Caravan toilets and chemical choices: Exploring user perspectives and preferences to understand wastewater quality from dumpsites.

The management of wastewater from recreational vehicles (hereafter RV), particularly in regional areas, presents challenges for wastewater treatment facilities due to the use of disinfecting, deodorising and sanitising (hereafter DDS) products in onboard toilets. This study aimed to determine the impact on wastewater quality due to use of DDS products by RV users. An online survey of Australian RV users (n = 160) was conducted to evaluate user knowledge and usage patterns of DDS. The results from the study showed that 65% of the respondents routinely used DDS products, and 83% of these users adhered to the recommended dosages. The predominant product used contained bronopol as the active biocide ingredient. Bronopol is a broad-spectrum biocide that degrades into formaldehyde. This study found that RV users added biocide in levels that may create challenges for wastewater treatment, particularly in regional communities.