Most commonly, you will be researching the cost of emptying a septic tank if you’re thinking of buying or moving into a property which has a sewage system installed.
In this article, we hope to help make it easier to understand the answer to the question “How much does a Septic Tank Cost to empty?”.
Identifying a cost can become confusing when you learn there are many different attributes to take into consideration.
First, it is important to identify which type of sewage system you require a cost for emptying.
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Previous to the introduction of the septic tank it wasn’t uncommon to find households with a cesspit installed.
A cesspit simply stores waste rather than treat the wastewater like its forerunner, the septic tank.
The frequency you will need to empty a cesspit will depend on the size of the cesspit itself as well as the number of people living within the property, but you are likely to have to empty the tank on 1 – 10 a year.
Not dissimilar to the cesspit, the septic tank also collects wastewater, but it holds a more complex service.
The system usually comprises of two chambers. The first chamber holds all incoming wastewater and all solids are ‘encouraged’ to settle at the bottom of the tank where the solids will be decomposed by the septic bacteria through a form of digestion called anaerobic digestion.
Meanwhile, the liquors will drain into the second chamber where any suspended particles are again encouraged to settle at the bottom while the remaining liquors are exited into the soakaway system and into the surrounding environment. All other impurities are trapped and eliminated in the soil.
It is important to understand that there are many regulations which need to be followed which are issued by National Resources Wales.
One regulation which is important to this article is the ‘Consent to Discharge’.
Septic Tanks aren’t necessarily required for a full empty, however, they do need to be de-sludged on a regular basis. This process removes the solids (the sludge) from the system while making sure there still remains an effective amount of bacteria-laden water for the system to continue to run at an optimal level.
The sewage treatment plant process is known to be the most environmentally friendly as its mechanical components help break-down the liquid waste which produces a much cleaner effluent.
How much does a Septic Tank Cost to empty? Our Approximate Costing Guide.
The size of the tank can sometimes influence the cost. Septic tanks are generally considered the cheapest sewage system to maintain.
De-sludging Frequency: 1 – 2 times per year.
Average cost per clearance:
1000 Gallons / 4500 Litres: £120 – £160
2000 Gallons / 9000 Litres: £160 – £200
3000 Gallons / 13500 Litres: £260 – £300
4000 Gallons / 18000 Litres: £360 – £400
Thank you for talking about the need to de-sludge our septic tank frequently to guarantee its long-term optimization. For some reason, my home septic system hasn’t been inspected since last year. Maybe I should hire a cleaning company to check on the matter shortly.