Question 1

What is a septic tank?

Accepted Answer

A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete, fibreglass, or plastic through which domestic wastewater flows for basic treatment.  Settling and anaerobic processes reduce solids and organics, but the treatment efficiency is only moderate. Septic tank systems are a type of simple onsite sewage facility.

Question 2

How many times a year do I need to empty my septic tank?

Accepted Answer

On average your septic tank needs emptying once a year, however, this depends upon the tank size and usage.  In some cases it may need to be emptied more regularly - If you are unsure, contact a member of our team and we can advise you the best plan of action.

Question 3

Who is responsible for my septic tank?

Accepted Answer

In short, the owner/occupier of the property is responsible for ensuring the septic tank is emptied and serviced.

Question 4

How do we empty your septic tank?

Accepted Answer

To empty your tank we dispatch one of our state of the art vacuum tankers to your site or home. Once we have arrived, our first job is to locate the tank and manhole cover.  We then go to work connecting up to 50m of pipe from the back of our tanker to the entry point of your septic tank. Our tanker will then suck all the waste from your tank.

Question 5

Who are our services for?

Accepted Answer

Because of the wide range of services Universal Tankers offer, our services can be used by a wide range of customers both domestically and commercially.  Domestic septic tanks, construction site non-potable water fills, welfare unit servicing, commercial grease traps/FOG waste to name just a few examples.  Take a look at all of the services we offer in our menu.

Question 6

What is a grease trap and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Fats, oils and grease (aka FOG waste) need to be kept from entering the water course as not only can it cause significant blockages resulting in expensive repairs but it also causes serious damage to the environment. This is where grease traps come in.  A grease trap is a plumbing device designed to intercept grease, fats and oil before they enter a waste water disposal system. They work using the fact that FOG waste is less dense than water, allowing it to float on top of the regular water waste and the solids sink to the bottom.  The waste sitting on the top and the solids sinking the bottom are retained by the grease trap (hence the name 'trap'), with the regular waste water flowing through to the next chamber via plumbing situated near the middle of the grease trap.  Grease traps need regular servicing to remove the buildup of FOG waste, preventing potential damage to the grease trap. This is where Universal Tankers come in with our grease trap emptying service.

Question 7

What is wastewater?

Accepted Answer

Wastewater is any form of water where the original quality has been affected. Wastewater often contains some form of contamination which will need to be removed before it is used again.  The amount and type of contaminants dictate the level of treatment the water will need in order to be safe to use again.

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