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Burning Man RV water & pump-out guides

Short, practical answers to the questions that come up when you’re planning water and pump-outs for an RV at Burning Man. When you’re ready, the planner turns the rules of thumb into exact dates for your rig and crew.

• How much water do you need per person per day at Burning Man? Plan for roughly 6–8 gallons of water per person per day in an RV at Burning Man. Showers dominate — here is the breakdown and how to size your tanks.
• How often do you need to pump out RV tanks at Burning Man? Most RVs need a pump-out every 2–4 days at Burning Man, set by whichever holding tank fills first — usually the gray tank from showers.
• Can you dump RV greywater or blackwater on the playa? No. Burning Man’s Leave No Trace rules prohibit draining any greywater or blackwater onto the playa. Here is what to do instead.
• RV holding tank sizes explained: fresh, gray, and black RVs carry three tanks — fresh, gray, and black. Typical Burning Man rentals hold about 25–45 gallons of gray and black each. Here is what each one does.
• How much fresh water should you bring for an RV at Burning Man? Your RV’s fresh tank rarely lasts the week. Plan refills around 6–8 gallons per person per day, or arrange water deliveries on-playa.