In the RV world, wastewater from black water holding tanks is an unfortunate part of the lifestyle. If you are at a campground with sewer ports at each campsite, then this is less of a hassle. But campgrounds with a single dump station, or boondocking-style camping, require more planning.

 If full hook-up camping is your preferred method of camping, a macerator pump is probably not necessary. However, if you travel the less-beaten paths and campgrounds, a macerator pump may not be a bad idea. 

Pros

The problem with traditional dumping methods is that you are limited by a couple of  factors. The first is the distance from the campsite to the sewer port. The second is the fact that everything is gravity drained. This is where the macerator pump can really shine.

RV macerator pump with clear discharge hose attached to portable black tank tote
Macerator pump with clear discharge hose attached

Most macerator pumps for RVs are after-market accessories. They typically attach onto the black water discharge port of the RV and force the waste through a garden hose and into the sewer port. They can also be attached to the tote to pump the waste out of the tote and into a sewer port. 

Inside an RV macerator pump showing the garbage disposal style blades to chop up waste
Inside a macerator pump showing the garbage disposal style blades to chop up waste

A macerator pump works similarly to a kitchen sink garbage disposal. It mechanically breaks down solids by running them through a high-speed electric-powered impeller. With the help of liquid from the black water holding tank, it forces waste through a garden hose-sized port. This can push much further than a gravity-fed drain system.

This can be extremely helpful if you are farther away from a sewer port than you planned on. And if you are boondocking for extended periods of time it can be used to pump waste into a tote.

An RV black tank tote with macerator connected to it in order to empty the tote into a toilet
An RV black tank tote with macerator connected to it in order to empty the tote into a toilet

Since a full tote is extremely heavy when full, pumping into a tote that is stored on your RV above the height of the discharge port is quite helpful. This allows you to dump your waste later so you don’t need to break camp.

So the use of a macerator pump can both speed up the dumping process as it is forcing the waste through the pipes quickly and over longer distances. It can also help with emptying a tote into a dump station with far less mess.

Cons

The main concern with using a macerator pump is power. Many RV macerator pumps operate on 12 volt DC power. Although this is the same power that is used on most electrical components on an RV, the problem lies in accessing that power.

Macerator pump on the RV discharge port showing the limiting factor of cord length in relation to the size of the RV
Macerator pump on the RV discharge port showing the limiting factor of cord length in relation to the size of the RV

Typically, a macerator pump comes with roughly 4 to 6 feet of cable to power the pump. A 12 volt deep cycle battery could be used; however, it can be dangerous to have an open terminal battery around water. 

Different power supply cable options to power an RV macerator pump
Different power supply cable options to power a macerator pump

We use a power inverter to convert 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC and then can plug that into an external GFCI outlet on the RV. 120 volt macerator pumps are also available. And of course, these options are contingent on being connected to shore power. 

Price can also be a factor when deciding if a macerator pump is right for you. They start at around $65 and can go up to $400, depending on the distance you need to pump the waste. 

The Takeaway

Although there can be some appealing aspects of having a macerator pump, it really comes down to the style of camping that you prefer. Some people swear by them, whereas many campers might find it collecting more dust than being put to use. This is what makes a macerator pump an accessory worth thinking about before buying.

And if you do decide to go with a macerator pump, we still recommend using a high-quality holding tank treatment like RV Digest-It Plus.

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