Septic Tanker Service
Septic Tanker Service
The Septic Tanker Service provides the general public and commercial premises who are not able to connect to the mains sewer system with a domestic effluent removal service. In the main the service is subsidised by about 60% with different charges levied depending on the circumstances.
Requesting a Tanker
Tanker Office Tel: 448524 (answer phone if office unattended).
Response time Transport and Technical Services aims to send a Tanker within five working days of the request call
Standing Orders Customers who require a regular service can arrange for the tanker to call on a pre-arranged frequency
Out of Hours Emergency Calls Tel: 725351
Tanker Charges for 2007
No. of loads per calendar year – one load being 750 gallons (or part of)
Septic tanks / soakaway systems – sliding scale:
1 – 2 Free
3 – 12 £21.50
13 and over £35.40
Tight tank rate:
All loads £47.65
Properties that could connect to a sewer:
All loads £119.00
Concessionary agreements:
All loads £12.30
Emergency Calls:
Weekdays/Saturdays £154.00
Sunday/Bank Holiday £208.00
De-sludging of tanks: Free
Charges reviewed annually, new rates published in JEP Gazette prior to implementation.
General Drainage System Information
The vast majority of private drainage systems in the Island comprise of a septic tank and soakaway and in these cases the sliding scale tanker rates normally apply.
In the late 1990’s the Planning and Building regulations were revised so that new or developed properties, not able to connect to the main sewer, are required by Planning & Environment to install tight tanks to reduce the Island’s ground pollution. In these cases the tight tank rate is applied.
Tight tanks are also installed as a means of overcoming a serious and proven drainage problem on a property that could not be solved by any other means. In order to reduce the resulting financial burden on the householder the Minister / Committee can grant a “concessionary rate” to be applied providing several criteria have been met.
The criteria for the granting of a concessionary rate linked to a tight tank installation are applied in hardship cases where an existing householder has shown that their system has completely failed despite adequate maintenance being carried out, further improvements cannot be carried out and a new system cannot be installed because of site conditions, space constraints or risk of pollution. If it is claimed that a new system would not work due to site conditions this must be proven by porosity testing supervised and approved by Planning’s Building Control Officers. Any tight tank installed as a result has to be correctly sized, located and tested for lack of surface water ingress.
Over a long period a septic tank may accumulate a significant amount of sludge at the bottom. Whilst a normally working septic tank should be disturbed as little as possible the occasional removal of this sludge is desirable. If requested a tanker can to do this as a free service, however it will only remove a nominal amount of liquid and is not a substitute for a normal tanker visit.
If the householder is concerned about the workings of their system the Department can arrange for an investigation to be carried out by staff and advice given on use and maintenance. There is normally no charge for this service and it can be arranged through the Tanker Office.
Tanker Operations
Due to the road and access constraints in the Island the section operates two sizes of tankers, either which may be single or double manned as below: -
Difficult tanker access but good parking near the tanks:
‘Small’ 750 gallon tanker operated by 1 man (remove 1 load/visit)
Difficult tanker access and parking not near the tanks:
‘Small’ 750 gallon tanker with 2 men using a hose reel (remove 1 load/visit)
Reasonable tanker access and good parking near the tanks:
‘Large’ 1500 gallon tanker operated by 1 man (can remove 2 loads/visit)
Reasonable tanker access but parking not near the tanks:
‘Large’ 1500 gal tanker operated by 2 men using hose reel (can remove 2 loads/visit)
Page Last Updated: 21/11/2005
