RV & Car Camping Wastewater Guide: Portable Toilet & Dump Station Rules
- 1Wastewater generated during RV, caravan, and car camping is classified into graywater (sink and shower runoff) and blackwater (toilet sewage).
- 2Illegally dumping wastewater into streams, storm sewer manholes, or public park restroom sinks/urinals violates Korea's Water Environment Conservation Act and Sewerage Act, carrying severe penalties of up to 2 years imprisonment or fines up to 20,000,000 KRW.
- 3Blackwater must strictly be emptied into certified campsite dump stations connected to municipal sewage systems or into residential flush toilets.
- ✓Portable cassette toilets must be vented with the air relief button to prevent splashing, followed by rinsing and dosing with eco-friendly chemical breakdown agents (Aqua Kem) to neutralize odors.
Follow these steps
- 1
Step 1 (Pre-Dosing Tank with Chemical Breakdown Agents): Add 1–2 liters of water and 50–100ml of certified holding tank digestant (such as Aqua Kem Blue/Green) into the empty waste cassette to liquefy solids and toilet paper while neutralizing methane gas.
- 2
Step 2 (Selecting a Legitimate Dump Station or Home Toilet): Transport the sealed cassette exclusively to an authorized municipal/campsite dump station (verifiable via GoCamping dump directory) connected to sewage mains, or to your residential bathroom toilet—never into street storm drains, streams, or public urinal basins.
- 3
Step 3 (Splash-Free Emptying via Air Release Valve): Wear waterproof gloves, uncap the rotating discharge spout directly over the sewer hole, and press the air vent release button with your thumb to allow smooth, splash-free glug-less drainage.
- 4
Step 4 (Multi-Rinse Tank Flushing & Site Sanitation): Fill the waste tank with clean water from the non-potable rinse hose, agitate thoroughly, and dump 2–3 times until the rinse water runs clear; spray down the drain rim and concrete apron to leave the station immaculate.
- 5
Step 5 (Rubber Seal Lubrication & Fresh Rinse Refill): Spray silicone lubricant onto the rubber slider blade seal to prevent brittleness and seal leaks, then refill the upper flush reservoir with fresh water and flush fluid.
Frequently asked question
Is it acceptable to empty portable camping toilets in highway rest stop or national park public restrooms?
Public restrooms are shared high-traffic facilities where dumping large blackwater tanks causes severe odor nuisance and splash contamination; park management strictly bans tank transport into public facilities. Sinks and urinals (30–50mm pipes) instantly clog. Always use designated RV dump stations or wait until returning home to empty into your private toilet.
Can graywater from camper sinks and showers be drained onto dirt or grass at dispersed campsites?
No, never. Graywater contains food oils, grease, and surfactants that cause soil acidification, pest infestation, and severe river eutrophication. Korean sewerage law treats graywater as regulated municipal wastewater, requiring full containment in holding tanks until discharged at legal dump stations.
Are chemical holding tank digestants like Aqua Kem safe for residential septic tanks and municipal sewers?
Genuine certified RV breakdown additives (Thetford Aqua Kem Green/Blue) use formaldehyde-free formulations engineered to remain biologically compatible with sewage treatment plants and septic microbes. However, pouring raw chlorine bleach into cassette tanks is strictly prohibited as it destroys septic flora and releases noxious chloramine gas.
Where can campers find verified RV dump station locations across South Korea?
The Korea Tourism Organization's official GoCamping Dump Station directory (https://www.gocamping.or.kr/camp/dump/list.do) provides an authoritative, searchable database of certified campsite dump stations across South Korea, including exact addresses and facility amenities. Additionally, public auto-campgrounds and specialized RV community mobile maps provide real-time locations and fee policies (typically ₩5,000–₩10,000 or complimentary for overnight guests).