Motorhome waste point
Just back from Stonehaven club site. Excellent site all round and very well maintained by the wardens 👍.
While at the above site on the day of departure I noticed 2 motorhomes drive over the motorhome waste point and started to empty there waste water with the drain cover still closed. When I empty my waste water at the drain I lift off the drain cover to let the water go straight into the drain then replace the drain cover when finished.
What is the correct procedure when there is no grid and it’s a wast point with a cover over it?
I also had a polite word with a gentleman whom had lifted the waste point drain cover and emptied his toilet waste down the waste drain 🤔.
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The covers need to be lifted otherwise the waste water floods the area and may not drain away. These older drains are gradually being replaced with the easier to use drive over grids.
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Must admit I am very grateful for the newer drive over grids, i was finding some of the drain covers harder to lift these days(new heart valve and bad back). Much easier to position over too, seen many in almost impossible places to get a vans drain hose over...much better , be glad when they are all done. Drain covers are often airtight, so not lifting them is not an option...sadly.
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I have seen people do that so you are not alone. However it might hide a problem with people being able to open those drain covers. I struggle and purchased a long handled drain puller from Ebay. It would help if the Club attached a knotted rope pull which would make it easier to remove the drain but I suspect that might be a H&S issue as it might become a trip hazard?
David
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The ones I have encountered have a lip on the lid which requires lifting the whole thing to be able to drag it clear.
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They are certainly awkward. Our van has the waste half way along the side. Therefore driving past and then moving back a foot, as I've seen those with outlets on the rear doing, is not an option. I find lifting the lid, which is partially under the van, can be a challenge. Particularly as you have just driven over it. Using the flexible extension supplied is an option, but can mean the van is then obstructing traffic.
Roll on the roll out of the new grids.😀
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David, more likely to be Health & Safety because for the last 47 years I'm aware of, lifting heavy loads - and these lids are heavy for some - requires a straight back and your legs taking the strain - usually by bending at the knees and then straitening out as you rise. There is a growing risk that as membership grows, especially the retirees who often buy motorhomes, somebody is going to have a serious back injury lifting the lid.
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Yes I remember my H&S training and training others. The trouble is that 12 years after finishing work my body doesn't always comply with the training!!! It does make you wonder if the Club have actually done an H&S assessment of the dangers of lifting heavy drain covers? Its good to see the gradually introduction of the open grills but it does really need speeding up.
David
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Steve, our outlet is just behind the rear offside wheel, so a tad easier than yours, but the pipe will send the water sideways so would land neatly into an open hole when parked alongside. this makes it easier to lift the lid, though even then they are awkward to manage. like you, we also have an extension hose to ise if necessary.
if it means causing a short obstruction, then so be it....I'm not trying to lift these things when (I'm) not sensibly positioned....a pulled muscle (or worse) waiting to happen....
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I agree with you, BB. We need to stop where it’s best to make sensible use of the drain, including lifting the cover, which often means going the wrong way on club sites (both clubs) or stopping in an inconvenient way. So be it.
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This is one of the two grates (the other is to the right of this grate) at the Motorhome point at Chatsworth.
Correct positioning is required, the grate itself isn't too heavy but dodgy knees don't help us older Members.
When, or if, a full length grate is implemented it will be much appreciated - on all sites.
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That’s pretty appalling, K&M, and I note the lack of manoeuvring space.😣
I’ve used the new drive over grids at Chester Fairoaks. It’s a vast improvement with no lids to lift.
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I altered the way our waste water was emptied, it was a central outlet, by adding a flexible pipe to allow about 5 - 6 feet of 'wriggle' room.
The Clumber and Poolsbrook sites have the full width grates and are a vast improvement on Chatsworth.
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Ours has a pipe very similar to that as a standard fitting and it does help.
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