By Dave Helgeson
A while back I wrote about the venerable sewer hose and how one day it may become obsolete and relegated to the past. Well, some engineer at the Nevada Department of Transportation made an attempt to obsolete the sewer hose. They did this by creating a dump station where the use of a sewer hose is not an option!
No sewer hose needed at this dump station!
Now, through the years I have experienced my share of poorly designed dump stations where little thought or research, if any, was done. If you have been RVing for any length of time you know what I am referring to. An issue can be that it’s sloped the wrong direction or there’s no apron to catch spills. Maybe it’s located up or over a curb, or you are unable to insert your sewer hose more than an inch or two. Or maybe it’s located on a circular drive where you can’t align with it, etc. Much thought was probably put into the design of the dump station I am about to share. However, it is an epic failure, in my opinion.
When I first pulled into the dump station at the Cosgrave Rest Area, located at Exit 158 on I-80 south of Winnemucca, Nevada, I could see this was not your typical dump station. There was more of an abrupt trench than an apron to catch potential spilled waste and direct it to the sewer receptacle. Plus, there was a steel plate at the end of the trench farthest from the receptacle. I surmised that the original trench was too long and the plate had been installed to keep RVers from driving into it.
Definitely not your normal dump station
Upon exiting my truck to commence dumping, I quickly realized this was definitely not your normal dump station. First, there was a grate preventing me from placing my sewer hose into the sewer receptacle at the low end of the trench. I tried to lift the grate but it was bolted in place. The only potential for waste to enter the sewer receptacle was through about a 2” slot along the bottom. But it was much too small to slide a sewer hose through.
After reading the posted instructions, I came to the disgusting conclusion that utilizing a sewer hose was not part of the equation! Needing to dump and being somewhat intrigued, I thought, “Why not?” I made sure the termination outlet of my RV was centered over the trench and “let ‘er rip.” Unfortunately, this quickly pointed out the shortcomings of this design.
Why this dump station design doesn’t work
Rather than graphically describe what occurred, I will point out what design flaws came into play:
- Since we are on a spinning planet, fluids tend to circle a drain rather than flow to and down it. This is known as the Coriolis effect.
- The trench doesn’t have adequate slope to prevent liquid waste and the solids within from boomeranging past the sewer receptacle and flowing back up the trench.
- The button to activate the sprayers is under the steel plate mentioned above. But pushing it adds more fluid to the mess circling and back-flowing from the sewer receptacle area under the grate.
- Wind is a force of nature that tends to blow things from their intended location.
- The spray nozzles face towards the button you need to push to activate them.
The restricted opening to the sewer receptacle An added problem is one of the spray nozzles intended to flush the trench was partially plugged or aimed in the wrong direction. So the trench wasn’t being cleaned in a thorough and timely fashion.
Watch the dump station in action
Following is a video of the dump station explaining the design. Note: I chose not to provide an actual demonstration using the contents of my holding tanks!
[Editor: Please excuse the spelling on video. It should be Cosgrave, NV.]
As gross as this design and process is, there are a few positives:
- You are able to determine if the toilet tissue you are using fully dissolves in your black tank!
- You don’t need to use or flush your sewer hose when done.
- There’s no need to don rubber gloves. But you may need to sanitize your shoes and other apparel if the wind is blowing when you dump!
Final thought on this design. Since you don’t need to use your sewer hose, why is there a hose bib at the dump station? It’s painted red, but it’s not labeled as “not potable.” Hmmm. Fill your freshwater tank? Wash your shoes maybe???
What are your thoughts on this dump station setup? Feel free to leave a comment below.
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##RVT1192
A similar dump station in south central KY State Park. I watched as a Class B drove up, open the black tank then gray tank valves, then drove off with the valves still open. It left a long, trailing brown streak on the pavement as he drove off.
On the other side of the coin, or maybe sewer, is I 95 in Mississippi.
I stopped there for a walk at a rest stop break and saw a sign pointing to the trailer dump station near the exit of the rest stop on I-95.
I followed the sign and found a free, clean, excellent dump station in a perfect place where I could pull in and empty my black tank.
On the return trip visit anyway grandchildren in Texas I pulled into the corresponding Mississippi dump station on the other side of I 95. That rest stop was also equipped with an excellent dump station that was clean easy to access and fit my sewer hose with no problem.
Mississippi rest stop i95
Maceration to the rescue. I can aim the much smaller hose.
All I can say is “Holy Crap”
Boondocking is quite popular in that area so the goal is to accommodate totes with the potable water provided to rinse them. I think it’s a great idea to accommodate the masses yet still keep it possible for main tank dumping.
We’ve encountered similar dumps and we just use our hose to the edge of the grate. Never thought of dumping straight into the ditch and watching stuff splatter. That seems a bit silly…..LOL
I dump where you back your RV down a concrete ramp with vertical gates at the lower end, raised about 5″ to allow effluent through. You just place the hose end close to the open slot where the gates are, then discharge; it mostly goes under the grate. There is a high pressure hose to rinse everything down. Whenever something is different there are reactions to it, but after the first time, I am fine with it. After reading Vince’s comment, a solution that works for totes as well makes sense. If it were me, and not liking the prospect of splashback, I would still use my hose and place the hose end by the grate. (The instructions don’t say not to use your hose!) Problem solved.
Very difficult to use with a motorhome towing a car. Can’t back up without disconnecting the car. 😲
It’s at a rest area on the Interstate. Do you seriously think people are driving down the interstate with their blueboys in tow?
UGHHHHHHHHH
Once saw a fellow dump at a typical dump station without using the sewer hose.
He just let it rip into the depressed area and run into the drain. SUPER GROSSSSSSS.
He did do a good job of rinsing the area tho.
Looking at the valve placement of the trailer shown, you have to pull the gray water handle in the direction of the waste flow. The initial force of the water exiting will probably splash on your hand and feet. Would be worse if it was the black valve.
Dave,
Many motorhomes would still have to use a sewer hose because the plumbing with the hose connection terminates within the water bay. A screw in plate in the bottom of the bay, or a flip-open door, allows connection of a sewer hose inside the bay.
Doesn’t change the bad design of the dump station, but I thought I’d clarify that so you know why a hose bib is there.
Same design at Hollywood Casino in Joliet IL. Never imagined there could be more than one such dump station!
Just proves our education system has failed us tremendously.
Nail hit squarely on head.
I actually prefer not hooking the hose if I’m just dumping my gray tank and its a sloped surface. Faster, easier, and less mess overall.
I saw a similar set up at a Provincial Park in Saskatchewan except no trench. Just a plastic grate over the pit with the sewer inlet. Fortunately on one of the three dump station lanes someone had knocked a hole in the plastic grate so the end of a sewer hose could fit through into the pit.
Terrible design but one of the funniest articles I’ve read in a while.
Thank you for the video and warning, Dave! Yikes! I hope we are never compelled to use this dump station. Sorry that you gained first-hand knowledge of it. Have a great week and safe travels!
If it ain’t broke…don’t fix it. This article sounds like some college boy, or girl, engineer had too much time on his, or her, hands and not enough real work.
Sometimes you have to think outside the box; you could still use your hose without the end fitting and your black hose from the hose bib to operate your black tank flush and flush your hose like normal. No splashing on shoes or hands. Am I missing something?
We live in Winnemucca, have a 39 foot DP and we have used this rest stop dump station since 2015 until Maverik opened new stations here with dump stations at their truck/RV lanes. We now use the Maverik stations as they are only 5 minutes from our home and they are free but we always top off our fuel tank while there as courtesy to them. But getting back to the rest stop dump, I have never had any problems with just hooking up my sewer hose and laying it close to the metal grate and all the waste went down the drain with no mess and I always push the flush several time to ensure I leave the dump clean.
I’m with those saying to use a hose up to the grate!
It seems pretty obvious to me.
Agreed. There is nothing telling you to NOT use your sewer hose, so I think the assumption to not use the hose, is an incorrect assumption. It does make dumping a tote or porta-potti much easier than trying to hit a 4″ hole.
Don’t give up your day job.
you are not a producer. The wind blowing and camera waveing.
thats why they cover the mic with something that looks like a sponge
Another clever design from someone who clearly has never had a camper. Get him a job in Indiana!
I went to use a dump station at a service station located next to a Speedco where I was going to have the engine serviced in Hammond LA. There was just a grate in the parking lot next to the fuel pump. NOT!!! I refused to use it! Then later on our way north on I-49 I stopped at a rest area that had a dump station. No cover, just a large round sunken area to dump your waste. Once done, then turn on the water jets to flush any residual down the open hole. Talk about a redneck state!
I’ve considered a similar design to make it easier to dump quickly without having to deal with hoses. This design could be improved greatly…low pressure, high flow rinse to minimize splashing, deeper trench to reduce splashing, etc. I think most people here can dump with a hose without making a mess, but there are more than a few RVers that can’t seem to complete the task without leaving toilet paper shreds all over the dump site!
Probably never dumped in his life!