Sewage from motorhomes: We resolve your queries

Emptying sewage from your motorhome may seem like a cumbersome or complicated task, but nothing could be further from the truth. You just have to take into account some of the factors discussed in this post, so as to carry it out correctly and thus 100% enjoy travelling by motorhome.

First of all, it is necessary to know what sewage in your motorhome is and what differentiates it from grey water. Confusing them is one of the main mistakes.

Grey water and sewage. Differences.

• The sewage from a motorhome is the water that comes from the chemical toilet, i.e., faecal water.
• Grey water from the shower, bathroom sink and kitchen sink is stored in a different tank than sewage and is therefore drained separately.

In this post we will delve into the process of emptying sewage, but before getting into the subject, it will be useful to know that you can empty grey water through a wastewater grate such as a drain that is duly authorised for this. The process is very simple since motorhomes have a lever that you must operate or a tap that you must open so that the liquid comes out.

A tip: try to choose a wastewater grate located in a spacious area where you can manoeuvre with your motorhome to get as close as possible to the grey water outlet area. In addition, if the surface has a favourable slope for water flow, the process will be easier for you.

The deposit in which the sewage from a motorhome accumulates is called a tank or cassette. This is located on the side of the vehicle behind the tailgate marked with a sticker indicating "WC" and has a rotating tube to allow it to be emptied more conveniently.

The capacity of the sewage tanks may vary according to the motorhome model, so the frequency of its emptying will depend on this and on toilet usage. Travelling alone is not the same as travelling as a couple or with the whole family.

The emptying of this type of water requires an authorised drain for this purpose. A drain that connects directly to the sewer or a septic tank that, in turn, will be emptied from time to time.

These types of drains can be found in areas set up for motorhome to stay overnight, parking areas for motorhomes, camping areas and even some petrol stations or rest areas.

We recommend that you take note of the areas that have sewage drainage in the itinerary of your motorhome trips, so that you can plan your stops.

The tank has an indicator that lets you know when the tank is full. Can you empty it before this happens if you are in an area with a drainage system in place and anticipate that there will not be another one for miles?

Yes. This is where planning becomes important because travelling with a waste tank that is more than ¾ full can lead to leaks.

1. Park the motorhome as close to the drain as possible.
2. Remove the cassette from the vehicle and transport it by its handle or wheels.
3. Empty accumulated sewage into the drain.
4. We recommend that, once the tank has been emptied, you fill it halfway with clean water together with a specific product if you want to clean it more thoroughly.
5. Drain that water again and it will be as good as new!
6. Finally, proceed to prepare the cassette again by adding a specific sanitary additive together with water.

One of the main concerns about sewage in a motorhome, in addition to how to empty it, is its smell.

Is it difficult to avoid unpleasant smells in your motorhome from the sewage tank? The answer is no The truth is that with simple maintenance, there will be no unpleasant odours!

• Do not forget to cover the trap door that connects the toilet to the tank.
• Keep the sewage tank clean. As previously mentioned, one of the steps to follow in its emptying is to clean it. It is a very simple process that we recommend you to carry out.
• Use specific products for cleaning sewage tanks. There are numerous brands on the market that market products for both day-to-day use and for more exhaustive maintenance once or twice a year. This type of product, in addition to eliminating odours and disinfecting, prolongs the useful life of the tank.

It is very important that the emptying of the sewage from your motorhome is carried out in specific drains enabled for this purpose.

It is common to see them in motorhome areas and camping areas, but increasingly, there are petrol stations and service areas that include them in their facilities. Applications such as park4night, caramaps or furgopertos will help you identify them.

This type of water is polluted, so emptying the tank in a place that is not suitable for this purpose can be harmful to the environment. We must be very careful and respect the environment, so that we can enjoy caravanning without leaving our "footprint".

In addition, emptying the water from the WC tank of your motorhome the wrong way can lead to a fine of up to €1500.