Use a common folding water container to collect used wash water while camping in your Westfalia
Reliance Fold-a-Carrier Water Bag
Specifications
- Durable flexible high-grade polyethylene
- Integrated on/off spigot design
- Comfortable handle w/ metal clips
- 2.5 gallon (9.5 liter) and 5 gallon (20 liter)
Whether camped in an established campground or in the backcountry, it’s important that “gray” water—used dish and hand washing water—not be dumped on the ground. The food particles and detergents, even biodegradable camp soap, can contaminate local water sources and attract wildlife. Instead, such gray water should be disposed of at a sanitary dumping station or in campground toilets.
But how to collect it?
Large RVs often have built-in gray-water storage tanks, and smaller versions are available for Vanagon campers, but a quick and easy DIY solution can be improvised from a common bag intended for carrying drinking water while camping.
First Impressions
The Reliance Fold-a-Carrier is a collapsible water container with sturdy fold-down handle and On/Off spigot. Made of durable polyethylene, the bag easily unfolds to its full size for use, then collapses down for storage when empty.
To use it as a gray-water bag, simply slip a snug-fitting length of flexible hose over the end of the outlet of your Westfalia sink drain.
When my outlet broke several years ago, I replaced it with an ABS plumbing flange fitting, a short stub of 3/4″ ABS pipe, and an ABS nipple with “garden hose threads” (3/4″ diameter straight thread, 11.5 TPI pitch). This allows the easy attachment of a short (10″) section of garden hose with a female fitting.
In Camp
Setting up the gray water bag in camp is a simple matter of attaching the short hose and sliding the folding water carrier under the van, tucking the hose into the bag’s neck.
To get the most from your collection bag, minimize the amount of gray water you produce; eat all you cook and collect solid leftovers in the trash.
NOTE: If wildlife are about (mice, raccoons, and bears, oh my), bring your gray water bag inside the van at night to avoid attracting unwanted campsite visitors.
The Reliance Fold-a-Carrier is available in both 2.5 and 5-gallon sizes. Depending on the number in your camping party and your cooking & cleaning habits, the 2.5-gallon bag will hold 1-3 day’s worth of waste water before requiring emptying into a campground dump station or toilet.
Once empty, the bag easily collapses to a space-saving size, easily stowed under the Westfalia bench seat.
To keep your gray water bag relatively clean and odor free, rinse after each use, and periodically clean with dishwashing detergent. Allow to thoroughly dry before stowing between camping trips.
In The Long Run
We’ve been using such folding gray water bags for many years of camping in everything from rough backcountry campsites, conventional state park campgrounds, to hoity-toity RV parks which especially frown on dumping one’s slop water on the manicured lawns. These bags hold up well for several year’s worth of camping, though repeated folding/unfolding may eventually stress the plastic and cause a pinhole leak, usually along the fold lines, requiring periodic replacement.
Overall, it’s an affordable solution to a common need, is easily deployed and stowed. And using this DIY gray water bag will help preserve the great outdoors we all enjoy …
Hits: affordable, compact, lightweight, very easy to deploy and stow
Misses: flexible plastic may eventually leak and require periodic replacement
Great writing!
No country in Europe is so ignorant to the environment as Portugal, where I live. As a long time 3 Westys owner ( since 1984 ) I ( retired American ) am shocked by attitude of Portuguese. Most are bent on stealing, heavy overeating, drinking, etc. Party leaves the ground and lets other to do the cleaning. But who are the other? Nobody!
Add to this extreme laziness and disrespect to other tourists and nature. Forest next to my house is full with used toilet
paper! Right next to the produce market! Forest converted to a dump of all kind of garbage and dies. Dog excrement is everywhere! Cities a bit cleaner. Do not eat much, have anti – vomit medicines. Stay away. Need more frustration? Robbery is common. The robber will not enter thru Westfalia’s roof vent, but on large campers will rip off the vent cover. This happened to my Dethleffs camper at Mire de Aire (Portugal ) in 2015. My 150 Lb Presa Canario dog saved us from great losses. I met twice American campers ( on rented campers ) robbed clean. Be vigilant!
I usually collect gray water in a container with a cap.
Have great trips, fellows! Ark Mirvis
Can you suggest where to obtain a flexible corrugated plastic hose to use with the reliance gray water receptacle. My original plastic hose has fallen apart.
Carl,
I’m not sure what size tubing you’re looking for, but any good RV retailer should offer a variety of types and sizes.
Ex.: https://www.rvautoparts.com/C-2-SMOOTH-BOR-Sewer-Hose-10-Foot-Length_p_5802.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0byq-svK3AIVBANpCh3qrwsLEAQYBCABEgLRCPD_BwE
Does this help?
Great idea. I have had good success with that container in the past. Very durable. Much better than the Nalgene flexible Canteen containers, which have failed me many times.