Tanker Services and Jet-Vac Cleaning
RAW Services provides tanker services for commercial sites across West Sussex, Hampshire, East Sussex and Surrey: we empty tanks and chambers, remove liquid waste and clean drains with jetting and vacuum equipment. We choose the tanker to suit your site, including a towable tanker for places a standard tanker cannot reach.
Available 24/7 across Sussex, Hampshire and the South Coast, we respond fast to urgent issues. Call us if the high-level alarm is sounding, the pumps are running constantly or not at all, there’s a foul smell from the wet well, or drains on the site are slow or overflowing.
Call now for immediate assistance. When you call, tell us the site address, what you can see or hear, whether the alarm is sounding, and whether the station serves several properties or a business that cannot stop. We confirm attendance once we know the location and the problem.
Liquid waste removal for commercial sites
Most tanker work starts with a tank, chamber or drain that holds more than it should. Our vacuum tanker services remove sewage, wastewater, sludge, silt, standing water and drainage debris, then take the waste away for disposal according to its type.
We work on planned visits, with emptying or cleaning booked on a schedule, and on reactive calls when something fills up, overflows or stops draining.
Commercial clients use our waste tanker services for:
- tanks, cesspits and treatment plants that need regular emptying
- pump station wet wells that collect silt, rags and fat
- gullies, interceptors and drainage runs on estates, car parks and access roads
- standing water and flood water after heavy rain or a pump failure
The work falls into three groups, depending on where the waste sits.
What our tankers empty, extract and clean
Tanks, chambers and wet wells
We empty septic tanks and cesspits, and desludge sewage treatment plants as a separate part of plant maintenance, so the emptying is quoted on its own. Our sewage tanker also cleans pump station wet wells on the same visit as the service, so there is no second contractor to book. For the full range of off-mains work, see our sewage and septic services.
Drains, gullies and surface water
Jet-vac cleaning combines high-pressure jetting with vacuum waste collection: the jetter loosens the silt and debris, and the tanker removes it straight away. A drainage tanker suits gullies and surface-water systems on commercial estates, car parks, industrial sites and access roads, where silt builds up and stops water draining. You can book gully emptying as a one-off or on a schedule. Where a drain keeps blocking, we can follow up with drain jetting or a CCTV drain survey to find the cause.
Standing water and emergencies
After heavy rain, a blocked outfall or a failed pump, we extract standing water from car parks, basements, yards and chambers, then investigate the drainage problem behind it. See our flood-water removal service. Every one of these jobs starts with the same question: which tanker can reach the waste?
The right tanker for the site
The RioCom: jetting, vacuum and CCTV in one compact vehicle
Our Rioned RioCom is a 7.5-tonne combination jetting and vacuum tanker. It carries a 500-gallon waste tank, a 1,000-litre clean-water tank, jetting performance of 2,200 PSI at 22 GPM and a CCTV drain camera. One visit can clear a drain, remove the waste and check the result. The RioCom is built for sites where larger combination tankers are impractical, and we assess each site's dimensions, weight limits and manoeuvring space before we book it.
Tank capacity is a specification, not a guaranteed load: how much we collect on a visit depends on the waste and the job.
The towable tanker for restricted access
Our 3,000-litre towable vacuum tanker reaches work areas that a conventional tanker vehicle cannot. We use it at suitable sites such as:
1. underground, low-height and multi-storey car parks
2. basement access routes, internal service yards and courtyards
3. narrow access roads and sites with height barriers or little room to turn
4. hotels, schools, commercial estates and residential developments where large vehicle movements are difficult
Every restricted-access job starts with an access assessment of the towing vehicle and trailer together, so we confirm the tanker can reach the work before we book it.
Larger combination units
For high-volume extraction, large-diameter drainage, heavy sludge and industrial or infrastructure work, we can arrange larger combination tanker equipment. We confirm the equipment, availability and scope for each job before we commit to it.
Whichever tanker we send, the waste itself decides how the job is handled.
| Equipment | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| 3,000-litre towable vacuum tanker | Low-height, restricted and difficult-access sites, subject to a route assessment |
| 7.5-tonne Rioned RioCom jet-vac | Compact jetting, vacuum collection and CCTV inspection from one vehicle |
| Larger combination and vacuum units | Higher volumes, industrial drainage and infrastructure work |
Request a tanker
To assess the job and confirm the right tanker, once we know what the waste is, the job follows five steps:
- tanks, cesspits and treatment plants that need regular emptying
- pump station wet wells that collect silt, rags and fat
- gullies, interceptors and drainage runs on estates, car parks and access roads
- standing water and flood water after heavy rain or a pump failure
For restricted sites, also tell us the entrance width and height, the turning space, any gradients or surface and loading limits, where the tank sits and how far a hose has to run from where a vehicle can park.
Tell us about your site and your waste: 01903 385 321 or info@rawservices.co.uk. For emergencies, call us 24/7.
Waste classification and disposal
Before we quote, we ask what the waste is and where it comes from. Some tanker waste, for example from interceptors or certain industrial processes, can be classed as hazardous, and hazardous waste has to be handled, carried and documented differently from non-hazardous waste.
Your duty of care for the waste lasts until it reaches its destination, so tell us what it is from the start.
For each job, we:
- assess the site and the waste before we quote
- confirm the waste type, how it will be accepted and how it will be disposed of
- handle each waste according to its type
RAW Services is an Environment Agency registered waste carrier.
How a tanker job works
Once we know what the waste is, the job follows five steps:
- You tell us about the site: the address, the waste, the tank or system and some photographs
- We assess the access and the waste, including route, height and turning space for restricted sites
- We choose the tanker and confirm the visit and the price with you
- We extract and clean, and leave the area tidy
- We take the waste away for disposal according to its type
Many sites need the same work again. We can book recurring emptying or cleaning on a schedule, alongside pump station, treatment plant and drainage maintenance, so you have one point of contact for drainage and wastewater maintenance.
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask about Tanker Services
Tanker Services FAQ
Is my tanker waste hazardous?
It depends on what the waste is and where it comes from. Waste from oil interceptors, vehicle washdown areas and some industrial processes can be hazardous; sewage and surface water usually are not. Tell us the source when you enquire, and we confirm the collection and disposal before we quote.
Can a tanker reach a basement or underground car park?
Often, yes. Our 3,000-litre towable vacuum tanker works in suitable car parks, basements, service yards and courtyards where a standard tanker cannot go. We check the route, height and turning space first, so send us photographs of the access with your enquiry.
How much can your tankers carry?
Our towable tanker has a 3,000-litre tank and the RioCom has a 500-gallon waste tank. For larger volumes, we arrange bigger combination units. Tank size is a specification, not a guaranteed load: how much we collect depends on the waste and the job.
Do you offer gully emptying?
Yes. We empty and clean gullies and surface-water drains on commercial estates, car parks and access roads, removing the silt and debris that stop water draining. It can be a one-off visit or part of a planned schedule.
Can you empty tanks on a regular schedule?
Yes. We book recurring emptying and cleaning at intervals that suit the site, and can combine them with pump station, treatment plant and drainage maintenance.
Where We Work
Areas Covered
We cover a wide area across the South of England.
Not sure if we reach you? Give us a call and we will let you know.
East Sussex
Brighton · Eastbourne · Hastings · Lewes · Bexhill-on-Sea · Seaford
Hampshire
Southampton · Portsmouth · Gosport · Eastleigh · Basingstoke
Who We Are
Meet Our Plumbing & Drainage Specialists
RAW Services is a reliable, professional plumbing and drainage company serving East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and the surrounding areas. Here are just a few of the qualified engineers behind your project.
Josh Rawlinson
Managing Director
Richard Child
Contracts Manager
Gavin Bevan
Senior Drainage Engineer
What Our Customers Say
9.24 /10
Based on +100 Checkatrade reviews
Great Service
My job was posted at 2.30pm and this Company contacted me, within minutes. The plumber arrived on time, was cheerful and courteous. I was pleased, relieved and most of all astonished at how little it cost. I will definitely use this company again.
Repair to leaking toilet cistern
RAW was the first company to contact me for this job. Communication was very straightforward and clear. Mark carried out a thorough assessment of the problem, was able to source the parts needed to fix it at short notice, and had the whole thing re-sealed with a fresh donut installed within an hour.
Superfast call-out on a Saturday
Had a non-flushing downstairs toilet. Sent a message through Checkatrade and got a call back within about 10 mins. Had their engineer, Richie, looking at it within about 90 mins! Richie was really kind, helpful and thorough. Very polite and knowledgeable too. I would absolutely recommend RAW and look forward to using them again. Thanks, lads!
New drain and drain repair
Had issues plumbing in a new washing machine because the water overflowed into the cupboard when we tried it. Believed it to be blocked. Now been informed by RAW that it's a descaling issue which is the next stage of work to be done.