Question Potable vs. Non-Potable Water usage for tank rinsing

[Neal]

As I'm walking dawwwg I pass by the dump station. Not sure if you can read the two signs in the soon to be attached photo but one water line is non-potable, the other says potable and not to be used for flushing tanks. So that brings up the question, there must be a problem with flushing tanks with potable water lines, what about those that use the city water connection at a camp site to flush their tanks? I actually converted my wet bay "shower" to hot and cold spigots and use the hot spigot to do the black tank rinse. I've never seen a campground outline a policy in the brochure that city water lines are not to be used for tank flushing. Maybe they should? But that would mean every RV that wanted to rinse their tank would have to do so at a dump station and we know that wouldn't be a pretty site.

So what is the deal with separating water at a dump station when those that don't use dump stations rinse their tanks at their site? Do we have a problem here??

 

[rv4travlin]

I'm sure they just want to keep that nice clean white potable water hose away from your nasty black tank flush valve.

 

[AbdRahim]

I now put a back flow adapter on the end of the hose for flushing. They probably don’t want hoses used anywhere a black tank connected to a drinking water source.Makes sense. At the campground I wash even the inside of the faucet with bleach or disinfectant and let the water run for a while before using it. Never know what the habits of the former occupants were, not to mention all of the dogs. Sorry.

 

[MapNerd]

Are you saying one should not use a Hose-Y at their site spigot, connect their fresh hose to one, rinse hose to another, attach a backflow preventer/check valve to their rinse valve and other end of the rinse hose to that and go nuts?

that’s what I’ve always done. No plans to change unless someone can inform me whats so eww about that.

Only time I’ve used a dump station was the rare occasion that I didn’t have sewer hookups and I’ve never seen a potable water hose at a dump station. If I did, I wouldn’t rinse my dog with it. It’s at the poo hole. I promise it’s been used for rinsing the poo trap.

now these cretins that like to rinse their sewer hose and elbows at their site using the spigot directly - don’t get me started. I’ve given more than one of them a fast (and stern) education.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

IMHO, the separately labeled "potable" and "non-potable" water taps at dump stations are purely for liability purposes. And, it doesn't work. Sadly, there are folks that are unable to follow simple directions and who will use the potable water to flush their black/gray tanks. We never use water taps anywhere near dump stations to fill our water tanks! Too much opportunity for cross contamination.

We too, have converted our wet bay "shower" to a hot/cold water faucet with hose bib and use it to flush black/gray tanks. But...we have backflow preventers on each side; on the faucet side and the tank rinse side. Very little chance of cross contamination...and...we never leave the tank rinse hose connected. Our hose is only connected for the rinse and then disconnected.

Additionally, we don't consider the wet bay faucets as "potable" water. They are used for tank rinse, windshield washing, etc. And, we carry separate hoses clearly marked with a red tape band at each end for non-potable use and a green tape band at each end for potable use. They are NEVER mixed and if a potable hose was ever to be inadvertently used on the non-potable side, it would immediately be re-marked with a red band.

We rarely use a Y fitting at the water tap; connecting two hoses simultaneously to a water tap is probably not all that dangerous, but it is really not appealing to us. Yes...technically...using our wet bay shower connection is somewhat similar to a Y in the system, but it uses a pair of backflow preventers. Most Y fittings at the park water tap don't use even one backflow preventer much less two.

TJ

 

[MapNerd]

I agree with you @TJ&LadyDi . Just too lazy to modify the wetbay.

to be clear, I use a backflow preventer on the hose and the coach also has one built in at the rinse valve. That makes two.

I also agree with @AbdRahim. Anything touching my freshwater hose gets a thorough coating of bleach, inside and out.

 

[RKins]

Is it possible they have a reclaimed water line at the dump station? I think the pipe is supposed to be purple though. I have a separate hose bib in the wet bay with backflow attached. I took a short hose and connected from the hose bib to the black tank rinse. It stays connected always.

 

[Gronk]

The potable water is designated for human consumption and the non-potable isn't. Even though they both come from the same water supply (potable) the non-potable supply has a back-flow protection device (probably an RPZ). The potable *may* have a vacuum breaker in line, but that does not meet the requirements of back flow protection regulations. I really don't want to take the chance of someone's black tank contaminating the water I may want to drink.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The potable water is designated for human consumption and the non-potable isn't. Even though they both come from the same water supply (potable) the non-potable supply has a back-flow protection device (probably an RPZ). The potable *may* have a vacuum breaker in line, but that does not meet the requirements of back flow protection regulations. I really don't want to take the chance of someone's black tank contaminating the water I may want to drink.

I think you may have flip-flopped the potable and non-potable configurations, but the assumptions are likely correct.

TJ

 

[bpaikman]

Is it possible they have a reclaimed water line at the dump station? I think the pipe is supposed to be purple though. I have a separate hose bib in the wet bay with backflow attached. I took a short hose and connected from the hose bib to the black tank rinse. It stays connected always.

Yeah I was wondering the same thing. I don’t know where this is located but maybe they have a water shortage that is reclaimed water or water from a questionable river source. It might be just trying to save their treated water

 

[Gronk]

I think you may have flip-flopped the potable and non-potable configurations, but the assumptions are likely correct.

TJ

No sir. Potable water is for human consumption. Far as the type of back-flow device, I am sure it is an RPZ not an assumption. I was a licensed plumber and Minnesota state certified in back flow protection.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

No sir. Potable water is for human consumption. Far as the type of back-flow device, I am sure it is an RPZ not an assumption. I was a licensed plumber and Minnesota state certified in back flow protection.

I agree with your statement that potable water is for human consumption. And, I'm not questioning your credentials as a licensed plumber, but this is what you said"

the non-potable supply has a back-flow protection device (probably an RPZ). The potable *may* have a vacuum breaker in line, but that does not meet the requirements of back flow protection regulations.

Do you really mean that a "non-potable water supply (not for human consumption) has a back-flow protection device" but a potable water supply (meant for human consumption) may just have a "vacuum breaker?" My understanding is that a back-flow device is used (required ?) in potable water lines. Am I incorrect in that?

TJ

 

[Gronk]

Yes, that is what I mean. The potable in a campground is required to have a back flow device, and most are a vacuum breaker type. It could have something better, but a vacuum breaker is qualified for use if there is a low or high risk of cross contamination. A back flow device may or may not be required in a residential setting depending on local codes.

 

[Germanrazor]

Ok, I am a newbie here and haven’t even been on my first trip. But at that dump station in your picture educate me on my following assumption as I would not want to go against camping law.

The first station with black hose is the dump station for your rv’s black tank. This is where you would empty the tank and the black hose would be connected to your black tank clean-out inlet to wash out the tank and ultimately the sewer hose gets a bit of cleaning too???

The second station is for re-filling your gray tank and possibly drinking water < ?

 

[Gronk]

Yessir, Germanrazor, you are correct. Just remember if the sign has the term "non potable" that means non drinkable. Potable means drinkable, but, why would you want to refill your grey tank? Black tank is toilet tank and grey tank(s) are shower and sinks.