Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
We’re told not to dump our grey water wherever we like… but after one of the driest summers on record, we noticed something that made us question why.
Three patches of our field stayed green while everything around them turned brown, and all three had one thing in common: our grey water.
So we started looking into the rules around grey water disposal in the UK, what’s actually in the water going down our drains, the facilities available to vanlifers, and how things compare with parts of Europe.
This isn’t about encouraging people to dump grey water wherever they want. It’s about asking whether the conversation is more nuanced than it sometimes appears, especially when we’re also being encouraged to conserve water.
What do you think? Should there be more nuance around grey water, or are strict rules across the board the best way to protect the environment?
And if you’ve travelled Europe in a campervan or motorhome, we’d love to hear how you think the facilities compare.
Stay groovy ✌️
Harley, Adam & Willow 🐾
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Met Office: Historic July sees record dryness, unprecedented sunshine and exceptional warmth
metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2026/historic-july-sees-record-dryness-unprecedented-sunshine-and-exceptional-warmth
Environment Agency: Motorhome wastewater and protecting waterways
environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2021/08/18/wilder-for-water-a-new-forest-project-to-champion-cleaner-water
GOV.UK: Discharges to surface water and groundwater, environmental permits
gov.uk/guidance/discharges-to-surface-water-and-groundwater-environmental-permits
GOV.UK: Vehicle washing, effluent and run-off
gov.uk/guidance/prevent-groundwater-pollution-from-underground-fuel-storage-tanks/using-an-underground-storage-tank
Department for Transport: Brake and tyre wear emissions
gov.uk/government/publications/measurement-of-emissions-from-brake-and-tyre-wear
CAMpRA: Motorhome Aires and UK service-point information
campra.org.uk/faqs
campra.org.uk/aires-info
IMAGE CREDITS
Clermont-Ferrand motorhome service area, France
Elgaard / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aire_camping-car_Clermont-Ferrand_service_area.jpg
Salin-de-Giraud motorhome water point, France
Elgaard / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aire_de_camping-car_de_Salin-de-Giraud_water_point.jpg
#VanLife #UKVanLife #Motorhome
We’re told not to dump our grey water wherever we like… but after one of the driest summers on record, we noticed something that made us question why.
Three patches of our field stayed green while everything around them turned brown, and all three had one thing in common: our grey water.
So we started looking into the rules around grey water disposal in the UK, what’s actually in the water going down our drains, the facilities available to vanlifers, and how things compare with parts of Europe.
This isn’t about encouraging people to dump grey water wherever they want. It’s about asking whether the conversation is more nuanced than it sometimes appears, especially when we’re also being encouraged to conserve water.
What do you think? Should there be more nuance around grey water, or are strict rules across the board the best way to protect the environment?
And if you’ve travelled Europe in a campervan or motorhome, we’d love to hear how you think the facilities compare.
Stay groovy ✌️
Harley, Adam & Willow 🐾
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Met Office: Historic July sees record dryness, unprecedented sunshine and exceptional warmth
metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2026/historic-july-sees-record-dryness-unprecedented-sunshine-and-exceptional-warmth
Environment Agency: Motorhome wastewater and protecting waterways
environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2021/08/18/wilder-for-water-a-new-forest-project-to-champion-cleaner-water
GOV.UK: Discharges to surface water and groundwater, environmental permits
gov.uk/guidance/discharges-to-surface-water-and-groundwater-environmental-permits
GOV.UK: Vehicle washing, effluent and run-off
gov.uk/guidance/prevent-groundwater-pollution-from-underground-fuel-storage-tanks/using-an-underground-storage-tank
Department for Transport: Brake and tyre wear emissions
gov.uk/government/publications/measurement-of-emissions-from-brake-and-tyre-wear
CAMpRA: Motorhome Aires and UK service-point information
campra.org.uk/faqs
campra.org.uk/aires-info
IMAGE CREDITS
Clermont-Ferrand motorhome service area, France
Elgaard / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aire_camping-car_Clermont-Ferrand_service_area.jpg
Salin-de-Giraud motorhome water point, France
Elgaard / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aire_de_camping-car_de_Salin-de-Giraud_water_point.jpg
#VanLife #UKVanLife #Motorhome
