Are You Dumping Your RV into Your Septic System?
In the Gulf Islands, we see a lot of RV’s acting as the “cottage on wheels” - the extra space you can offer for guests when they want to escape to an island (or a place to hide the father-in-law). Finding a facility to dump the holding tank of that trailer or motorhome can be an adventure, though, especially where we live. There aren’t as many places as you would think that will accept it, and it can be cost-prohibitive to have the local pumper come by for such a small amount. But it has to go somewhere. What better a place than the septic system on your own property, RIGHT? Well….maybe, probably not.
First - Is this Allowable?
This is entirely allowable in BC — if your design included it when filed with the health authority. When you have a new system installed, your planner should be asking you upfront - do you want a connection for an RV dump? When you answer yes, then they can account for it in their design calculations, and life is good.
Can You Add an RV Connection to an Existing System?
The short answer here is no. As a homeowner, you cannot add a connection, typically a clean-out, and start regularly dumping into your septic. The Sewerage System Regulation is clear on who can make modifications to septic systems. If you ask a registered onsite wastewater practitioner (ROWP) or engineer — then they may be able to help you out. However, it can be expensive for something this simple, as it is classified as an ‘alteration,’ and a filing will need to be provided to the health authority.
This could end up being relatively simple, though, if your designer can show that you already have excess treatment capacity that can easily accommodate the additional, occasional volumes from an RV.
The Risks of Adding an RV Connection to an Existing System
Please keep in mind - if you do this yourself, you’ve just created a ‘prohibited’ feature to your system. If the RV connection and related flows weren’t part of your original design, an inspector would note it. This can create complications if you are trying to sell your house.
If you’ve had the feature added in by a ROWP or an engineer, then this is less of an issue. HOWEVER, the portion of influent (raw sewage) volume from your residence has been reduced to accommodate the average flow from an RV. This means the original design that could have serviced 3-4 people now may only serve 2-3 people, which could create complications if you try to sell your house.
Other Risks
RV blackwater is typically more concentrated than regular household sewage, as the greywater is separated out. And people often add additives to their blackwater tanks to reduce odours. These additives can kill the friendly bacteria that help out the treatment process in your septic tank. Every time you dump from the RV to the septic, it can reduce the treatment ability while the additive is still active. If you are dumping into your septic, try to avoid using harmful additives.
Contact OwnerPro if you have questions on septics, potable rainwater systems, or other design and construction inquiries in the Gulf Islands.
