Septage Pumper Vehicle BMPs

SEPTAGE PUMPER VEHICLES
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The state's septage management program is responsible for inspecting and approving pumper vehicles for the safe transportation of septage across the state. In the event that these vehicles are utilized for the handing and transportation of waste streams other than septage, the state recommends implementing best management practices.
CLEANING Prior to the collection and transportation of material other than septage, the pumper
vehicle must be thoroughly cleaned.

• Spray the interior of the tank with water and disinfectants where applicable,
removing any sludge on the bottom. If there is sludge that is difficult to take
out, a device called a vibrator can be attached to vibrate the tank, loosening the inside layers of solid material.
• If the above method does not work or if the sludge has been inside the tank for a while, the only way to eliminate it is manually digging out any residual
material. Remember that the tank is considered a confined space and proper
safety protocol should be followed.

• Make sure that all septage debris from the baffle wall within the tank has been removed. Once the interior of the tank and hoses have been properly cleaned of all liquid and stuck-on solid materials, the exterior of the truck can be cleaned to remove any residual waste.
• Any solids that will pass a paint filter test can be bagged to go to a Municipal
Solid Waste Landfill.
• Throughout the entire cleaning process, wash water runoff shall be collected and properly disposed as this, too, is now considered to be septage.
• Washings from a pump vehicle tank that previously had septage in it can be
spread on a permitted Septage Land Application Site as long as it does not
destroy the vegetation. These washings may also be placed in a permitted Septage Detention Tank.

PUMPING
It is the responsibility of the owner and operator of a septage pumper vehicle to know
the type of material or waste stream to be pumped and transported.

• Utilization of a septage pumper vehicle for potable water is prohibited.
• Utilization of a septage pumper vehicle for hazardous waste is prohibited.
• Utilization of a septage pumper vehicle for petroleum products (oil, gas, etc.) or material with a noticeable petroleum odor and/or petroleum sheen is
prohibited.

DISPOSAL Proper disposal is the responsibility of the owner and operator of a pumper vehicle.

• Prior knowledge of an approved disposal location for the material to be
pumped and transported is recommended.

• Nothing other than septage as defined in G.S. 130A-290(a) (32) may be placed at a permitted Septage Detention & Treatment Facility.
• Nothing other than septage as defined in G.S. 130A-290(a) (32) may be placed on a permitted Septage Land Application site.
RECORD-KEEPING
It is recommended that owners and operators of pumper vehicles maintain logs of
each pump event.

• The date, type, quantity, and location of material pumped and vehicle used.
• The date, type, quantity, and location of material discharged and vehicle used.
• Records of pump events should be maintained for a period of five years.