One of the less glamorous but absolutely essential parts of caravanning is managing waste water—also known as grey water. Whether you’re setting up at a powered site for a week or just pulling in overnight, you’ll need to know how to connect a sullage hose properly. Get it wrong and you could end up with smells, backflow or even fines from the park manager.
For first-time buyers looking at caravans in Heatherbrae, sullage might sound like plumbing jargon—but it’s simply about where your waste water goes after it drains from your sink, shower or washing machine.
Let’s walk through the entire process—step-by-step—and dig into what matters most when setting up your caravan’s waste water system the right way.
What Is a Sullage Hose and Why Does It Matter?
A sullage hose is a flexible pipe designed to carry grey water from your caravan to an approved drainage point. Unlike drinking water hoses, these hoses are typically ribbed, dark in colour and wider in diameter to handle light food scraps, soap residue and hair.
Grey water includes runoff from:
- Kitchen sinks
- Bathroom basins
- Showers
- Washing machines (if fitted)
Managing sullage isn’t just about cleanliness—it’s also about being a good neighbour at the caravan park. Dumping waste water improperly can attract fines or get you kicked out. In national parks or bush camps, it’s a matter of environmental responsibility too.
Choosing the Right Sullage Hose for Your Setup
Not all hoses are created equal. The right sullage hose depends on the size and design of your caravan, the type of sink/shower system you’re using and how often you move sites.
Here’s what to look for when choosing a sullage hose:
- Length: A 10–15 metre hose is typical, but many travellers carry two to allow for different park layouts.
- Diameter: 25–32mm is the standard range, with 32mm giving better flow and less chance of blockage.
- Flexibility: Look for UV-stabilised, corrugated hoses that won’t kink or crack in the sun.
- Storage: Make sure it coils easily and doesn’t take up half your front boot.
If your van has multiple outlets—say, one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom—you may need a Y-piece adaptor to connect both to a single hose.
Step-by-Step: How To Connect a Sullage Hose Properly
Connecting a sullage hose is simple once you know the steps. Here’s how to do it cleanly and effectively every time:
- Locate the grey water outlet under your caravan. It’s usually a small PVC pipe sticking out near the rear or under the kitchen/bathroom.
- Attach the hose firmly to the outlet. Some setups use push-on fittings, others may have threaded attachments or quick-connect systems.
- Run the hose to the designated drainage point. Avoid steep inclines or kinks—gravity is your friend here.
- Elevate the hose slightly using ramps or support cradles if the ground is uneven. This prevents pooling and allows smoother flow.
- Flush the hose with clean water when packing up. A quick rinse keeps smells and gunk at bay during storage.
Remember—some caravan parks have very specific rules about sullage. Always follow signage or ask the manager if unsure.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Up Sullage
Sullage may seem straightforward, but it’s one of those areas where small errors can cause big problems. Here’s what to avoid:
- Using drinking water hose as sullage—this contaminates your fresh water supply.
- Letting the hose sit flat—creates backflow and pooling.
- Ignoring clogs or slow drainage—a sign your hose needs cleaning or has collapsed internally.
- Draining into gardens or under the van—against park rules and bad form environmentally.
If you’re in a tight space, consider carrying a second, shorter hose for tricky sites. Also, a simple grey water deodoriser added weekly can make a big difference to odour.
Tips for Keeping Your Sullage System Clean and Smell-Free
Nobody wants their site to smell like a footpath after rain. Here’s how to keep things fresh:
- Flush the hose weekly with a few litres of clean water.
- Add bi-carb soda or grey water tank treatment monthly to break down residue.
- Store the hose away from food prep items—even a cleaned sullage hose can carry bacteria.
- Keep caps on both ends when not in use to prevent leakage or pests.
For longer trips, some travellers even carry a spare sullage hose in case the main one splits or becomes too gunked up to use. It’s a low-cost insurance option for peace of mind.
Example Setup: Efficient Sullage at a Powered Caravan Park
Let’s take a typical setup: Jane and Dave are staying at a powered site on the NSW South Coast. Their 20-foot van has separate outlets for kitchen and bathroom waste. Using a Y-connector and a 15m 32mm sullage hose, they’ve linked both outlets into one run that feeds to the park’s grey water drain.
They’ve raised the hose on a slight incline using small collapsible ramps. This keeps water flowing smoothly without pooling, and means they don’t need to manually empty the hose every few days.
Before packing up, they flush the hose with a jug of clean water, disconnect it and coil it into a plastic crate with drainage holes. No smell, no fuss—and no angry neighbours.
Bush Camping? Here’s How to Handle Sullage Responsibly
When free camping or staying in national parks, you likely won’t have a sullage drain. But that doesn’t mean you can dump waste water anywhere. Here’s the responsible approach:
- Use a grey water bladder or bucket to catch waste from your hose outlet.
- Empty grey water away from creeks or campsites, following local regulations.
- Use biodegradable soaps and cleaners to minimise environmental impact.
- Avoid forming puddles that attract insects or damage the ground.
More off-grid caravans are now being fitted with onboard grey water tanks, which store sullage until it can be disposed of properly. It’s a wise upgrade if you do a lot of remote travel.
Do You Need a Grey Water Tank to Connect a Sullage Hose?
You don’t need a grey water tank to connect a sullage hose—most caravans simply drain grey water directly through the hose to an external outlet. But there are cases where a tank is helpful or even mandatory.
Some caravan parks require fully self-contained setups, which means storing grey water rather than draining it onsite. Similarly, some national parks or free camps have “no discharge” policies for environmental reasons.
Grey water tanks:
- Give you flexibility when travelling remotely
- Help meet legal requirements in sensitive areas
- Reduce your environmental footprint
They’re usually plumbed into the van with their own drainage valve, allowing you to empty them when convenient. If you’re not ready to install a tank, a temporary bladder is a good stepping stone.
Future Trends: Smarter Sullage and Eco-Friendly Design
As caravan design continues to evolve, sullage systems are getting smarter. Some emerging trends include:
- Retractable hose reels to avoid tangles and leaks
- Inline grey water filters to reduce odour and improve flow
- Smart tank monitors that alert you when it’s time to empty
Manufacturers are also exploring compostable or fully biodegradable grey water systems for off-grid travel. In the meantime, improving your sullage habits is a small but powerful way to travel cleaner and more responsibly.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a sullage hose and a drinking water hose?
The main difference lies in purpose and material. A drinking water hose is designed to deliver clean, potable water and is made from food-grade plastic. It’s typically blue or white and marked “drinking water safe.”
A sullage hose, on the other hand, is used to carry grey water away from your caravan. It’s not food-grade, is often ribbed and dark in colour, and isn’t safe for drinking water under any circumstance.
Mixing up the two can lead to contamination of your water supply, so it’s essential to store them separately and never cross-use fittings. Many travellers use separate bags or tubs to keep them clearly marked and avoid confusion on setup.
How long should my sullage hose be?
It depends on where you’re camping. For most caravan parks, a 10–15 metre hose is plenty to reach the nearest drainage point. Some seasoned caravaners carry two hoses—a 10 metre and a 5 metre—with joiners to create different lengths depending on the site layout.
You don’t want a hose that’s unnecessarily long, as it creates more opportunity for sagging, backflow and storage hassles. On the flip side, too short a hose could force you into awkward setups or messy workarounds.
Also consider how easy the hose is to coil and pack down. Stiffer hoses can be a pain to wrangle, especially in cold weather or when you’re packing up in a rush.
Can I connect multiple grey water outlets to one sullage hose?
Yes, and it’s quite common. Many caravans have two or more grey water outlets—typically one near the kitchen and another near the bathroom or ensuite. To connect both to a single sullage hose, you’ll need a Y-connector or T-joiner.
These plastic fittings allow two hoses to merge into one, which then runs to the park’s sullage drain. Just make sure the combined flow doesn’t overwhelm the hose diameter, especially if you’re running long distances or downhill.
Elevating the join slightly and maintaining good gradient through the hose helps prevent backflow or pooling. It also keeps your setup tidy and makes pack-down easier.
Do caravan parks provide sullage hose connections?
Most powered caravan sites in Australia have a dedicated grey water drain—usually a small pipe or grate at the rear or side of the site. However, they don’t usually provide the hose—you’ll need to bring your own.
In some older or budget parks, the drain might be shared between two sites or located in a tricky spot. That’s where having a longer hose or an elbow fitting comes in handy.
Some premium parks are now including proper PVC connection points with screw-on fittings. But even then, bring your own gear—you can’t assume what’s provided will match your setup.
Is it OK to drain grey water onto the ground when free camping?
It depends on where you are. In many free camping areas and national parks, grey water must be stored and disposed of at an authorised facility. Draining it onto the ground can damage local vegetation, attract pests and violate site rules.
If ground draining is allowed, make sure to use biodegradable products only and spread the water over a wide area, away from any water sources, paths or other campers.
Portable grey water bladders or tanks are increasingly popular for this reason—they give you the flexibility to travel longer without breaking the rules or harming the environment.
Small Job, Big Impact: Why Sullage Matters on Every Trip
It’s easy to overlook waste water when you’re planning an epic road trip. But a smooth, smell-free sullage system makes a huge difference to your day-to-day comfort—and how welcome you are at your next campsite.
From choosing the right hose to setting up for flow and hygiene, good sullage habits are part of being a responsible traveller. Once it’s second nature, you’ll wonder why you ever stressed about it in the first place.
Start your journey with confidence — visit 7th Street Caravans or give our team a call on 02 4012 6009 for friendly, local advice.