Don't just evap - EVAPOTRON

[trilobyte]

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Ember and talking a little bit about graywater. He's posted about it on the boards in the past, and has some really awesome ideas for how camps can dramatically reduce (or eliminate) the amount of graywater that they have to pack back out when they leave Black Rock City.

Build an EVAPOTRON! Devices and gadgets that not only look pretty cool, but help the water to evaporate.





There are lots of other designs on his site, along with DIY plans, tips on construction and treating graywater, and generally great info. Check out his EVAPOTRONS web site for more info - if your camp builds or uses some kind of evapotron, tell us and show us in the replies below!

[maladroit]

It works by ever so stealthily flinging individual drops of greywater onto the playa.

But seriously, it looks really cool and I wish I had time to build one!

[trilobyte]

Actually, it works by aeration. If your device reaches the point where it's just spraying water on the playa you've probably gone too far (or don't have a large enough evap pond under it).

[ygmir]

the couple I've walked by that are similar do have a bit of a "down wind mist" going on.......but I don't see that as an issue. the ground is not even moist, but, you can feel a drop or mist as you pass.

[theCryptofishist]

So, any hippy walking by will melt like the Wicked Witch of the West?
Win-Win!

[swampdog]

If your gray water isn't too nasty (ie unfiltered dish water) you could just soak heavy towels in the water and hang them on a rack. Much less complex (ie likely to break down).

[Agaton]

How about adding bleach to th epond? I've always worried about those ponds and whirlygigs spreding germs. Regular laundry bleach is dirt cheap. A cupful of it might do wonders for a pond and its mist. The Evapotron looks like a great idea otherwise!

[jdwrench]

I actually plan on building one of these. I have already gotten the bike wheels needed.

The website mentions using bleach to sanitize your gray water.

[DoctorIknow]

They look like real fun to build, but I've seen them for years, either broken (very common), making a large playa wet spot downwind, or with way too much water in the bed for it possibly to deal with.

[trilobyte]

Even something as simple as lining the edges of an evap pond with towels (or some other absorbant material) will help improve its efficiency. The material will soak up water and expose it to the air, drying/evaporating more quickly. The real trick to an evaporation pond, in my opinion, is to make sure it's big enough to cover your needs. By big I don't mean high walls (like a baby pool), I mean surface area. If the 'pond' isn't evaporating to mostly dry every single day, it's not big enough to handle the job. Evapotrons to the rescue!

[Agaton]

The website mentions using bleach to sanitize your gray water.

Good!

A few years ago I had to clean up a faild pond, and I've seen others dump theirs on teh ground, so please listen to Trilobyte and DoctorIknow. Then go for it.

[jdwrench]

The website mentions using bleach to sanitize your gray water.

Good!

A few years ago I had to clean up a faild pond, and I've seen others dump theirs on teh ground, so please listen to Trilobyte and DoctorIknow. Then go for it.

Any advice is openly welcomed! My first Burn, so all new stuff, trails, and errors.

[theCryptofishist]

I dunno. you can try going ot Killbuck's camp and seeing if Apok's evap system from last year's there.