Articles and Reviews

 

Current Technology — Evacuation with Sewer Hose and fittings

By Drain Master, LLC

Currently, the vast majority of RVers use an evacuation hose that is stored either in the bumper or in an external storage compartment under the RV. The hose requires an industry standard bayonet fitting on one end that allows the hose to be affixed to the RV. holding tank outlet. Evacuation takes place when valves on the RV holding tanks are opened and the effluent from the black water and grey water tanks passes through the hose into an approved sewer inlet at an RV site or campground dump site. Optional devices can be purchased to mount to the sewer inlet end of the hose to hold the hose in place. Also, devices can be purchased to support the hose from the vehicle to the sewer inlet in order to supply a continuous downward slope, improving the evacuation process. There are numerous problems with this method of holding tank evacuation used for the past 30 years plus.

First, this method of evacuation is highly unsanitary. Because waste is passed through the hose, any leaks in the hose (a common occurrence due to the abrasion of the hose being dragged on the ground and stored in bumpers) as well as leaving waste and holding tank chemical on the ground around the RV and the sewer inlet, and on the RVer’s hands as he/she deals with the hose. Also, waste remains in the hose after evacuation, leading to further unsanitary conditions during storage of the hose - not to mention the next time the hose is used.

The direct contact with Human fecal waste contains pathogens (disease carrying bacteria, viruses, protozoa (single cell organisms), parasites and some fungi which can cause disease in humans. This disease spread can by direct contact, ingestion or inhalation. 
Fecal Coliform count is the method used to test for fecal waste.

Second, because the hose is flexible, handling the hose is at best messy, while complete evacuation is a chore. Unless additional hardware is purchased) to connect the hose to the RV,) hold the hose in place in the sewer inlet during evacuation, and) add a hose support device to facilitate continuous, smooth, “downhill” outflow, the RVer can have a very unpleasant experience. Without a connector the holding tanks can’t be evacuated properly. Without hardware to hold the hose in place during evacuation, the sudden rush of effluent when the valves are opened can cause the delivery end of the hose to spring free from the sewer inlet causing unsanitary and unsafe messes around the site. And, without a hose support device, during evacuation waste will settle in the lowest part of the hose requiring the RVer to “milk” the hose in order to get the waste out and into the dump port - another unsanitary, and potentially unsafe, situation.