The following is how PolyParadise will be handling Gray Water issues for Burning Man 2013.

Over the 14yrs PolyParadise has been on the Playa, we have experimented with various ways to handle our Gray Water. Starting in 2008, instead of trying to manage the Gray Water, we decided to partner with Sani-Hut corp., to provide a Gray Water receptacle. Even though the cost was significant, the process allowed us to just not really have worry about the amount of Gray Water we produced, as we knew it would be dealt with in the proper manner per our contract with Sani-Hut.

As a Camp we were left kinda left wondering as the 2012 MOOP MAP was revealed - our entire block Asylum - Begonia 5:00 - 4:30 was shown in a Green/Yellow Cross hatch pattern. There does appear to be a few other areas on the MOOP Map with the same designation. My presumption without a legend on the map that this is somewhere between GREEN & YELLOW - which of course means that we need to be more diligent in our final MOOP Sweeps - cause ALL GREEN in 2013 will be our goal.

In 2011 when I had a chance to talk with the Playa Restoration crew about MOOP cleanup - they said that it is the smallest of things that need to be picked up - the biggest culprit is wood chips & carpet fibers. Remember it is MOOP if it is not Playa -that is the definition of Leave No Trace. Overall we did an amazing job - thanks to all that assisted in Never Letting It Hit the Ground!!! Thank you to everybody that stayed for teardown and beyond...You guys ROCK for making those last sweeps through our space and making sure we would be MOOP FREE!

For 2013 we will again be contracting with Sani Hut to Deliver & Service a 1000-Gallon Holding Tank for Gray Water Collection.

Gray water is defined as water from human activities not including human or other body waste. This includes washing, showers etc.

Black water is defined as water that includes human or other body waste. This includes poop, pee, blood and that "other stuff."

At no time will Poly Paradise process black water. Burning Man has provided Porto-Potties for such disposal.

Our gray water will be from the following four sources:
1- Kitchen dishwater
2- Community Shower
3- Human Carcass Wash
4- Camper generated from individual cooking and showers

We are estimating the following volumes from each source:

Kitchen- 5 to 15 Gallons per Day (GpD)
Shower- 50 GpD
HCW- 10 GpD
Other- 10 GpD
------------
Total 85 GpD

* Conserve Water
* Screen your Gray, Keep your Chunks

Having a 1000 Gallon tank within camp for our Gray Water Disposal does not mean we do not care about Water Conservation, in-fact, it will make us more aware of the volume of water we produce as a camp.

The collection points are the Kitchen & Shower. Dishwashing Water will be collected just under the sink and screened for particulate matter before making its way to the Holding Tank via small diameter tubing. Available to assist in dishwashing will be Biodegradable-Mother Earth Friendly Soap as well as Iodophor Sanitizer.

All cooking oil or other materials not suited for the Holding Tank will be collected in 5-Gallon sealable buckets for Off-Playa transportation & disposal.

Shower Water - There will be one main camp shower available to all campers. The shower will be strategically located at the back of the Human Carcass Wash, located near the Holding Tank. The shower will consist of an enclosed shower tent on a raised base off the Playa. All shower water drainage will be collected and transported to the Holding Tank via small diameter tubing with the assistance of a small motor pump.

The shower water collection area should never be used for Gray Water Disposal. Do not urinate or empty personal pee containers into our Gray Water system, please use the Porto-Potties.

See Camp Shower 2013

Human Carcass Wash - Gray Water Collection - In running the HCW the participants stand in plastic troughs to catch the water and particulate matter washed from bodies. This water will be filtered to remove these particulates and the water transported to the Holding Tank.