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Water, Fresh and Otherwise

OverA thesummary yearsof wecamp have constantly revisedwater and updated the way we handle water in camp. We're not there yet, but it's getting better every year!

How much water are we using?

In 2024 we used 2305 gallons of fresh water in camp (6.2 gallons per camper per day) as follows:

1000
gallons used in the kitchen
600
gallons used for canteen filling and drinks
454
gallons used for showers and toilets
251
gallons used in RV and for build

We generated at least 1000 gallons of grey water from the kitchen, and I'm estimating 600 gallons of grey and black water in the gayflower (we had no way of measuring that).
plumbing.

Fresh Water Sources

TankCapacity (gal) 
Refills Available?Used in 20242025 Plans
Gayflower Tanks1990No1000 for kitchen
454 for showers		Expand to 2,330
Build Team RV176Yes251 for build RVPreorder 2 refills
SSS Tank500Yes600 for canteensPreorder 2 refills; use for kitchen



2305 total
6.2 gal per camper day
Gayflower Tanks - Details

WhereAs doesof fresh2024 the Gayflower has 7 IBC totes. Three in the front hold 330 gallons each. Four in the back hold 250 gallons each. 

In Spring 2025 we plan to replace those totes with clean, new 330 gallon totes so we will have a capacity of 2,330.

The totes are filled in Gerlach for about $0.50 per gallon by Empire Storage and Rental (Andy "Fixxer" Owens) who store the Gayflower.

  • Do not use other water comesources in from?the area such as Empire or other wells. They usually have sulphuric water due to the hot springs which doesn't taste great.

The gayflower tanks are directly plumbed to provide showers, toilets, and sinks in the Gayflower, however, there is also an option to hook up hoses. In 2024 we used the bright green hose to fill the tank in the Food Fort.

  1. Build Team RV Fresh Water - Details

    The build team RV has a large fresh tank thatwhich holds about 176 gallons.gallons of water.

    We usually fill that in Reno at the GSR RV Resort (where we stay for one night before driving up.)

    We can also get it refilled on playa by pre-ordering from Sierra Site ServicesServices.

    can
    also
    fillSSS this for a flat rate of $180.
  2. The Gayflower, as of 2024, has seven IBC tanks for a total of 1990 gallons
    1. Three in front hold 330 gallons each
    2. Four in back hold 250 gallons each
    3. The tanks in back need to be replaced because they stink of their previous fruit juice contents
    4. They can be filled in Gerlach or Empire for about 50 cents a gallon. Don't fill up in EmpireTank - thatDetails water tastes like sulphur, it smells of rotten eggs, and people don't like to drink it or even shower with it. The official water from the Gerlach General Improvement District is good.

  3. We can rent a 500 gallon tank from Sierra Site Services for $1397 including OSS fees which comes filled, with a pump and a 15' hose. AdditionalThey fillsbring it and fill it up, and they can come back to refill it.

    In 2024 this tank was only used for canteen filling.

    In 2025 the plan is to use it for the kitchen and possibly canteen filling.

    There are $2other vendors besides Sierra Site Services, but we had terrible experiences with Meco in 2023 and SSS has been absolutely amazing.

    Waste Water

    Did you know: "Grey Water" refers to water from sinks and showers which has come in contact with humans and is unsafe to reuse or evaporate. "Black Water" refers to water from toilets which is even worse.

    TankCapacity (gal) 
    		Pumpouts Available?Used in 20242025 Plans
    Gayflower Black Tanks1250No500
    Gayflower Grey Tanks1250No1000
    Build Team RV Black100Yes (flag a truck)150 
    Build Team RV Grey100Can be sump pumped to Gayflower200
    SSS Tank250Yes

    1000

    mostly from kitchen and neighbors

    		Preorder 3 pumpouts; use for kitchen



    		2850 total
    Gayflower Grey and Black Tanks - Details

    Under the floor of the Gayflower are 10 (ten) 250 gallon tanks. The ones on the driver side are all plumbed together and hold black water from the toilets. The ones on the passenger side are all plumbed together and hold grey water from showers and sinks.

    During the week we often use a sump pump or water bug to pump excess grey water from somewhere else (kitchen, RV) into the Gayflower since it has so much capacity. In 2024 we pumped this into the grey water side, but in 2025 we should pump it into the black water side since that side has so much more capacity.

    RV Tanks

    The Build Team RV has two tanks, probably about 100 gallons each, for grey and black water.

    You can theoretically flag down a USS truck at Burning Man which will pump them out for some cash per(in gallon.2024 we didn't see many of those trucks)

    You can also sump pump excess water to the Gayflower.

    After the burn you can dump them at the GSR in Reno (if we're staying there), the TA Travel Center in Sparks, or at the Loves in Fernley. 

    SSS Grey Water tastesTank great- Details

    We can rent a 250 gallon grey water tank from SSS which is a low cube. They will come and servicepump isthis amazing.

    4. out during the week (if paid in advance).

    In 2024 was used primarily for the kitchen, but some neighboring camps who had not made arrangements for grey water also dumped their grey water in there. We filled it 4 times. 

    In 2025 it will again be used exclusively for the kitchen.

     

    Grey Water Disposal

    Where does grey water go?

    1. The build team RV has a grey water tank that holds about 75 gallons. We usually dump that in Reno at the GSR RV Resort (where we stay for one night.)
      1. This tank needs to be emptied a couple of times during the burn. In 2024 we figured out a method to hand pump it out to the Gayflower. You can theoretically flag down "RV Pumpout" trucks at the event but I didn't see any of those in 2024.
    2. The Gayflower has five 250 gallon grey water tanks. In 2024 they were almost completely filled up.
    3. We can rent a 250 gallon tank from Sierra Site Services for an additional $250 and they will charge $375 each time to pump it out.

    Black Water Disposal

    If you flush the toilets in the Gayflower, it goes into the Gayflower's five 250 gallon black water tanks. In 2024 they were approximately half full.

    Vendors

    Sierra Site Services
    Office: 888-458-8777 
    Mobile: 530-957-5049 Contact there is Michelle Haley <michelle@sierrasiteservices.com> and they have an office on playa.

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