<small-title />
<!-- table at top of page with logo, picture, Application level, Management level, and input-output tables -->
{|width="100%"
----
[[Image:Icon_motorized_emptying_and_transport.png |right|95px80px]]
'''Motorized Emptying and Transport refers to a vacuum truck or another vehicle equipped with a motorized pump and a storage tank for emptying and transporting faecal sludge, septage and urine. Humans are required to operate the pump and manoeuvre the hose, but they do not lift or transport the sludge.'''
}}
===Adequacy===
Although smaller more mobile vehicles have been developed, large vacuum trucks remain the norm for municipalities and sanitation authorities. Unfortunately, large trucks cannot access all pits/septic tanks especially in areas with narrow or non-driveable roads. Also, vacuum trucks can rarely make trips to peri-urban or rural areas since the income generated from emptying, may not offset the cost of fuel and time.
Depending on the collection or treatment technology, the material that needs to be pumped can be so dense that it cannot be pumped easily. In these situations it is necessary to thin the solids with water so that they flow more easily, but this may be inefficient and costly. If water is not available, it may be necessary for the waste to be manually removed. In general, the closer the vacuum can be to the pit, the easier it is to empty. The critical velocity of the sludge required for pumping is dependent on the distance from, and strength of, the vacuum pump; sludge is extremely site specific. Garbage and sand also makes emptying the pit much more difficult.
===Health Aspects/Acceptance===
The use of a vacuum tanker for emptying a pit latrine or [[Septic Tank]] presents two health improvements: (1) emptying maintains the Collection and Storage/Treatment technology and reduces the risk of overflows and (2) the use of a tanker reduces the need for manual emptying, which is quite unsafe and unhygienic. Still, those who operate vacuum trucks may be demonized by the community and may face difficulties with finding appropriate locations to dump and treat the collected sludge.
===Maintenance===
Maintenance is a crucial part of vacuum truck operation. Trucks are not usually brand new and they often require constant attention to prevent breakdowns. The lack of preventive maintenance is often the cause for major repairs. Most pump trucks are manufactured in North America or Europe. As such, it is difficult to locate spare truck parts and a local mechanic to repair broken pumps and trucks. New trucks are difficult to obtain, very expensive and thus rarely purchased. Local trucks are commonly adapted to serve as vacuum trucks by equipping them with holding tanks and vacuums. Maintenance accounts for at least one quarter of the costs incurred by the operator of a vacuum truck. Fuel and oil account for another quarter of the total operating costs. Owners/operators must be conscientious to save money for the purchase of expensive replacement parts, tires and equipment, whose replacement could be essential to the working of the vacuum truck.
===References===
* Brikké, F. and Bredero, M. (2003). Linking technology choice with operation and maintenance in the context of community water supply and sanitation: A reference document for planners and project staff. WHO and IRC Water and Sanitation Centre, Geneva. Available: http://www.who.int (Chapter 8 provides an assessment of vacuum emptying.)
* Issaias, I. (2007). UN-HABITAT Vacutug Development Project: Technical report of field trials 2003–2006. Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure Branch, UN-HABITAT, Nairobi, Kenya.
===Acknowledgements===
{{:Acknowledgements Sanitation}}