Pump out

[sueb]

We have an electric pump from Leesan and used it for 15yrs. I agree with Phylis about elsan disposal points. Pumpout users use them less often and we pay for that use in our BW licence. Other navigation authorities provide free pumpout facilities. Yes they do need a degree of supervision but this isn't difficult. We use Bio Magic and put a hose down our loo to give a good swirly rinse, we do have a separate nozzle. It works very well and I wouldn't go to the hassle of emptying a porta loo every couple of days.

Sue

[DaveR]

Having had pump out problems we :-

 

Do as the Greeks do and place used toilet paper into nappy sacks and dispose of with the trash.

 

Have a length of 1.25" white plastic drain pipe (domestic plumbing style) - insert that inside the pump out nozzle and then down the pump out pipe on the boat. Quick couple of turns of electricians tape over the outside of the connection and a perfect seal is obtained. End of pipe that goes into the tank is cut at a slight angle to stop it sucking down onto the bottom of the tank.

 

End result, tank is emptied in a few seconds with no blockages or problems.

 

Simplsz

[nb Innisfree]

Having had pump out problems we :-

 

Do as the Greeks do and place used toilet paper into nappy sacks and dispose of with the trash.

 

Have a length of 1.25" white plastic drain pipe (domestic plumbing style) - insert that inside the pump out nozzle and then down the pump out pipe on the boat. Quick couple of turns of electricians tape over the outside of the connection and a perfect seal is obtained. End of pipe that goes into the tank is cut at a slight angle to stop it sucking down onto the bottom of the tank.

 

End result, tank is emptied in a few seconds with no blockages or problems.

 

Simplsz

 

What is wrong with the original p/o pipe?

[The Anonymous Bard]

Self pump out always reminds me of this:

 

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.rec.wa...9f80af0956df3a8

 

reproduced below:

 

Today I am mainly wearing....... SH*T

 

Well not actually me but Mr Helpful. I now have to moderate my language as

one of my nieces (in law) has joined my news group. I will however try to

maintain some humour.

 

I have often been told that my humour is a bit on the 'toilet' side so I

thought "why not talk toilets" it's a bit like lets talk dirty.

 

Toilets are not the normal thing one would bring up in general conversation

unless you live on a narrow boat. This normally revolves around questions

like "where's the nearest sanitary station (nothing to do with ladies

depositories I am afraid)" or "where is the nearest pumpout"?

 

There are two types of toilets on narrow boats, a cassette type the same as

is often found on modern touring caravans (often referred to as a Porta

Poti) or a pumpout toilet which is what we have. The most common type of the

latter is known as a 'drop through' toilet, use your imagination. It's

actually very clean to use and not a bit smelly. Now about every 10 days we

have to take the boat to a pumpout station to have the tank emptied. This

involves a big tube being attached to the boat and then the toilet waste is

sucked out, not a pleasant task. This on average costs about £10, that's

about £500 a year to use the toilet!

 

Now we get onto the my title for today. To save money one can buy a DIY

pumpout kit. AHA now we get down to it. Well what you do is find a sanitary

station, the use of which is free, connect a thick pipe to the boat and to a

big hand pump, another soft, flat pipe, rather like a firemans hose, is

connected to the other end of the pump which is then rolled out and is

shoved down the bowl in the sanitary station. These sanitary stations are

really a normal toilet bowl like you have at home and instead of a chain to

pull you flush it with a hose pipe provided after emptying the contents of

your cassette down there. They are either in a small room or have a small

brick wall round them. So, having bought the kit and put it altogether off

we go to a sanitary station for our first, free, DIY pumpout.

 

We moor up and I connect it all up, roll out the flat pipe and stick it down

the bowl, return to the boat and start to pump, after a very short time you

should feel the pump 'bit' as the waste starts to go through I am told. Now

it should be kept in mind that a chemical is involved here, rather like what

is used in Porta Poti's it breaks down 'solid' matter and toilet paper so

what you end up with is, yes you have probably guessed it, liquid sh*t

(that's pooh to you, Jessica). Now these sanitary stations are normally near

locks or a special mooring, in this case it is at Braunston. Because

Braunston is the canal capital of the world everyone visits it mostly to

walk along, ask silly questions like "is that a narrow boat" or to 'bog'

through your windows to see what your boat is like. Now in this game you

always get the "You don't want to do it like that, you want to do it like

this" type of Mr Helpful.

 

So this guy comes along, Mr Helpful, sees what I am doing as I am pumping

away like mad waiting for it to 'bit' he follows the blue pipe along to the

sanitary station and starts looking down the bowl where my pipe is going

with the 'aim' of telling me when the muck has reached the bowl. Now what I

didn't realise is the force at which this pump works, apparently it can push

water up about 10 metres through it's 50mm pipe so we are talking a fair

pressure here. The pump 'bits' I pump like mad and then there is a scream

and Mr Helpful comes running back to me with the end if the pipe in his

hand, liquid sh*t spurting 2 metres in the air all over him and anything

else its pointed at shouting STOP PUMPING you idiot.

 

Apparently what had happened is the force of the muck coming out the pipe

was so much that it propelled the pipe straight out the bowl, he tried to

push it back down but the pipe being very soft and flexible was totally

uncontrollable. The result is rather like trying to hold a very slippery

snake that's intent on biting you. Well you can imagine the state of poor Mr

Helpful, there he stands covered from head to foot in horrible, smell gooey,

brown pooh, there was only one thing to do so I promptly got hold of the

water hose and turned it on him to rinse him down and then suggest he A)

sees a doctor and minds his own business in future. As for me, well I

have now made a wire frame up rather like you have on the waste pipe of a

washing machine so I can hook the pipe over the bowl and hold it in place.

 

Priceless!

 

What I would have given to be a fly on the wall when that happened... I bet there were a few flys on the wall afterwards!!!

[Lady Muck]

(I've had the misfortune to visit one of the stations near where LM moors after it had received some abuse - not nice. )

 

It's like that most of the time - don't advise a visit without wellies - it's a hut full of slurry - add to that, badly blocked public toilets (which I fear I might be blamed for, because I have emptied my loo in there when the elsan was blocked), no hot water in the shower block for two months (only just fixed) and a broken pump out (recently fixed).

 

The elsan point seems to block very easily with loo paper, that's something we avoid putting down our loo.

[blackrose]

We have an electric pump from Leesan and used it for 15yrs. I agree with Phylis about elsan disposal points. Pumpout users use them less often and we pay for that use in our BW licence..

Sue

So you've agreed with someone else who doesn't understand! The issue is not frequency of use, it's about quantities of waste at any one time - I thought this was already explained quite clearly in several posts?

 

Your post also ignores previous points made (one by BW staff), that many elsan points are unsuited for self-pump outs and this is not permitted. If it is permitted at your local elsan point then fine, but we can't have people making up their own rules and then trying to justify this by saying they're paying for it. Yes you're paying for it and it's available for your use on the basis that you use it in conjunction with the appropriate equipment.

 

It's up to each owner to decide what equipment to have on their boat and that doesn't make it ok for owners of certain equipment to abuse facilities for which their equipment was not designed.

Edited February 16, 2010 by blackrose

[Naughty Cal]

So you've agreed with someone else who doesn't understand! The issue is not frequency of use, it's about quantities of waste at any one time - I thought this was already explained quite clearly in several posts?

 

Yes but we have no need to understand. Our system works fine for us and a trip out onto tidal waters once a month isnt a big ask.

[mayalld]

Yes but we have no need to understand. Our system works fine for us and a trip out onto tidal waters once a month isnt a big ask.

 

Yes, but you suggested that it wasn't a problem if people just ignored the "no self pump out" signs.

 

Perhaps it would be better if you didn't express a view on things you don't understand?

[Naughty Cal]

Yes, but you suggested that it wasn't a problem if people just ignored the "no self pump out" signs.

 

Perhaps it would be better if you didn't express a view on things you don't understand?

 

Clearly where there are signs then no dont self pump out. However where there are no signs then as far as i am concerned go for it. If there was a problem it would have been highlighted.

[blodger]

So you've agreed with someone else who doesn't understand! The issue is not frequency of use, it's about quantities of waste at any one time - I thought this was already explained quite clearly in several posts?

 

Your post also ignores previous points made (one by BW staff), that many elsan points are unsuited for self-pump outs and this is not permitted. If it is permitted at your local elsan point then fine, but we can't have people making up their own rules and then trying to justify this by saying they're paying for it. Yes you're paying for it and it's available for your use on the basis that you use it in conjunction with the appropriate equipment.

 

It's up to each owner to decide what equipment to have on their boat and that doesn't make it ok for owners of certain equipment to abuse facilities for which their equipment was not designed.

A bit time consuming and messy I suppose to use your self pump-out to take the head off into a container and empty into the elsan that is not suitable for self pump-out? Just so that you get your licence moneysworth and get to the next disposal point where self pump-out is OK.

It would be more useful for BW to provide more sewer access points by the canal for self pump-out than bollarding locks. However, its unlikely since they are competing with marinas with their own electric card pump-outs I suspect for profit rather than necessary services provision?

[mayalld]

Clearly where there are signs then no dont self pump out. However where there are no signs then as far as i am concerned go for it. If there was a problem it would have been highlighted.

 

But that is the whole point!

 

There is a problem, it is highlighted.

 

Most elsan points are NOT suitable for self pump out, and have signs to that effect.

 

You, despite your lack of understanding of the issue came along to assure us that it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Brain - engage it before posting!

[Naughty Cal]

But that is the whole point!

 

There is a problem, it is highlighted.

 

Most elsan points are NOT suitable for self pump out, and have signs to that effect.

 

You, despite your lack of understanding of the issue came along to assure us that it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Brain - engage it before posting!

 

A bit like CCers/CMers you mean?

 

We are all entitled to our opinions Mr Mayall and mine is it shouldnt be an issue.

[blodger]

A bit like CCers/CMers you mean?

 

We are all entitled to our opinions Mr Mayall and mine is it shouldnt be an issue.

 

More importantly BW need to work to remove the "discrimination" so that more Elsan points can be used by self pump-outs. That is, wherever possible, sceptic tanks be replaced by sewer connection or/and make more provision for self pump-out where easier to do so. Do not expand the BW electric card charge pump-out in competition with marinas!?

[mayalld]

We are all entitled to our opinions Mr Mayall and mine is it shouldnt be an issue.

 

Oh, for pities sake!

 

It isn't about opinions.

 

It is a matter of FACT that discharging large volumes of effluent from a self pump-out into a sanitary station with a septic tank will overwhelm the system, and cause the discharge of untreated sewage into the environment (including nearby water courses)

 

More importantly BW need to work to remove the "discrimination" so that more Elsan points can be used by self pump-outs. That is, wherever possible, sceptic tanks be replaced by sewer connection or/and make more provision for self pump-out where easier to do so. Do not expand the BW electric card charge pump-out in competition with marinas!?

 

I'm fairly sure that BW would never install a septic tank if a mains sewer was an option!

 

As far as I can see, given the frequency with which self pump-out users need a facility, there is an adequate provision for self pump-out.

[pig]

That is, wherever possible, sceptic tanks be replaced by sewer connection

 

Sceptic tank = one where you look in and say " I don't BELIEVE IT"?

[Naughty Cal]

Oh, for pities sake!

 

It isn't about opinions.

 

Clearly it is

[LEO]

Oh, for pities sake!

 

It isn't about opinions.

 

It is a matter of FACT that discharging large volumes of effluent from a self pump-out into a sanitary station with a septic tank will overwhelm the system, and cause the discharge of untreated sewage into the environment (including nearby water courses)

Such a situation resulted in a large fine for the previous owner of a marina close to my mooring some years ago.

 

Bacteria in Septic tanks also find it hard to treat effluent mixed with 'loo blue'.

 

Leo.

[RLWP]

Sceptic tank = one where you look in and say " I don't BELIEVE IT"?

 

It could be a really cynical form of a think tank I suppose...

 

Richard

 

Or somewhere where you keep sceptics. Now, this forum could use one of those

[LEO]

Sceptic tank = one where you look in and say " I don't BELIEVE IT"?

 

I recall carrying out a drain test on a house many years ago, the owner was standing close by as we lifted the manhole - it was full of 'Yes you've got it right' the owner exclaimed 'That's my son'. A warm feeling came over us, feeling we had re-united parent with long lost offspring.

 

Leo

[mayalld]

Clearly it is

 

No, really it isn't.

 

Everybody who actually understands it is saying the same thing, namely that septic tanks can't cope with self pump-out.

 

You, despite your admission that you don't understand, blithely assert that it shouldn't be a problem.

 

That isn't an opinion, that is simply being wrong.

[Naughty Cal]

No, really it isn't.

 

Everybody who actually understands it is saying the same thing, namely that septic tanks can't cope with self pump-out.

 

You, despite your admission that you don't understand, blithely assert that it shouldn't be a problem.

 

That isn't an opinion, that is simply being wrong.

 

A septic tank that cant cope with shit. Now theres something fit for purpose.

 

Is it just that when you want to empty your crap canister that the point is full. Is that where your problem lies?

[jenlyn]

Afternoon all,

 

I tried to pump out by toilet tank at the weekend (with two children on board) and without much success (to cries of 'the poo machine has broken'!!). I suspect that there was a blockage in the suction pipe (I was using a dodgy BW one) - maybe because my girlfriend uses lots of loo paper (yes, I use the poor quality stuff) and doesn't drink enough!. I am considering buying a self-pump out machine (cheaper in the long run, more reliable etc). I have the following questions for my immediate dilemma and for the longer term:

 

1) Why am I using so many brackets (when writing)

2) Is there anything I can do (apart from adding more liquid/hand removing the more solid material) to enable me to empty the tank? Maybe a chemical?

3) Does anyone have experience of self-pump out machines? Where is the best place to buy them? Best type? Other tips...etc.

 

Once again,

 

Thanks in advance for any comments and help.

 

Thanks,

 

Ben

[mayalld]

A septic tank that cant cope with shit. Now theres something fit for purpose.

 

Is it just that when you want to empty your crap canister that the point is full. Is that where your problem lies?

 

Oh do go back and read it again.

 

It can cope with shit, provided that it arrives in a sufficiently small quantity, and at intervals. It cannot cope with suddenly being presented with a few hundred litres at a time.

 

And no, it isn't about it being "full" when I want to use it. It is about the fact that abusing the facility like this stops it working completely.

 

Now, feel free to continue this line of argument, because you are looking VERY silly.

[jenlyn]

Afternoon all,

 

I tried to pump out by toilet tank at the weekend (with two children on board) and without much success (to cries of 'the poo machine has broken'!!). I suspect that there was a blockage in the suction pipe (I was using a dodgy BW one) - maybe because my girlfriend uses lots of loo paper (yes, I use the poor quality stuff) and doesn't drink enough!. I am considering buying a self-pump out machine (cheaper in the long run, more reliable etc). I have the following questions for my immediate dilemma and for the longer term:

 

1) Why am I using so many brackets (when writing)

2) Is there anything I can do (apart from adding more liquid/hand removing the more solid material) to enable me to empty the tank? Maybe a chemical?

3) Does anyone have experience of self-pump out machines? Where is the best place to buy them? Best type? Other tips...etc.

 

Once again,

 

Thanks in advance for any comments and help.

 

Thanks,

 

Ben

 

jabsco pump (£90) wire and switch (£10) collapsable pipe (£18) 40 litre aqua roll (£29), no mess and no different to emptying a cassette!!

[Naughty Cal]

Oh do go back and read it again.

 

It can cope with shit, provided that it arrives in a sufficiently small quantity, and at intervals. It cannot cope with suddenly being presented with a few hundred litres at a time.

 

And no, it isn't about it being "full" when I want to use it. It is about the fact that abusing the facility like this stops it working completely.

 

Now, feel free to continue this line of argument, because you are looking VERY silly.

 

Until BW see fit to completely ban the use of self pump out kits, and where there are no signs stating that they can not be used, then the users of self pump out kits are doing nothing wrong.

 

Im sure you can find some Bye law to the contrary or that you can twist around to back up your theory.