Table of Contents
- What is a Vacuum Truck?
- How Are Vacuum Trucks Used?
- Vacuum Trucks in Action
- How Do Vactor™ Trucks Work?
- What Happens to the Waste Inside the Truck?
- How Does a Vacuum Truck Increase Safety?
- Need a Hydrovac Company? Hire a Professional.
Have you ever had a clogged drain or sewer line? If so, your plumber probably used a high-pressure hose (called a hydro jet) to clean your drains. Or do you have a septic tank? If so, you're probably familiar with the large truck that shows up and pumps all the sewage from the tank.
Similarly, you can think of a vacuum truck (also known as a Vactor™ truck, jet-vac, vac truck, and hydro vac) as a massive drain cleaner and septic pump truck for industrial and city settings. You can also consider a vacuum truck as a wet/dry shop vac.
For instance, did you know vac trucks are used to unclog your city's storm drains? They're also used to fix wastewater emergencies at large manufacturing plants.
There's more to Vactor™ trucks - continue reading and you'll probably be fascinated with how they're used and work. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
What is a Vacuum Truck?
Vac trucks are large, powerful trucks equipped with massive holding tanks and robust pumps.
The most distinguishing feature is the large hose and boom that extends from the back to the front of the truck. Perhaps you've spotted these trucks on roads or bustling job sites. Now you know what they are.
Vactor™ trucks provide an indispensable service to cities, industries, and businesses nationwide. Think of them as the ultimate problem-solvers for your messy, hard-to-reach waste and excavation challenges.
If you're curious about these mighty machines and their vital role, keep reading!
How Are Vacuum Trucks Used?
Below are some of the most common ways hydro vacs are used:
- Cleaning Storm Drains & Catch Basins. There's nothing like a heavy downpour to clog city storm drains and catch basins. Hydro vacs are used to unclog the wastewater from these drains. Using a vacuum truck after a storm or environmental emergency removes water from sensitive areas to protect humans, wildlife, and nature.
- Cleaning & Maintaining Lift Stations. Lift stations, or pump stations, lift wastewater from low ground to higher ground. Clogged lift stations can become an environmental and public health emergency. Vacuum trucks save the day by quickly removing the waste buildup in the wet well.
- Fixing Wastewater Emergencies at Industrial Facilities. Digester tanks are essential to your production. So, what happens when the digester tank fails? You need help, and you need it fast. Vac trucks are used to clean and pump out the sludge from the digester tank so you can get production back on track.
- Hydro Excavation. If you manage a municipality, you'll probably need your underground utilities exposed at some point. Vacuum trucks are a cost-effective and efficient way to excavate the ground around these utilities. Precision is essential, and these machines get the job done.
- Emptying Portable Toilets. Overseeing an event or construction project and need your portable toilets emptied? Vac trucks can handle this job, too.
- Pumping Sumps & Sewers. A vacuum truck is perfect for pumping out sumps and sewers, thanks to the large storage volume available in the tank.
- Hazardous Material Spills. Handling hazardous material by hand puts the operator at risk, so opt for a powerful and chemically resistant vacuum truck for all hazardous material spills.
At Wind River Environmental, we have decades of experience serving municipalities and industrial facilities with these hydrovac services.
Vacuum Trucks in Action
Want to see these hydrovac trucks in action? Watch our short video featuring Curtis Walker, General Manager of Cloud 9, A Wind River Company.
**Cloud 9 is a member of the Wind River Environmental network.
How Do Vactor™ Trucks Work?
So, you know what vacuum trucks do, but how do they actually work their magic? It’s surprisingly intuitive!
Every vacuum truck is built around a few key components:
- A large tank (sometimes called a debris tank or vacuum tanker) that holds all the collected material,
- A powerful pump (the heart of the system), and
- A series of flexible suction hoses and lances.
Here’s how the Vactor™ truck's components work:
- Creating the Vacuum. The truck’s specialized pump (often referred to as a tank truck pump) removes air from inside the sealed holding tank. This creates strong negative air pressure – essentially, a powerful vacuum.
- The Suction Power. Once the vacuum is established, our trained technicians vacuum up the material. The difference in pressure between what's outside and inside forces liquids, sludge, and even solid debris to rush up the hose and into the tank.
- Collection & Containment. Just like your home vacuum sucks dirt into a bag or canister, the industrial-grade vacuum truck draws waste into its large, sealed tank. We then dispose of the waste at the proper waste disposal facilities.
Just like your home vacuum sucks dirt into a bag, the industrial-grade vacuum truck draws waste into its large, sealed tank. The equipment's quality and the pump's power directly affect suction strength and the ability to handle even the most challenging jobs.
What Happens to the Waste Inside the Vac Truck?
Now you might wonder, "Where does all that wastewater go?" It's a great question, and one that your vacuum truck company should take very seriously.
In simple terms, the wastewater is taken to an authorized treatment and disposal facility. It's treated before going back into the environment. Your hydrovac company should adhere to all federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
A good hydro vac company will also provide you with chain-of-custody documentation.
How Does a Vacuum Truck Increase Safety?
There's more to vacuum trucks than sewers and septic systems. Vacuum trucks are essential in keeping towns and work sites clean and safe.
For hazardous waste or oil spills, vacuum trucks must clear and store dangerous materials. Quick action prevents the waste from contaminating the environment or entering local waterways.
Whether it's waste management, a hazmat emergency, or environmental cleanup, these big machines can handle messy jobs of any size. At Wind River, the safety of our workers is a top priority; we're experts in safety procedures.
Need a Hydrovac Company? Hire a Professional.
A hydrovac truck is only as effective as the team operating it. That's why partnering with a reliable, experienced company is essential.
We come with a plan, adhere to strict safety protocols, and follow all federal and local environmental regulations. We also move mountains to ensure you get the service when you need it.
We proudly serve the East Coast. If you're in our region, contact us today. If you're outside our service area, we encourage you to find a reliable hydrovac company that meets these same high standards.
