A cesspit collects foul effluent and greywater but has no processing or treatment facilities. This leads to more expense and frequent emptying. Septic tanks use a basic compartmentalisation process where the untreated effluent discharges into a drainage field, ditch or, under certain conditions, a watercourse. Home, land and business owners will still need to use a septic tank emptying service, but not as frequently as those who have a cesspit.
Who would you trust with your septic tank emptying needs, and how often should you have your installation inspected?
The operatives and engineers at P.J. Cole (Southern) Ltd cover all locations in the South including Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, Dorking, Eastbourne, East Grinstead, Epsom, Guildford, Haywards Heath, Horsham, Lewes, Petersfield, Redhill, Reigate, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, Winchester, Windsor and Woking. We are registered waste carriers with the Environment Agency and have two operating centres in Dunsfold, Surrey, and Cuckfield, West Sussex.
We have a fleet of 12 vacuum tankers which we use to provide cesspit emptying and septic tank emptying services at scheduled intervals or, if required, in an emergency.
Septic tanks have at least two chambers and are usually underground. Sewage and wastewater enter the first chamber and solids settle at the bottom where they start to build up. Liquid waste rises and disperses into the second chamber where smaller suspended solids settle. The untreated effluent disperses through to a soakaway, ditch or stream.
During the septic tank emptying procedure, vacuum tankers pump the majority of solids and suspended waste onto one of our tankers.
Please remember that bacteria inside the tank plays an important role. Do not add biological cleaning products or bleaches directly into a septic tank, and do not overuse them inside your home or business. Wherever possible, we recommend that you use friendlier non-biological products instead.
P.J. Cole (Southern) Ltd has customers in Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Middlesex, Kent and London. We can travel to Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, Dorking, Eastbourne, East Grinstead, Epsom, Guildford, Haywards Heath, Horsham, Lewes, Petersfield, Redhill, Reigate, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, Winchester, Windsor, Woking or any of their surrounding areas to provide a septic tank emptying and maintenance service that very few of our competitors, locally or regionally, can match for care or efficiency.
Different service providers recommend different intervals for septic tank emptying. It is true that some properties may only need to book in for emptying every 2 to 3 years but the size of the tank, the number of people living or working inside the property and even the amount of water usage, from bathing and laundry, can all impact the recommended interval.
If biological products enter the tank, they can cause unpleasant odours as the bacteria deteriorates.
P.J. Cole (Southern) Ltd recommends septic tank emptying on an annual basis but advises that, subject to how they maintain facilities and control the production of wastewater, some customers can book in for services a little less often.
If your property isn’t connected to the main sewer supply, then your septic tank and discharge need to meet the General Binding Rules. You may need to apply for a discharge permit. The person operating a septic tank can be the property owner or a person granted with permission from the property owner. If you own or run a business at a property that shares an underground system with other owners, you are all responsible for that system, and for complying with the General Binding Rules.
It is important to know when you need an environmental permit, especially when it comes to discharging wastewater into the ground or surface water. It's also important to know how to apply for permits so the entire process runs smoothly. If you are an owner or an operator, you need to know the General Binding Rules and you must always adhere to them.
If you are unsure of your own responsibilities, please contact our office for further information.
The following links should be of use to you:
In addition to septic tank emptying, P.J. Cole (Southern) Ltd also covers Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, Dorking, East Grinstead, Epsom, Guildford, Haywards Heath, Horsham, Lewes, Petersfield, Redhill, Reigate, Winchester, Windsor, Woking and the South as septic tank installers.
TELEPHONE:
01483 200336
ADDRESS:
Frys Cross Farm, Knightons Lane,
Dunsfold, Godalming,
Surrey, GU8 4NY
E-MAIL:
mail@pjcole.com