How to Use Sullage Hose at a Caravan Park

A good campsite setup should let you get on with the enjoyable parts of travelling - putting the kettle on, settling into your chair and planning tomorrow’s drive. Knowing how to use sullage hose properly is a small but essential part of that. It keeps grey water contained, helps protect caravan park facilities and saves you from the unpleasant surprise of water pooling beneath the van.

Sullage water is the wastewater from your sink, shower and washing-up. It is not toilet waste, but it can still contain food scraps, grease, soap and bacteria. For that reason, it needs to go into the site’s designated sullage point or drain, never onto the ground, into a stormwater drain or down a bush track.

Start by finding the correct drain point

Before unrolling a hose, check where your site’s sullage connection is located. Many powered caravan sites have a small grated drain, a standpipe or a dedicated inlet near the rear or side of the slab. Others may direct several sites to a shared disposal point.

If it is not obvious, ask park staff before setting up. Caravan parks can have different arrangements, and following the local instructions matters more than assuming every site works the same way. Some parks may require a sealed fitting, while others have a ground-level grate designed for a hose to sit above it.

Do not confuse the sullage point with a potable water tap or a chemical toilet dump point. Keep the hose and its fittings well away from drinking-water connections at all times.

Set up a clean, downhill hose run

Once you have found the drain point, connect the sullage hose to your caravan, motorhome or campervan’s grey-water outlet. Check that the connection is firm before turning on the sink tap or using the shower. A loose join may only reveal itself after a bucket’s worth of water has run through it.

Unroll only the length you need and run the hose gradually downhill towards the drain. Water will not travel reliably through a hose that rises over a wheel, loops across a high point or is crushed under a mat. If the ground is uneven, take a moment to reposition the hose rather than hoping the flow will sort itself out.

A hose reel makes this job much easier, particularly on longer stays. It keeps the hose tidy during setup, reduces kinks and helps prevent the inside of the van from becoming a storage spot for a wet, dirty coil. Australian-made reel systems are especially handy when you are moving regularly and want a setup that is quick to pack away.

Keep the hose clear of walkways, vehicle tracks and your neighbour’s site. If it must cross near a path, make sure it is visible and positioned as safely as possible. A sullage hose is easy to trip over, especially in the evening when people are heading to amenities blocks.

Make sure the end stays in place

The hose end should sit securely in or directly over the designated drain so water cannot splash out or work its way across the slab. Some travellers use a simple weighted hose support or a suitable drain adaptor where the park’s fitting calls for one.

Avoid forcing a hose tightly into a drain opening unless it is designed for that purpose. The goal is controlled drainage, not a makeshift seal that could back up or be difficult to remove. If the drain seems blocked or water begins pooling, stop using the outlet and let the park office know.

Use your onboard plumbing with care

With the hose connected, use the sink and shower as you normally would, but be mindful of what enters the grey-water system. Scrape plates into the rubbish before washing them, and avoid tipping cooking oil, coffee grounds or leftover food down the sink. These materials can build up in your tank and hose, and they make shared park drains harder for everyone to use.

A sink strainer is a modest addition that prevents food scraps entering the drain. It is particularly worthwhile on extended trips, when small daily amounts of debris can quickly create odours or slow drainage.

If your RV has a grey-water tank rather than a direct outlet, check whether the tank valve needs to remain closed until there is enough volume to drain. The right approach depends on the vehicle’s plumbing and the park’s rules. Some travellers prefer to empty the tank periodically through the sullage hose, while others leave a controlled outlet open where their system is designed for it.

Never leave a connection unattended the first time you use it on a new site. Run a little water through the system and inspect both ends of the hose. A two-minute check is far easier than cleaning up a leak later.

Keep smells and blockages under control

Sullage hoses work hard in warm Australian conditions. Soap residue, grease and trapped food particles can create odours, particularly after several days in one place. Rinsing the system regularly is the simplest answer.

After washing dishes, run a little clean water through the sink. Before packing up, give the hose a more thorough flush using clean water from the onboard system. This helps clear residue before the hose is rolled away. Purpose-made grey-water tank and drain cleaners can also be useful, provided they suit your RV plumbing and are used according to the directions.

Do not use harsh household chemicals simply because they are on hand. Some may affect seals, hoses or wastewater systems, and caravan parks may have specific restrictions due to their onsite treatment arrangements.

Watch for slow drainage

Slow drainage usually comes down to one of three things: a kinked hose, an uphill section or a blocked outlet. Start by checking the hose path from the RV to the drain. Straighten bends, remove low loops that have filled with water and ensure the discharge point is lower than the outlet where possible.

If the hose is flowing freely but the drain itself is backing up, do not try to clear it with a stick, chemical or high-pressure blast. It is park infrastructure, and staff need to deal with it safely.

Packing down without making a mess

Pack-down is where a little routine pays off. First, stop using water inside the RV and allow the hose to drain fully. Lift the hose gently from the vehicle end towards the drain end, encouraging any remaining water to flow into the sullage point rather than onto the site.

Disconnect carefully, keeping the hose end pointed away from your shoes and campsite gear. If your hose has caps or end covers, fit them before coiling it. This keeps drips contained and prevents dirt, insects and leaves getting inside while it is stored.

A dedicated storage bag, sealed tub or hose reel compartment is preferable to placing a used sullage hose beside fresh-water hoses and drinking-water fittings. Keeping these items separate is good campsite hygiene and makes your next setup more straightforward.

At RV Options, we recommend treating your sullage gear as essential touring equipment, not an afterthought. A dependable hose and a practical reel can make a real difference when you are arriving late, leaving early or staying put for a week.

A few common mistakes to avoid

Most sullage problems are easily prevented. Do not run the hose across a roadway where it can be driven over, and do not allow it to discharge onto grass, gravel or neighbouring sites. Even where water appears clear, it is still wastewater.

Also avoid using a damaged hose with splits, brittle sections or unreliable fittings. A temporary repair may get you through a night, but it is worth replacing tired equipment before a long trip. Check your hose at home before heading away, particularly if it has been stored for months over summer.

Finally, respect the park’s conditions. Some remote camps and national park areas do not offer sullage disposal at individual sites, while others require grey water to be contained in a tank. Your usual setup may need to change depending on where you are staying.

A clean sullage setup is one of those quiet habits that makes life on the road more comfortable for everyone. Set the hose with care, keep it flowing downhill and pack it away cleanly, then you can spend less time dealing with wastewater and more time enjoying the stop.