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PHOTO of opening the septic pumper truck vacuum pump motor and controls Septic Pumper Truck Vacuum Pumps
Pumper truck vacuum pumps, types, choices, specifications, lift capacity, speeds, rotary vane & air assist vacuum pump sources

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Septic pumper truck vacuum pumps:

Pump types, capacities, choices, specifications for septic pumper trucks or septic tank cleaning systems & grease trap cleaning systems.

This article series describes the steps in septic pumper truck operation during septic tank or grease trap cleaning and service. We describe the septic pumper truck operator's steps and the septic tank vacuuming procedure.

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Septic Tank Pumper Truck Vacuum Pump Systems

Septic pumper boat in a canal in San Marco, Venice Italy, June 2017 (C) Daniel FriedmanDaniel Friedman & Mike Rost

How does a septic pumper truck work?

Septic pumper trucks use a powerful vacuum pump that creates a vacuum inside the receiving tank mounted on the truck body.

Is a pumper "truck" always used to empty a septic tank. Well pretty-much always but there are exceptions such as we show in our photo of a septic pumper boat in a Venetian canal.

[Click to enlarge any image]

A hose connected to the receiving tank inlet is used to agitate and vacuum up the floating scum layer, settled sludge layer, and liquid effluent that make up a septic tank's contents.

The actual vacuum pump and all of its protective filters are downstream from the tank that receives the solids and liquids comprising septage or septic tank contents, and the pump itself is protected by a series of filters and controls that prevent any liquids or solids from entering the vacuum pump itself, lest the pump be damaged.

In typical use the septic pumping or tank cleaning company's pumper truck and its hoses are used to empty the septic tank of all of its sewage.

In some septic tank cleaning procedures, fresh water is then added to the tank to permit an additional rinsing and then an inspection of the tank interior.

Details are at PUMPER TRUCK OPERATION PROCEDURE

When the pumper truck tank is close to full, the driver transports the sewage to an approved dumping facility, often a wastewater treatment plant, where, for a fee, the truck can be emptied.

Venice Sewer System & Venetian Sewage Boats

Venice San Marco clear wastewater emptying into a canal (C) Daniel FriedmanAfter a quick look at the sewer system in Venice, Italy where we enjoy a look at a pozzo nero sewage pumper boat, we move on to more-widely-used sewer pumping trucks, pumps, & equipment.

While most septic tank pumping is performed by a worker using a pumper truck, in Venice, Italy pumper pozzo nero boats have to handle that job as there are no streets passable by motorized vehicles.

The septic pumping boat moors in a canal near the septic tank that needs to be emptied. The pumped-waste is then transported to a disposal site or the sewage treatment plant in Porto Marghera in the 1980's. However for much of Venice sewage continues to empty into the canal system.

Photo: a small stream of rather clear wastewater is emptying into a canal in the San Marco area of Venice. Generally waste pipes that empty into canals are below water-level.

Sewage waste pipes within a building typically connect to a pozzo nero or black well (blackwater well) or septic tank that ultimately discharges into a nearby canal.

Fognatura is the Italian term for the complete system of waste piping, pozzo nero, below-ground tunnels or gatoli, essentially huge pipes emptying into canals through foundation wall openings (sbocchi) and ultimately into the lagoon.

Some of these below-ground components have been in place since the 16th century.

Tidal action is relied-upon to keep the canals acceptably clean.

Tidal action is relied-upon to keep the canals acceptably clean.

Following periods of aqua alta when canal or lagoon water has entered the lower floor of some Venice buildings, cleanup when the hight water recedes includes the use of disinfectants.

A photo of the septic worker connecting the septic pumper boat to the holding tank is shown below and is discussed also

at HOLDING TANK SEPTIC SYSTEMS.

Back on the mainland we'll take a look at more-typical septic holding tanks and their maintenance.

Limits of Septic Pumper Truck (or boat) Pumping Lift & Distances

Septic holding tank being emptied in San Marco, Venice, June 2017 (C) Daniel FriedmanReader Question: my septic tank is 200 feet horizontally and 20 feet below the septic truck parking spot: will I be able to get the septic tank pumped out?

24 August 2015 Brad said:

Great site, all the info is appreciated. I have a tank, installed over ten years ago but as of yet unused, on a steep hillside roughly 200 horizontal feet away from where a vac truck could park.

To make issues worse, there is probably close to 20 feet of vertical lift as well.

I know this is a very long run, so I am considering laying a dedicated pipe for pumping next to the sewer line running up grade, I'm thinking 1 1/4" 100 PSI poly pipe.

My thought is that the truck to hook onto the top end of the line and pull, and we could put a trash pump at the tank to push.

What are your thoughts?

There is not really a better location for the tank available, or we would have used it.

Local DEQ selected the site and approved the installation, but its tough for sure.

I have installed 3' of 24" riser over the effluent filter access hole to bring it to grade, so there should be room to manipulate a hose or even lower in a submersible pump.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Reply:

Septic tank pumping truck, Superior Septic Service, Two Harbors MN in 2017 (C) Daniel FriedmanGood question, Brad.

Typically with a 2-4" vacuum hose and typical septic pumper truck, the horizontal distance that the pumper expects to handle maxes out at about 150 ft. - before considering the reduction in that length for the lift heights involved. Some trucks carry a 200 ft. 3-inch diameter vacuuming hose.

Septic pumpers, at least some of them, use a rotary vane vacuum pump and have a good lift capacity.

Check with your local pumping company to ask what they can lift.

Our photo shows a septic pumper truck used by David Roeder's Superior Septic Service in Two Harbors, MN.

Mike Rost, at National Vacuum Equipment, a producer / vendor of vacuum equipment in the U.S. offered additional help in answering your question.

Typical small pumper truck rotary vane pump capacities

Most septic pumpers with smaller trucks will be close to their pump lift limit but may be able to do the septic tank pumping job using a traditional rotary vane pump (RVP) widely used in the septic pumping industry.

Traditional rotary vane vacuum pumps operate at 200-300 cubic feet per minute (CFM) and with a standard blower obtain about 13 psi of vacuum.

Using as an example the Juggler™ septic pumper truck, that pumper has a 1,200 gallon (rear), 3,600 gallon (front) capacity, and can pump at a stunning 1,600 cfm at 27" HG vacuum (about 13.2 psi of vacuum).

Without air conveyance these pumps can lift sewage or grease waste about 20-25 feet from pumping source to waste level top in the truck tank.

[Thanks to reader MeHere who who points out that a septic pump's vacuum capacity is usually stated in psi; it's 13 psi not 13" of vacuum; note that at sea level the atmospheric pressure is about 14.7 psi]

Factors Limiting a Septic Pumping Truck or Grease Trap Cleaning System's Pumping Capacity

PHOTO of the septic pumper vacuum pump gaugeFactors that limit the ability of a septic pumping truck or grease trap cleanout system to pump over distances and high lifts include at least the following:

One inch of vacuum in a typical pumping system can lift about one foot (12"). So at least in theory, 13" of vacuum can lift about 13 feet.

Dekkervacuum points out that

It is important to know the ACFM rating of the [liquid ring vacuum] pump, which expresses the "actual cubic feet per minute" inlet capacity at a specific vacuum level.

... For example, if a specific pump has a displacement of 100 CFM and the volumetric efficiency at 28" Hg gauge is 80%, the actual pump capacity at 28" Hg would be 80 ACFM. - https://www.dekkervacuum.com/

Anver Corp. provides a nice chart of vacuum gauge readings and vacuum lift capacities at various altitudes [ https://anver.com/vacuum-lifters/atmospheric-pressure/ ]

Example: 6.38 psig = 13 in. Hg. = 440.18 -mbar = a 42.9% vacuum.

Without special measures, older 200-300 CFM rotary vane pups may not be up to the job.

That's because the most widely used 250 cubic feet per minute (CFM) rotary vane pump found on at least the smaller septic pumper trucks are too small to make use of additional air flow to get the added lift capacity needed to pump from depth, but a snorkel or other add-on air injection feature might enable pumping even with these units.

But even if the truck and pump can manage the lift, it will take longer with a typical rotary vane pump used on many pumping trucks.

In sum, yes your septic tank can be pumped from 20 feet below the truck parking area though you will need to discuss the site, distances, lift height and pumping costs with local septic pumping companies in your area. Actually it's probably more like 30 feet of lift when you add the height from ground to pumper truck tank and the depth of the septic tank from top to bottom.

A septic pumper who operates a physically larger truck may be able to make better use of air-assisted pumping and thus to pump more easily, faster, and perhaps at a lower cost than older smaller pumping systems.

Hybrid Air-Conveyance Vacuum Pumping Systems Increase Capacity & Lower Cost

Newer high-RPM, high-vacuum blower hybrid pumps are available that make use of an air assist or blower using special pump port design features and air velocity to improve the pump's capacity. These hybrid vacuum pumps operate in the 560 CFM to 900 CFM (on bigger tank trucks) range and provide about double the lift capacity (about 27" of vacuum) than that of standard RVPs.

Operating at 27" of vacuum and making better use of air flow, these pumps can lift 30 or even 50 feet using a different technology and the assistance of airflow using a tri-load specially-ported pump design developed by National Vacuum Equipment (cited below).

A newer type higher vacuum air velocity hybrid pump and larger capacity septic pumping truck may be needed for higher lifts. According to Mr. Rost, these higher capacity vacuum pumps offer several advantages over the traditional rotary vane pump used on most septic pumper trucks for cleaning septic tanks and grease traps.

While the blower vacuum pump system may cost may be 20-30% more than a traditional RVP the cost should be recovered quickly through pumping speed, longer pump life, and lower operating cost.

I spoke with Mike Rost from my truck - pulled over to make notes, but as the only paper at hand was a cardboard box it'll take me a bit more time to decipher and transcribe what I wrote down. When I can get some vertical lift specifics I'll add them here.

This article is under technical review. CONTACT us with comments or suggestions.

Septic Pumper Trucks Sources & Vacuum Pump Specifications

Septic Pumper Truck Vendors

Where to Buy Septic Pumper Trucks, Vacuum Pumping Trucks, other Septic System Service & Installation Equipment & Supplies

Where to Buy Rotary Vane Pumps & Vacuum Pumps, for Septic Pumper Trucks & Septic Tank / Grease Trap Cleanout pumps

Masport vacuum pump inlet filter cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

National Vacuum Equipment NVE 304 Challenger vacuum pump (C) InspectApedia.com & NVE

Shown above, National Vacuum Equipment 607 Challenger pump and the NVE 304 Challenger rotary vane pump, both available in both air and water-cooled versions.

National Vacuum Equipment NVE 304 Challenger vacuum pump (C) InspectApedia.com & NVE

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Authors

Mike Rost is a technical expert working with National Vacuum Equipment, Inc., a supplier of rotary vane pumps, vacuum pumps, vacuum blowers and related equipment. Special thanks to Mike who provided technical information about rotary vane pumps, RVPs, septic pumping distances, lifts, pump specifications and advanced and high capacity vacuum pumping options & procedures discussed in this article.

National Vacuum Equipment, 2707 Aero-Park Dr, Traverse City, MI 49686, USA, Tel: 800-253-5500, Website: http://natvac.com/ Email: info@natvac.com National Vacuum Equipment is a U.S. manufacturer of vacuum equipment. The company distributes their own NVE Challenger pumps and Battioni Pagani rotary vane pumps, vacuum blowers, high capacity vacuum pumps, air assist vacuum pumping systems, vacuum system valves, and custom-fabricated vacuum products.

Daniel Friedman is publisher/editor of InspectApedia.com.

Additional thanks to David Roeder, Superior Septic Service, 524 4th Ave., Two Harbors, MN 55616, USA, Tel: 218 834-6969 for discussion of septic tank pumping procedures, distances, hoses, and levels. May 2017.

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2018-12-13 - by (mod) - high lift capacity septic pumper truck types

RRsps,

Yes, you'll need an "air conveyance" septic pumper system to lift septage when the lift height is above 25 ft.

Air conveyance septic pumping systems are described in the article above on this page.

On 2018-12-13 by RRSPS

Any suggestions as to what type pump to purchase that is capable of pumping with 30" - 40 elevation deviations

30' - 40' elevation differences.


...

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