Eliminating Graywater - Ideas from Burning Man

[@nw4runner]

wish I had known you guys were back at Burning Man this year, this was our 3rd year and second year with my grey water recycling solar powered trailer... our trailer carries 150 gallons of "fresh water" with a built in 32" square shower that drains thru a 4-stage (spin-down, sediment, carbon & UV) filter back into the 150 gallon tank, which also feeds evaporative coolers in our trailer and (also solar powered) RV. This setup has provided us unlimited shower water for the past 2 years for about 8 days straight as we use around 15-20 gallons/day between two evaporative coolers running full blast... less this year as it was much cooler than in 2013! The whole system is powered by 3x250W panels with a 250Ah 8D AGM battery. And yes the filters last all week, even with Playa Dust, as long as you clean the spin down stage daily! :)

[@celiorocha7478]

Eric Steinback Congrats man, could We get your project, I mean, how you did it?

[@panpiper]

Video please!

[@simonlynchsae]

That filterbucket-tray-windmill contraption was leaking everywhere making a puddle of grey water... not sure it's the best idea...

[@DirectionWideOpen]

Suspect it was "splash out", actually. But I could be wrong.

[@shellglow9679]

That towel idea was sooo clever! :)

[@Perspectologist]

This was very interesting. Thanks for covering this. I did not know how this worked at Burning Man.

[@0HARE]

Excellent ideas, and very well presented. Thanks for another quality video. Happy Camping!

[@bryantford3054]

Hippies take showers? I thought that's what patchouli was for. Great video. At our off-grid house our gray water goes to the plants & trees. It has a rain catchment system so we don't waste a drop. Also, we had a composting toilet way before it was cool. Wish I'd gone to Burning Man before it went crazy. Oh, well. Still looks like fun.

[@heidihudgins4793]

While I’ve never been, I know Burning Man is very serious about leave no trace, no matter out of place (MOOP aka litter, even things like feathers, glitter, etc.), and so I think that’s why most take huge measures. It’s one of the principles of the festival. There is a really awesome documentary on Burning Man called Spark: A Burning Story. I highly recommend it! ✌🏻💜

[@leeshamaye8250]

Man.. I just love you two!! My partner and I watch your vids to prepare for our fantasy full time boondocking life we will live in the future. We don't know when exactly that will be due to the fact that I am my mother's caregiver and well.... she's still here! But, in the mean time... getting great info through your vids! Thank you very much and I hope we will meet up with ya'll someday :)

[@FromThePrairies]

Interesting. Many of the techniques being used are also used in full scale wastewater treatment plants, only the water would be discharged into a receiving body of water rather than evaporated. Evaporation isn't the best solution to disposing grey water as it's a bit inefficient. As you mentioned, the best way is to use eco-friendly products and then use the grey water for applications where potable water isn't really needed. Golf courses, agricultural applications, you name it! Problem is that people hear sewer water and start to squirm. Most don't realize that the water that most municipalities send out in the domestic water system has previously gone through another city's water treatment and, subsequently, wastewater treatment plant!

[@evana1900]

I think if your going to be trying to evaporate water in such a hot environment why not use the water for an evaporating cooling system

[@iceman22st]

Those are all great ideas. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[@darrenedger4552]

Those are some great ideas! More Alaska videos please! I LOVE your Alaska videos!!! Are you guys coming back to the lower 48 before winter hits? If so month are you guys coming back? Happy and safe travels from Darren.

[@roaddog4334]

Burning Man is on the bucket list! Question, does the residential fridge impact boon docking and have you compared the advantages/disadvantages between the residential fridge to the two-way fridge? Cheers

[@gonewiththewynns]

+John Foley We have plans to shoot a video soon on this exact question.

[@RVTriking]

Good information... Very creative ways!

[@dncook1955]

Great job, love yu guys. Always trying to help others. Thanks for sharing.

[@panpiper]

Could you not somehow set things up to use greywater in an evaporative air conditioner?

[@mudspringer]

OMG - Awesome video thanks!!!!!!!!

[@cherylynn927]

Great video guys!

[@CatzShadowz]

#TotalAwesomeness! I keep trying to ask Tim about the littlest things that I would need to know, just in case #Luna or #Ziggy bump him in the Chesapeake Bay. Then I have to face my biggest dilemma. I'm not sure what I can do to save him We've been together for about 15 years and he still says ”Never Put Your Toes In This Water!!!!” Ok, that was a slightly over embellished version of a true story. If I had to jump in and save him, I'll check Amazon and order a hazmat suit with the quickest way to get it here ASAP! 😆 He shares watching your vlogs with me. But I've been binge watching all of your earlier videos. Hopefully, I will catch up with Tim soon. I love the way you share your experiences both good and bad. While I'm learning, I'm having a wonderful dream of how much I love the sea and remembering as a child, that I spent most of my free time in the Pacific Ocean. The last time I had my body in an ocean, was while I was in England. But I came back in 2001, under a dirty trick. When asked where I'd like to return to, I asked for Washington State. I ended up in the DC area. 😆 Take care of each other, Cat, Tim, Luna & Ziggy

[@RangerRob]

Wow, there is some great ideas there. Thanks

[@TheMobileHobos]

That looks like a pretty rad event. Love your videos and the outfits too ;p!

[@apriltatum5543]

When you went to Burning Man did you use your geni to run your AC? Love y'all's outfits!

[@heidihudgins4793]

Hi! They have another video about BM and they used their vent fan which auto opens and turns on if the RV gets above a certain temp. They also lined their windows with filters to mitigate the playa dust, and sprayed them with water which they said cooled the air due to the evaporation! 💜✌🏻

[@Vitoandolini13]

I love the your Burning man videos. Do you have the capacity to hold enough gray water for your stay at Burning man?

[@gonewiththewynns]

+jim page we have the capacity to make it through 14 days with plenty of fresh water and enough storage for the grey water.

[@darrenedger4552]

keep in mind they have a composting toilet not a traditional toilet. so they have no sewage.

[@roaddog4334]

Looking forward to it, slainte

[@iamsabian]

If you package up the compost from your toilet and mail it to McDonald's ....I'm sure they have innovative ways of getting it back into the food chain :) great vids both of you.....best wishes from the UK

[@VanessaCamburn]

how did you get rid of your compost toilet, the liquids anyways...? I know the solids would make it through the time of the festival...

[@PeterbiltEmzie]

+MissNess84 Most people piss in the shower, why not pour it down the shower with a little bit of bleach in it or a anti bacteria solution?

[@Imthebeachgirl]

Hi was wondering why you covered up your graphics on the rv?

[@Mecz2]

Promotion isn't allowed at BM

[@jddr.jkindle9708]

Would have enjoyed meeting with you two at Burning Man '2015. I was not too far from the AEZ Camp, 4:30 @ H.

[@jantrapnell01able]

Good fun! Thanks for sharing!

[@villatengtravel]

Very nice channel!

[@theimaginator16]

How far from Burning Man is the nearest dump station?

[@JohnDavis-jw2zl]

awesome idea

[@Slumberjacksix]

Great video, Thank you!

[@rvmotorhomecamping1179]

Just plain cool!

[@itsmecharstar]

Out of curiosity- why is your logo covered with tape?

[@tlowery2074]

itsmecharstar burning man is against commodification and they ask to keep Brands and logos to a minimum

[@grayeagleswolves]

Love this video thank you for the idea's

[@marks6072]

Why was your name masking taped over on your Class A??

[@bjhorton2005]

+Mark S No ads or anything resembling ads at Burning Man. :)

[@shiggityx2]

+Mark S Burning Man is a non commercial event, so they were probably just being considerate by hiding their "brand" for the week. Even wearing clothes with a visible logo is discouraged.

[@Millsy.g]

+Mark S I think burning man it is not considered good taste to advertise or sell anything. The whole thing is setup to be about as anti-corporate as possible.

[@highspacefox]

+Mark S at burning man it's a common practice to cover and not speak of corporate names, logos or entities. awesome video guys!

[@eddiememphis1]

+Stanley Stepleton "...protect your culture from such exploitation?" Whatcha gonna do, Stan? Kick them out? What about the many hundreds of dollars you charge to attend this event?

[@loopsprice3128]

In some places they have a black water guy who comes to your site and for a small fee will hookup and pump you out. He takes it to a larger rig and removes it all. Now that would be really cool for burning man.. if they did it..

[@toddvolpe6396]

They have incinerators for waste disposal. I think you're even legally allowed to use it for blackwater. They're very expensive commercial devices maybe you've seen them at hospitals. But there's so many handyman out there that I'll bet someone will come up with a rocket stove gray water incinerator

[@ai4kk]

I wonder if a solar still could be used to dispose of greywater and create water at the same time? For that matter, I wonder if it could somehow be used for cooling?

[@steelcarnations2207]

Yes. I'm a chemist, and that's what I'd do. I'd set up a still and let the heat (or put it over a grill) to evaporate the water, then set the coils in the shade under reflectix, wrap them in tin foil OR, run them through cooler, and distill the water. Yes, that would work. The coils would have to be kept under 70°F which should be easy enough with creative thinking.

[@zatzbatz]

Where do they say you are not allowed to filter and sprinle your water? The encourage us to sprinkle to keep down dust

[@GoingNoWhereFast]

Ok course, you forgot to mention your favorite way to "Eliminate" Black water, and that's don't make any, use the composting toilet !

[@evegrowing7749]

Yes I was thinking the same thing. Josph Jerkin’s method of going both one’s and two’s into a bucket cover with a “carbon” (sawdust, micro shredded cardboard/news paper, minced leaves….), and when bucket/buckets are full cap it. When you get home depending on how many buckets you’ve filled put your outputs into a composting bin and once again cover with a carbon🤔

[@njaneardude]

I'm first? Gee I feel humbled. Great suspenders dude!

[@waterdamnaged]

Treated with chlorine to eliminate bacteria before it's sprinkled on the ground ... ignoring the fact that you've just introduced chlorine into the environment. It might have been better just to leave the bacteria in there.

[@JEFFREY-c-ESTES]

If burning man is "leave no trace", what happens to the large particles that are left behind after the water evaporates?

[@BoredAtWork2000]

This is the grey water not black water

[@jeanier7185]

You're supposed to moop your area, rake out all particles of debris. The BLM allows 1 square foot per acre when they are inspecting, post event.

[@tomcampbell8278]

Have you tried to filter your grey water, purify it ( bleach ) then use it in an out door ( diy ) swamp cooler ?

[@gonewiththewynns]

Can't say that we have. Seems like a lot of work.

[@michaela.l1618]

Awesome👍👍

[@Mrmilbeijos1]

its called a french drain, 8 inch auger post hole digger with an extra 4 foot pipe. dig down about 6 feet. Run your line in the hole. the water soaks into the ground below. no muddy mess, control the flow with the gate valve. dirt is full of natural bacteria anyway, people get to wierd about gray water, and for no reason. todays soaps are bio safe. i drilled a small hole in my discharge cap and let the water pee out when i am traveling, why carry the extra weight. when i know i have to dump a black tank i close the gray so i have water to flush the line with.

[@heidihudgins4793]

Burning Man has really strict principles they want burners to adhere to. Check out their website for their ethos. Leave no trace, radical self-reliance, etc. all make for a gathering unlike any other. That said, the Black Rock Playa is in itself very basic (as in, opposite of acidic), and if everyone dispensed their grey water at will, it would have a huge impact on the area. Kind of the whole idea of Burning Man is to go to one of the most uninhabitable and harshest places and to learn to be self-reliant and self-sufficient, to contribute to this temporary city that springs up, to express yourself in ways you normally would not, etc. Check out the documentary called Spark. 💜✌🏻

[@chadsexinton]

Cant you filter it and reuse it?

[@fredfadungy1925]

LOL Love these people.. She is CUTE CUTE CUTE..

[@SCOTTBULGRIN]

Looks like something out of a Mad Max movie.

[@SublimeSati]

That's crazy. Nothing will grow in that desert for, well, for as long as mankind will be on this earth. I can't believe you can't dump grey water in a designated spot out there. What a trip.

[@gonewiththewynns]

+SublimeSati with such a huge population of people (70,000+) it would be a mess. I can understand why they won't let people.

[@arlipscomb]

+SublimeSati When the ground gets wet it turns into a very slick mud. Also consider that while grey water is not a hazard, it still has some organic material (i.e. from washing food) and bacteria. Get hundreds of gallons of that pooling up and the odor will not be far behind.

[@SublimeSati]

Barsabus I own a 5th wheel with grey/blck tanks. Grey water wont hurt anything in the middle of a desert, in fact, im sure the area would be really thankful for the influx of h20.

[@SublimeSati]

Barsabus Grey water isn't a pollutant.That's why it's grey and not black. Derp.

[@pipersmitty87]

Barsabus foul mouth no need for that immaturity

[@Bubbletruckwindowcleaning]

Can you put the grey water in all of the evaporation coolers? Then you can use grey water to cool you from the evaporation cooler?

[@dreamingfool2]

What is the burning man?

[@heidihudgins4793]

If you google it you will find lots of info! Also, I watched a documentary about it called Spark, which taught me a lot! I recommend you check it out, it is really interesting! 💜✌🏻

[@Bubbletruckwindowcleaning]

Can you bring plants? Can you dump the grey water into the plant ground that you keep on the roof of the RV? Maybe use plants that absorb a lot of water?

[@bushwp11]

Are you not comfortable distilling your gray water and reusing it?

[@gonewiththewynns]

+The Bush Homestead you could distill gray water and reuse it but we have never needed fresh water bad enough to do that. Plus distilling water takes power a long time (4-6 hrs per gallon).

[@ReticulatingSplines_]

The water's trapped inside the tray! (shows picture of water spilled all over the playa)

[@sueg2658]

In the heat, why couldn't you filter, sanitize the water and then use it in an evaporative cooler? In the winter, boil it over a camp fire, or stove in big pot, then bring pot inside and let the heat radiate back into your rig, tent, etc.?

[@concretejungle80cruz]

Kind of ironic considering the hundreds if not thousands of bikes that are left out there each year. Also, you mean treating water with chlorine and then "sprinkling" it on the ground is better than allow regular grey water to filter through the ground? Sounds silly.

[@benshafer3124]

Burning man there some strange people there right out of a movie ! LOL ,,,,,,,,,,,

[@flat4314]

I would use my grey water to flush the toilet

[@gonewiththewynns]

+flat 4 also an option and one a lot of people use! -nikki

[@PAPOOSELAKESURFER]

Google search "incinerating toilet for rv," takes energy but effectively and legally works.

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

automotive oil drain pans - they're cheap, and if the same size they nest for transport.

[@latteboyssmile]

Evaporating the grey water your ways are only making worse of air,should be planting !

[@patricklee780]

I just use my Taser to vaporize everything...

[@gonewiththewynns]

NICE!!!!

[@KurtAspaas]

I love your videos! But they are sparse.

[@versatec1]

Why not just empty it out ...same effect

[@heidihudgins4793]

Empty what out? The grey water?

[@heidihudgins4793]

Burning Man is very serious about their principles, one of which is Leave No Trace. You can check out their website for all of their principles.

[@MrMarkliso]

is burning man still a drug fueled sex rave in the desert?

[@gonewiththewynns]

+Mark Lisowski Not for us but maybe you hung out at a different camp. :) - nikki

[@runningonempty398]

Oh man..I would not survive at Burning Man...They need to have a truck come by for me...lol

[@calebwallace9918]

This isnt off the grid camping. Go into the woods or mountains. This is a sponsored event so im pretty sure that the government knows

[@smacdiesel]

kinda gross, I bet it stinks there.

[@romperstomper3172]

call me old fasion but why not just poor it out onto the dirt

[@tlowery2074]

romper stomper you’re not allowed to at burning man, that’s the whole point

[@josephatnip2398]

Its gray water just dump it on the ground you are in the desert it will evaporate in like 20 seconds

[@madogblue]

I wish my wife would dress me. Ah, no...

[@Fuscoooo]

Whats up with the painters tape on your RV?

[@adamsw9000]

To preserve the experience marketing is strongly discouraged at Burning Man

[@heidihudgins4793]

Not to mention, the Playa dust is very basic, and can erode inner parts of your engine, etc. This is why people spray their skin with diluted vinegar at Burning Man- to cancel out the basic nature of the dust.