The great drain shame: Caravanners' dirty water secret exposed
Majority of RV travellers engage in "disgusting and illegal habit" of grey water dumping, according to Truck Friendly founderA road safety campaigner is calling for a stop to the "disgusting and illegal habit" of on-the-run waste or grey-water disposal by Aussie caravan tourers.
"Releasing grey water on to the road from your caravan or motorhome is highly illegal and a danger to other road users," Truck Friendly founder Ken Wilson said in a recent Facebook post.
Wilson, who released his comprehensive 200-page how-to caravan towing manual last year, said a number of motorcycle riders and car drivers had requested his help in stopping this "disgusting habit" exhibited by a "large percentage" of caravanners and motorhome drivers.
"Many drivers leave their grey water tap open and drain their tank as they drive on the roads," he explained. "This release of ‘water’ not only sprays following vehicles, it also falls onto the road on the line used by most motorcycle riders, spraying the rider, their cloths and visor with bacteria infected ‘water’.
"It vaporises as vehicles travel and is breathed in by riders," he continued.
Wilson said grey water from caravan sinks, showers and washing machines contains a cocktail of 'nasties' (from household chemicals to rotten food scraps and bodily excretions), and will quickly turn into 'black water' after a day in the tank thanks to bacteria growth.
"All this cocktail is being released into the environment and gets into our waterways. It does not automatically evaporate as many falsely believe," he claimed.
Illegal dumping of waste or grey water from recreational vehicles can attract on-the-spot fines of up to $2500, depending on the state or territory it occurs in.
"Recent reports have shown numerous people have now been fined for releasing grey water on the roads... It is a traffic offence to have an unrestrained load and against the environmental laws. It is also a danger to other road users," Wilson said.
Based on his caravan park experiences Wilson estimates up to 90 per cent of 'vans hit the road with their grey water tank outlets open.
"Please close your grey water tanks prior to travel and dispose of grey water as instructed by the caravan park management or in prescribed drains or dump points. Some may allow it to be released onto the grass or gardens and conditions vary," he said.
"We must share the road responsibly and legally without endangering other road users or our environment, by our lazy and selfish behaviour."
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