How to Manage Grey Water in a Campervan

If you're planning a van conversion, one of the questions that comes up early is whether to fit a sink at all — and if so, what to do about waste water. Here's a straightforward guide to managing grey water in a campervan.

What is grey water?

Grey water is the waste water from your sink (as opposed to black water, which comes from toilets). In a campervan, grey water typically comes from washing hands, rinsing cups, and light food prep. It's relatively clean compared to black water but still needs to be dealt with responsibly.

Option 1: Drain to a pipe and external container

The simplest setup is to run a waste pipe from your sink through the floor of the van into a container mounted underneath. This container needs to be emptied regularly at a grey water dump point — most campsites have these, as do many motorway services and motorhome stopovers.

Option 2: Built-in waste tank

A sink with a built-in waste tank is a neat, self-contained solution. The waste pipe from the sink feeds directly into a tank (usually 10 litres) that sits beneath the sink unit inside the van. No external plumbing required — just empty the tank at a dump point when it's full. This is ideal for stealth camping or builds where you don't want anything hanging underneath the van.

Option 3: Connect to mains drainage at a campsite

If you spend most of your time on sites with full hook-ups, you can run a pipe directly to the site's grey water drain. This is the most convenient option if you're a site-based traveller, but it limits your freedom to wild camp.

How often do I need to empty the tank?

A 10-litre waste tank typically lasts 1–3 days for one or two people using the sink for light tasks. If you're cooking regularly or washing dishes, you'll need to empty it more frequently.

Where can I empty grey water?

Grey water should always be emptied at a designated dump point, not poured into hedgerows or public drains. Most campsites, motorhome aires, and many service stations have grey water disposal facilities. Apps like Park4Night and Campercontact can help you find disposal points near you.

Our stainless steel campervan sinks are available with or without waste tanks in sizes from 26cm to 34cm. All made brand new in England and dispatched within 1 working day.