• Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Ask a Question
  • Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Ask a Question
home/Knowledge Base/Boondocking Tips/Flushing the Toilet with Shower Water
Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree

Flushing the Toilet with Shower Water

2515 views 6 October 24, 2019 Updated on June 5, 2022

Flushing the toilet with shower water is something many full time boondockers do to help conserve water use. They usually use a large plastic storage tub to capture shower water while showering. Before using the toilet, they will turn off the water pump so that it will not draw from their water tank.

Boondocking at Canyon Ferry Lake, Montana

Flushing the Toilet with Shower Water

Boondockers will use a large plastic tub or plastic storage bin to stand in the shower with. They use this to capture water when showering, and prevent it from draining into their gray tank. See our other article, “How to Take a Shower When Boondocking“.

When pooping, they’ll pour some of that used shower water into the toilet to flush it down. Because an RV toilet is designed to automatically draw fresh water while pressing the flush lever, boondockers will turn off the water pump before flushing.

Add Water Into the Toilet Bowl Before Pooping

Before pooping,  pour some water into the toilet bowl. Having this pool of water for the poop will prevent it from sticking to the bowl. Poop that sticks to the bowl will often require more water to clean it all down. This is just a way to limit the amount of water you’re pouring into the black tank.

Create a Pool of Pee for Pooping

Some boondockers will avoid flushing the toilet when peeing. This will create a pool for the poop when Number 2 finally comes around. This also creates a urine smell in the bathroom, but that can be mitigated if your RV has a vent fan in the bathroom.

Do not leave pee in the toilet for more than 12 hours. Standing urine will eventually create ammonia, and that will create a much more foul odor than you can imagine. Also, allowing urine to remain standing for that long will create mineral deposits on the toilet bowl, making it more difficult to keep clean.

Read our other article, “Can I Still Flush the Toilet When Boondocking?”

Other Ways to Use Reclaimed Shower Water

  • To drown a campfire
  • Water house plants
  • Wash dishes
  • Wash clothes
  • Wash your vehicle
Tags:ShoweringToiletGray Water

Was this helpful?

6 Yes  No
Related Articles
  • 30 Tips to Make Your RV’s Water Tank Last for a Month
  • 10 Tips for Boondocking at High Altitude
  • 8 Stargazing Tips While Camping
  • How to Prevent Condensation Inside an RV
  • Are Composting Toilets Allowed in LTVAs?
  • Where to Take a Shower When You Live in a Car?
Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Boondocking Tips
  • Flushing the Toilet with Shower Water
  • How to Keep Bugs From Getting Into Your RV
  • How Can I Stay Cool When Boondocking?
  • How to Find an RV Dump Station with Potable Water
  • How Do I Know if RV Dump Station Water is Potable?
  • How Can I Make Water Safer To Drink?
View All 27  
Popular Articles
  • Is it Illegal to Live in a Tent in Your Backyard?
  • What Do the Different Colors Mean on Google Maps?
  • Can I Run My RV Air Conditioner on Battery Power?
  • How Many Solar Panels Do I Need for Boondocking?
  • Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands
KB Categories
  • Boondocking Water and Sewage
  • Overnight Parking
  • Getting Started With Boondocking
  • Boondocking Electrical
  • Costs
  • Boondocking Tips
  • How to Find Boondocking Sites
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Outfitting Your RV
  • Idaho Department of Transportation
  • Boondocking Safety
  • Boondocking Myths
  • Where to Find Boondocking
  • Boondocking in National Forests
  • Boondocking in National Parks
  • Boondocking Etiquette
  • Boondocking Rules
  • Boondocking on BLM Land
  • Boondocking on National Wildlife Refuges
  • Boondocking on Bureau of Reclamation Lands
  • Boondocking and Off-Road Vehicles

boondocking trailers

  Can I Dump Grey Water Anywhere?

How to Take a Shower when Boondocking  

boondockers bible logo

We answer your questions about Boondocking, Free Camping, and Overnight Parking using facts and actual experiences. Dispell the myths of boondocking and arm yourself with the laws and truths. Elevate your RVing and car-camping and become a boondocker!

Useful Help Links
  • Weekly Boondocking Series
  • About Us
  • Ask a Question
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • © 2019-2022 Too Much Tina. All Rights Reserved.

Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree