brings out the comments like the dump tank conversation. You do what you need to do to feel comfortable, me not so concerned, why because lots and lots of things in this world are contaminated the dump station being one of them. So when people stop just short of wearing a hazmat suit i just am amused by the fuss some folks make about it. If you ever had a job where you were in the outside environment every day your concern for contamination would be far less, because you don’t always take the time to clean and get your job done at the same time
If you do what most people do, and empty your grey tank last, then there is no need to flush the hose. The hose HAS been flushed. IMHO . . .
Agreed. I just store it after the gray dump.
Have never seen anything about dump station time limits in any campground rules.
Common courtesy needs a campground rule?
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If there is 1 person behind me I do not waste time, if no one behind I will do two 5 minute flushes. Been there and seen it when people take their good natured time and there is a line of RV’s waiting. I have been the guy waiting a 3/4’s of an hour or more to dump. I now make it a point to get on the road early when we have to use a common dump station.
I must disagree with your first DONT.
Many weekender folks don’t have the option to flush their black tanks before storing for weeks or months. Remnants in the tank can eventually dry and crust the bottom of the tank. If you are experienced in flushing it should not take more than 2-3 minutes.
Then you don’t completely dump or run some water back in there. The only time I attempt to completely empty my black tank is after the last trip of the season.
Even if you HAVE to Rinse your black tank, it shouldn’t add much if any time.
• Dump your Black tank
• While it’s draining, hook up the rinse hose
• Start rinsing as the flow slows
• Dump the Gray tank & continue to rinse
• By the time the Gray tank is empty, the Black tank should be rinsed.
The water doesn’t need to flow clear, just get the worst out!
Weekends and holidays are for working people. It was your poor planning that put you in the line. You are entering a hazmat area treat it accordingly. Go home and come back Monday.
We try and practice common sense and courtesy at the dump station. When there are others waiting, I let the DW drive when we are next in line. I’ll get out and get stuff ready for the task at hand. When done, she pulls the vehicle out of the way while I’ll finish putting hose back in plastic tub. Allowing the next in line to pull forward. I will then carry and store it.
I cant say we have had this problem very much but I appreciate the article. We are full timers and most time we dump when coming in to the campground. Feel driving all day has worn down the toilet paper mountain and stirred up the pot. When we are traveling I try to schedule a full hook up campground every 3rd or fourth night. I do not add a bolus treatment to the black tank. Instead I keep a squirt bottle of 1/4 tank treatment to 3/4 water in the bathroom. We keep the bowl full of water and squirt this in after every use. Just enough to color the water. We never have odor problems. I am happy to see so many concerned about germs and hygiene. I have never had to use it, but I believe there is an app which displays all dump stations in an area, I think it is simply called “RV Dump Stations”. I dont think we would ever waste time waiting to dump
A potable water source shouldn’t be near the dump station.
Exactly!
I rinse my black tank while the 2 Grey tanks are dumping and will continue to do so despite some “expert’s” etiquette advice. If you’re in a big hurry, plan accordingly and go when there will be low traffic. Otherwise, relax and don’t try to make YOUR problem MY problem.
thanks for thinking of others, unfortunately common problem these day, “it’s all about me” why don’t you follow your own advice and plan your tank flushing without holding up others, your problem is causing our problem ? Last weekend 4 other rigs backed up out into the road while inconsiderate knucklehead takes his time back flushing. If no one is in line flush to your hearts content.
Why does it seem that “common courtesy” and “common sense” seem to be less common and in some cases been replaced with selfishness and anger? SMH
Thank you Nanci. But you can’t fix inconsiderate. They are who they are and we’ve all been behind them. I just grab my phone and catch up on the previous editions of RVTravel to pass the time. Can’t get excited about what I can’t change.