Septic tanks
Septic tanks treat waste water from properties that are not connected to the public waste water system.
A septic tank is usually either a large rectangular box made of brick, stone or concrete, or a bottle-shaped plastic tank buried underground not far from the property it serves.
Septic tank emptying
To arrange a septic tank visit please complete our online form and one of our tankers will visit usually within six to eight weeks of your request. It is not possible to make advanced bookings for specific times or dates; however, emergency septic tank emptying is available.
Charges
These fees apply only when a tank is emptied. The emptying of tanks is done solely by customer request. Additional charges apply where priority or emergency requests are made.
| Service | Price* |
| Septic tank empty | £225 |
| Additional tank |
£225 |
| Additional volume above each 9,000 litres |
£225 |
| Septic tank empty - Priority request (within 2 working days) | £225 + priority admin fee £50 total £275 |
| Emergency call out (incl out of hours/bank holiday) | Minimum charge £350 for the first 2 hours and £150 per hour thereafter |
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*Per tank up to 9,000 litres (an additional fee of £225 per 9000 litres or part thereof will apply if the tank size or volume of sludge to be removed is greater than 9000 litres) Commercial properties will be charged VAT at 20% |
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A septic tank works like a simple waste water treatment works and the treated waste water drains from the septic tank's outlet pipe to a soakaway or stream. Waste material (sludge) is allowed to settle in the tank and is digested by natural bacteria breeding in the tank. Over time the sludge builds up on the bottom of the tank. This sludge has to be removed regularly to ensure that the tank continues to work properly and to prevent the soakaway becoming choked.
This is dependent on the tank size and how well it is working. If you know where the septic tank outlet drains to, check that the discharge is a light grey colour. If the liquid includes dark solid material or recognisable sewage solids, this shows that the septic tank needs de-sludging.
If you dispose of certain substances and materials down the toilet, or down sinks, you risk either blocking a drain or upsetting the natural processes within your septic tank. This will stop it working properly and could lead to serious problems of pollution or choking of the soakaway disposal system.
Do
- flush only human waste and toilet paper down the toilet
- use cleaning/washing products in moderation without upsetting the natural balance of the septic tank
- use bleach and disinfectants sparingly as they can kill good bacteria in the septic tank
Don't
- flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper down the toilet
- pour oil, fat or grease into drains leading to the septic tank
- connect rainwater drainage pipes to the septic tank
- dispose of waste liquids that are harmful to septic tanks into rainwater drains
- enter a septic tank; dangerous gases are produced by the natural treatment process
Dial Before You Dig
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