Van life is a fantastic way to explore beautiful places and connect with nature, but figuring out what to do with greywater can be tricky.
“It’s important to know how to dispose of it properly to keep the environment clean and protect the areas we visit.”
We have loads of practical solutions to this problem, and we like to share our best tips for finding disposal spots and key information to help your van life transition as easily as possible.
In this blog, we’ll help you find safe disposal sites, explain the laws and regulations in the UK, and share practical tips for managing waste while you’re on the road.
By taking care to manage your wastewater properly, you can enjoy your adventures and help keep the beautiful nature around you safe. This way, you can explore freely, knowing you’re helping to protect the landscapes you love and the local wildlife for people to enjoy in the future.
Greywater is the wastewater generated from activities such as showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry. It is lightly polluted water that requires proper disposal to avoid harm to the environment. This includes shower water if you are using the shower to wash your hair or using any additional products in the shower.
It is not waste that comes from toilets. This is called black water, and it contains higher levels of contaminants. It must be disposed of differently as this can create serious harm to the environment and human health if not disposed of correctly.
Is shower water really that dirty?
Technically, the answer is yes. Shower water, especially if it contains soap or shampoo or comes from a water tank system where pathogens could be growing, should not be drained just anywhere, as it could end up in a water stream.
Many van lifers might take a dip in a local natural swimming pond and want to quickly rinse off the pond water. While this may not seem like particularly “dirty” water, it’s important to consider the overall impact of any wastewater on the environment before deciding how to dispose of your shower runoff. Read on to better understand the implications and environmental penalties associated with improper disposal.
It’s also worth noting that even if you are the only person at a camping spot during your stay, there may be others nearby or using the same spot shortly after you. The cumulative effect of dumping excess water can add up quickly, potentially harming the environment.
“Think about other vanners to come after you”
UK Laws On Greywater Dumping for Van-Lifers
In the UK, regulations regarding the disposal of greywater are governed by the Environment Agency and local councils. The Environment Agency provides guidelines on waste disposal, including greywater. Local councils may have specific rules and designated disposal sites.
In Scotland, there are some helpful guides issued by the Scottish Environment Agency and maps to show public waste disposal spots.
Since wild camping is not legal in England or Wales, guidance is much more straightforward as, technically, you should only be disposing of waste in the designated facilities in a campsite or caravan park. These sites will already have officially cleared and correctly plumbed systems.
Later on in this article, we explore the advice, guidance, and penalties associated with improper dumping in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Where You CAN Dump Greywater
- Designated Dump Stations: Many campsites and caravan parks offer facilities specifically for disposing of greywater. These stations are designed to handle and treat greywater safely. You can often ask to use their facilities and pay a much smaller fee than a night camping. This fee is absolutely worth it to protect our natural spaces.
- Public Toilets with Facilities: Some public restrooms are equipped with disposal points for greywater. Look for signs indicating waste disposal options, or check out the apps suggested below to help find them.
- Motorhome Service Points: Certain service areas along motorways and major roads provide facilities for emptying greywater tanks. Websites like the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Motorhome Waste Disposal Point Register can help locate these sites. In Scotland, here is an interactive map of places you can dispose of greywater: https://www.campa.org.uk/waste-disposal/.
Where You CAN’T Dump Greywater
- Natural Water Bodies: Dumping greywater into rivers, lakes, or seas harms aquatic life and pollutes water sources. It’s illegal and environmentally damaging.
- Public Streets or Pavement drains: Disposing of greywater on streets or sidewalks is illegal and creates health hazards and unpleasant odours.
- Private Property: Never dump greywater on private land without permission. This can lead to disputes and legal trouble.
- Storm Drains: Storm drains are designed to carry rainwater to water bodies without treatment. Dumping greywater into them can cause pollution and is illegal.
How to Find Greywater Disposal Spots UK
Mobile Apps for Greywater Disposal:
Apps are a great way to find official greywater disposal sites in the local area. You can filter for the necessary disposal facilities and use interactive maps to find those close to you.
Park4Night is our favourite app for these services. Because of the crowd sourced review systems, seeing other people rating the spot for up-to-date information about the status is really helpful. It is worth noting that these spots aren’t officially checked, so you will need to double-check that you are correctly following local laws rather than going by the information uploaded by other van lifers.
If you’re travelling in Europe, another great app to check out is Camper Contact, which allows you to filter by service points for the best disposal facilities. Europe generally has much better provisions than the UK for these spots, so dealing with greywater waste properly is much easier.
Websites for Greywater Disposal:
Campa is a great website with an interactive map of waste disposal sites in Scotland: https://www.campa.org.uk/waste-disposal/
Local Inquiries for Greywater Disposal::
When in doubt, ask at local campsites, caravan parks, or service stations. They often have information on nearby disposal facilities.
What Will Happen If You Dump Greywater in the Wrong Place?
Being in nature is about enjoying its beauty, the fresh air, and the clean, natural scents around us. But when we bring our modern conveniences into these places, even small amounts of waste can add up and cause real harm. A little motor oil here, some greywater there—these might not seem like much when we’re just one of many visitors. However, combined, these pollutants leave lasting impacts that are hard to ignore.
For the people who live near these natural areas, the effects are often immediate. Waste and smells from visitors can disrupt the landscape. Greywater and other waste also seeps into the soil and into streams, affecting local plants and animals. Some chemicals in soaps and detergents, for example, are toxic to the natural soil and hard for it to break down.
It’s never just you. A good way to check your impact when you’re in one of these natural spots is to ask yourself, “What if 100 people did this every month?” If the answer is that it would cause harm, that’s a clear sign to take extra care.
Penalties for greywater disposal in Scotland
In Scotland, waste disposal is strictly regulated, especially in areas popular with tourists, such as the Highlands and Islands. Improper disposal of greywater, littering, and fly-tipping can lead to fines issued by local councils and organizations like SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency).
Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for minor offences, such as unauthorized waste dumping, can cost around £200. Serious or repeated offences may lead to prosecution with much higher fines and potentially legal action.
Penalties for greywater disposal in England
In England, improper waste disposal, including greywater and chemical waste from campervans and caravans, is also regulated to protect the environment and public health.
Local councils have the authority to issue fines for fly-tipping, with penalties often set at £200 for minor offences. More serious violations, or repeat offenders, may face prosecution, which can lead to much higher fines, potentially reaching up to £50,000, and even imprisonment.
Similar to Scotland, polluters may also be responsible for the cost of cleanup, especially in areas with protected wildlife or natural beauty.
Penalties for greywater disposal in Wales
Similar regulations apply to waste disposal in Wales, with councils empowered to issue fines for littering and illegal dumping, including greywater. Fixed penalties for minor offences generally range from £100 to £400. More severe cases can lead to court prosecution and higher fines.
Wales has particularly strong policies for protecting its natural areas, and improper waste disposal in national parks or near sensitive ecosystems can result in additional charges or legal action. Repeat offences, as in Scotland and England, can result in escalating penalties, including covering the cost of cleanup.
Penalties for greywater disposal in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, improper disposal of waste, including greywater and chemical waste from campervans and caravans, is regulated under the Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019.
Local councils have the authority to issue fines for offences such as fly-tipping, with penalties typically set at £200 for minor violations. More serious offences or repeat violations can lead to prosecution, resulting in higher fines and potential legal action. Additionally, offenders may be held responsible for cleanup costs, especially in areas of environmental significance.
Embracing Responsible Waste Water Disposal for Van Lifers
Van-lifers in the UK have to be responsible when it comes to dumping greywater.
The Leave No Trace principle is vital for us and future travellers: it reminds us that our actions have lasting impacts on the environment. Using designated waste disposal facilities and following local guidelines can help preserve our natural surroundings, which are vital for local wildlife and biodiversity.
We love getting out into nature in our vans. There is no better way to be free on the road and immersed in nature. Let’s do our part to keep the UK’s landscapes as clean, healthy, and as beautiful as we found them!
Dani does vanlife in her bright yellow Peugeot boxer called “Sunny”. Based in Bristol, UK, with her partner she DIY the complete van conversion of Sunny and then tripped around Europe. She now does vanlife around the UK. Outside van life adventures and trip planning, she works as a project developer in renewable energy. See Dani’s full vanbandits profile.
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