How a Pumping Visit Runs in Victoria
A pumping visit starts with finding the tank and its access lid. Many older tanks were buried with the lid several inches underground, so the crew may need to dig down before the truck can connect. The hose goes into the tank, the sludge and scum are removed, and the crew checks the inlet and outlet baffles and, where one is installed, the effluent filter. Pumping alone does not repair a cracked tank or a failed drain field, so ask what the crew saw when the lid came off.
Once the tank is reached, the pumping itself is usually quick. The bigger variables are access and tank size. A tank in an open yard with a clear lane costs less to service than one under a driveway, a fence line or a row of shrubs. Before the truck arrives, clear a path, leave gates open and tell the office if a dog or animal needs to be secured.