Homes and businesses must make sure septic tanks are properly and professionally maintained to comply with UK law. They should be regularly emptied to prevent nasty and costly sewer floods that generate foul smells, attract unwanted vermin, and damage the environment.

The Environment Agency set the regulations around septic tanks. If you fail to comply – for example by not taking care of your septic tank or not having the right permits in place – you could be fined. If you’re a business, this might damage your reputation.

Despite being accountable for looking after your septic tank and monitoring how full it’s getting – the emptying and maintenance is something you’ll outsource to an environmental services company.

Compared to other items on your ‘to do’ list, you probably don’t even give your septic tank a second thought. Perhaps you pay a firm to look after everything for you – which means you rarely even think about it?

OUR ADVICE IS TO THINK AGAIN!

However mundane septic tank emptying might seem to you, it’s critical you choose the right company for the job and regularly shop around for a firm that’s 100% reliable and responsible. 

If you do this, you’re more likely to get a quality service at a competitive price. And what’s more, you’ll be able to sleep easy knowing you’re not in breach of regulation or inadvertently polluting the environment.

Who empties your septic tank and why?

Ask yourself this, who empties your septic tank and why? If it’s a company you’ve used for years that may no longer be right for you, it’s time to review things. If you’re the type of property owner, or business manager, who chooses a firm on an ad-hoc basis – then make sure you know exactly what to ask of them before making that call.

CHOOSE A RESPONSIBLE FIRM TO EMPTY AND MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC TANK

Septic tank owners – and companies who empty and maintain septic tanks – all have a duty of care to make sure liquid waste is being transported and disposed of responsibly. 

Therefore, it’s vital you choose a waste carrier that has the experience and credentials to do the job properly.

But, how do you know how responsible a firm is? 

Here are some things you might want to consider…

The correct paperwork

Waste regulations specify that a company who collects and disposes of your liquid waste must be registered with The Environment Agency – so ask to see proof of this. You can see our certificate of registration here.

They should also supply you with waste transfer notes to record the waste that’s moved from one site to another.

Waste disposal

Always ask the company who’s collecting your waste, where and how they’ll be disposing of it.

You might not care about the answer to this question, but you should. If waste isn’t disposed of carefully, it can cause harm to people and ecosystems. Most businesses (especially) want to ensure their supply chain is running a sustainable business that cares for the environment.

We deliver the liquid waste we collect to the treatment plants owned by our local water company, Severn Trent. For a fee that’s reflected in our price, they ensure it’s safely disposed of.

Standards

Will the company who empties your septic tank do a thorough and clean job? Will they empty all the chambers they’re supposed to? Will they avoid spilling sewage all over your lawn?

In the wrong hands, liquid waste removal can be a messy job that can have unwanted consequences.

CHOOSE A RELIABLE FIRM TO EMPTY YOUR SEPTIC TANK

The word reliable means different things to different people. For us it’s simple: we do what we said we’d do, at the time we said we’d do it. 

However, having worked in this sector for over 25 years now, we’ve heard some horror stories that sometimes give our industry a bad name. From companies not turning up, to organisations doing a messy job onsite. 

So, considering that, here are some things you should be demanding from the company you choose to empty and maintain your septic tank…

Accessibility

Are you in a location that’s hard to reach? Narrow country lanes or weight restricted bridges may prevent a company from being able to get to your property to remove your waste. 

To get around this, we have a small towable tanker that can successfully navigate through restricted or congested spaces.

Capacity

How much liquid waste does your property or site generate? This will determine the size and type of vehicles required to transport your waste from A to B. It’ll also define how many trips are required. Our vehicles can handle anything from 500 gallons to 4,000 gallons of liquid waste.

Efficiency

How busy is the site your septic tank is located at? 

A professional company will empty your septic tank efficiently so they can get out of your way as quickly as possible to avoid causing any disruption.

Availability

When do you need your septic tank emptying and how often? An experienced professional will advise you on this upfront.

Most businesses, and some households, organise for their septic tanks to be emptied regularly as part of an agreed schedule. But sometimes things can go wrong. You might be a homeowner who’s simply forgot to monitor the septic tank levels and now it’s overflowing. Or you might run a holiday park that’s had an unexpected influx of visitors.

Whatever the situation, you need a company that picks up the phone when you need them most.

For all your septic tank emptying and maintenance needs, call 0330 333 8178 today.