Project RV GreyAway

"The discharge of grey water into a sewer is no longer in the public interest because it is a waste of a water resource that can, correctly handled, aid in the growing of plants, without presenting a public hazard." Project RV GreyAway is built around this mission statement which RVLouisiana created and adopted. You will notice that the statement does not specialize RV grey water. The mission statement is predicated upon what is becoming a globally accepted thesis. The importance of that trend means that the discharge of grey waste water from a RV unit. "correctly handled," can meet the public good, as well as, benefit RVers. RVLouisiana will continue, we started in 1996, to target our efforts on the proper handling of RV grey water and leave the vast implications of grey waste water handling in non-RV areas to others interested in the subject. Becoming a responsible RVer means meeting certain basic tenets of our "recreation." One is this. "Draining or dumping excrement waste water from any RV or other vehicle, usually called "black water", except in places or receptacles provided for such purposes is prohibited." Experienced RVers endorse this prohibition. On the other hand, experienced, well traveled, RVers have camped at RV parks where there are signs that say something like this. "Put your grey water in our flower beds. They love it." So, the goal of RVLouisiana, and its volunteers, is to solve, in a responsible way, the method of discharge of RV grey water. But how?       Like this photo. You water plant life. But, again, how? To answer this question, we turned to expert opinion, Carl R. Lindstrom, an international recognized waste water engineer. Mr. Lindstrom has agreed to design the first RVLouisiana RV grey water system, plus coach us on the utilization thereof. First, one must understand that the evolution of the science of grey waste water, and it is a science, has been underway now for some time. Already in some Western United States, municipal governments are promulgating ordinances covering the disposal of household grey waste water. The logic was that it was an offense to the environment to waste grey water down the sewer when it could be used for other purposes like watering plant life. It is interesting to note that here in Louisiana, the City of Hammond recently started a grey water system, with an outflow of 4.2 million gallons a day which will be directed into the wetlands south of the city. Over-simplification can be a dangerous way to describe something. It's one thing to say that a light bulb is simply a wire enclosed in an glass bulb that glows when charged with electric current. It's another thing to make it all happen. So, we start with this over-simplification. RV grey water can now be properly discharged into flower beds! And we now know how to make it happen. Our expectation is that in the late fall of 2006, we will have plans and specifications to submit to the appropriate health agencies to build, on a volunteer basis, a RV grey water system for two RV pads in a state or private RV park on a test basis. Our state park of choice is the Tickfaw State Park, which is close to Hammond, Louisiana. We presented our request in general terms at the August 2006 Louisiana Parks & Recreation commission. The concept also went to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and their informal position can be read here. The last step is to raise approximately $2,000 to formalize the project; drawings, filing fees, copies, etc. Volunteers can do so much, but costs are always encountered in projects such as this one. RVLouisiana is presently approaching RV groups such as RV Park owners that may show interest in providing a grant. A solution to the disposal of RV grey water offers a tremendous benefit to private RV parks because it reduces the "load" on their sewer plants. Any suggestions about raising the necessary funds is appreciated. Write to greyaway@rvlouisiana.com. Sam Gallo, President & CEO RVLouisiana Additional Note Project GreyAway presents a unique business concept. We are open to any interest in this aspect, too.