Campground : all you need to know about RV dump stations

How Campground septic systems treat water

Most campgrounds use conventional septic systems. A conventional system is made up of a septic tank, a drain field, and the plumbing. Wastewater enters the septic tank where it is treated through physical and biological processes. The physical process entails the settling down of suspended solids at the bottom of the tank to form the sludge layer while the FOG settles on top to form the scum layer. The septic tank also has bacteria that digest and thereby liquefy organic waste. Effluent from the septic tank is then passed on to the drain field area for further treatment before the water percolates back into the water table.

The drainfield is typically made of perforated pipes that are in trenches that are filled with gravel. The purpose of the drainfield is to filter and remove any pathogens from the effluent before the water is sent back to the water cycle. The size of the septic system and the drainfield might, however, vary depending on the campground size. You could have a centralized drainfield with a single or a number of septic tanks but you could also have many small drainfields connected to each septic tank. You could also have pump stations for pumping the water into the drainfield.

It is also possible to have an advanced septic system on the campground. The main difference between the advanced system and the conventional system is an additional step of purification of effluent that comes from the septic tank before it goes into the drainfield. For instance, some advanced systems make use of UV light for the removal of pathogens. Advanced systems are therefore recommended for areas where there is a higher risk of polluting water bodies. An engineer will advise on the best septic system to install on your site depending on various environmental factors.

Seasonal use of campground septic systems and RV dump stations

The successful biological treatment of wastewater relies on the ability of bacteria in the septic tank to digest the organic waste in the wastewater. These bacteria grow and die in the tank contentiously. However, bacteria don’t grow instantaneously. You will always have a lag time between the decrease or increase in loading and how the bacteria respond to the changes. In an ideal scenario, there will be a constant flow of wastewater and that will stabilize the death and growth rate of bacteria.

However, this constant flow of wastewater can only be possible in homes but not at the campground. In a typical campground, attendance will be determined with seasonal patterns and the days of the weeks. For instance, weekends will attract more campers than weekdays and summers will attract more visitors than winter. For the most part, campground septic systems will experience two distinct loading patterns;

• Peak season – this is a time when the campground is full and the campground septic system is therefore in maximum utilization
• Off-peak season – a time when there is some usage but not anywhere near the peak seasons. In the off-peak season, the campground facilities will be less than 30% utilized.

Because of these fluctuations, the campground septic systems may not always run efficiently. To avoid getting into any problems with the system, it is recommended to use biological additives. These additives will add helpful bacteria into the tank and that will help to keep the entire system healthy. Using chemical additives is highly discouraged because they can damage the system not only by killing the healthy bacteria but also by corroding the walls of the tank and pipes. We recommend using Bio-Sol’s biological additives which have been specially made from bacteria and enzymes.

Types of Campground septic systems

Collection systems and RV dump stations

Collection systems can either use the force of gravity or rely on pressure-flow created from pumping. Gravity flow systems that don’t have septic tanks will need large pipes and manholes that are spaced at regular intervals. For systems that have septic tanks, smaller diameter pipes can be used without manholes. In situations where it is not possible to implement a gravity-flow system, a system that uses a pump will be designed. It may include the use of large pumps that are capable of pumping solid waste and systems that use a septic tank to liquefy solid waste before it is pumped. Additionally, some systems use grinder pumps which shred the wastewater into smaller particles before they are pumped.

Maintenance of collection systems

Campground Collection systems must be monitored and taken care of all year round to avoid pollution and messy accidents. The following are some important maintenance routines;

1. Check the flow rate between the manholes to ensure there is no obstruction. You can put colored tissue in the wastewater to determine if the flow rate is still ok.
2. If you experience any blockages, use a biological cleaner to unblock the lines.
3. Check all manholes to ensure surface water is not entering. Remove any soil that might have settled at the bottom of the manholes.
4. In the unlikely event that some repair needs to be done, contact a contractor and have it repaired immediately.

Treatment systems

There are different kinds of wastewater treatment and different units are usually combined to make a campground treatment system. The level of treatment needed is dependent on how the wastewater is to be disposed of in tandem with the regulatory standards that apply. Septic tanks are the most commonly used type of primary treatment option on campgrounds. Septic tanks are typically made from precast concrete or fiberglass although other materials like plastic and steel can also be used. Septic tanks use a combination of physical and biological processes for treating wastewater. Suspended solids are digested by bacteria in the septic tank and the rest of the solids that are not broken down settle down to form a layer of sludge. This sludge is eventually pumped out of the tank every 3-5 years depending on the local legislation.

Campground septic systems are often strained because it is not easy to control what every camper is using in their RV holding tanks. Every time an RV tank is emptied into the campground septic systems, there is a high likelihood of toxic substances being part of the waste. For this purpose, it is imperative to use shock treatment to improve the efficiency of the campground septic tank. Shock treatment entails the introduction of biological additives which will help to restock the bacteria colony in the tank. For instance, Bio-Sol’s shock treatment product introduces billions of helpful bacteria and enzymes into the system. The enzymes work hand in hand with the bacteria by breaking down the organic waste to make it more palatable for the bacteria to consume.

Avoid damaging campground septic systems and RV dump stations

A septic tank should serve you for at least 30 years. However, how long it lasts will depend on how well you take care of it. Here are some noteworthy tips for septic tank maintenance.

1. Do not drive RVs or any other heavy machinery above the septic tank as that may cause physical damage to the septic tank and pipes.
2. Occasionally check the sludge depth to determine when the next cleaning is due
3. Periodically add biological additives to improve the efficiency of the system
4. Do not use chlorine, antibacterial soaps, or any other commercial cleaning compounds because these will kill the helpful bacteria in the tank
5. Avoid planting trees near the septic tank because their invasive root systems can cause irreparable damage to the septic tank
6. Avoid compacting of soil over the drain field area because the soil needs to be sufficiently aerated for the aerobic bacteria to treat the wastewater before it seeps into the soil

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember about the campground septic system is that they will not be used uniformly across the year. This seasonal usage will affect the rate at which bacteria die and reproduce in the septic system. Campground septic systems also receive lots of toxic substances from the different RV holding tanks. Most of the cleaning products used by RVers are not septic friendly and that can have adverse effects on the health of bacteria in the campground septic system. Thankfully, you can mitigate this by adding biological additives. That said, RVers should be encouraged to desist from using products that are not septic safe.