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			<title>Green Building Forum - sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85369#Comment_85369</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:29:36 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>mike7</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[I've got an old underground rainwater tank with a seriously deep layer of mud and gravel of a weird blancmange/jelly/wet concrete consistency at the bottom. I'd like to clean it out, but my sump pump won't shift it - too gooey - and the septic tank emptying firm's truck hadn't got enough suck - it's 4.5m or so deep. The access is 18x 24 inches. Any suggestions?]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85373#Comment_85373</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85373#Comment_85373</guid>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:21:19 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>CWatters</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[Perhaps it needs partly filling with water and stirring so the septic tank co (or your pump) can suck it out? Not sure what to stir it with - perhaps a pressure washer lance on a pole?<br /><br />Would still have the gravel to deal with - put a filter on the pump input!]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85375#Comment_85375</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:39:07 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>joe90</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[Someone should be able to get through a 18" x 24" opening (an ex potholer?) then rope,bucket and spade?. as long as its only been used for rain (no nasty methane gas etc)]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85410#Comment_85410</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:14:35 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>CWatters</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[and isn't still connected to the rainwater supply!  A H&SE minefield I suspect.]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85417#Comment_85417</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:52:58 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>mike7</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[Thanks for your thoughts Joe and CW. It looks as though I can hire a heftier pump more suited to dealing with slurry, but I'm still going to have to stir it up quite a bit with the pressure washer, as you suggest. Watched by my anxious spouse I went down inside yesterday and survived to tell the tale - I think the main hazard now is stepping off the ladder and getting stuck in the mud, which grips like hell.<br /><br />There must be about 500 bucketfuls of gunge to remove, so I'm hoping to avoid the rope and bucket method at least for the bulk of it<br /><br />I went potholing in Derbyshire once, and didn't like it much - this feels a lot safer.]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85458#Comment_85458</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:20:37 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>CWatters</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[Don't go in there without a rope around you and someone strong enough to pull you out. You won't necessarily have a "hard to breath" sensation before you pass out.]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85461#Comment_85461</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:38:54 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>joe90</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[mike7,<br /><br />Caves are inherently fairly safe because they are created by disolving limestone with water over millenia but going down them is not everyones cup of tea (I did a lot of it years ago). If there is that much gunk I dont blame you for hiring a pump for the bulk of it. When you do go down to clear the last bit see if you can borrow a canary from someone!!!! tho I dont supose that would keep H&SE happy.]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85463#Comment_85463</link>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=85463#Comment_85463</guid>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:57:22 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>barney</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[If and when you get it cleared out (my approach would be plenty of dilution and use the gully sucker) you might want to look at either inlet filters or a small settlement tank that is easy to clean. Stop the stuff getting in is probably the best long term approach.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Barney]]>
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		<title>sludge pump for rainwater tank</title>
		<link>https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6032&amp;Focus=86463#Comment_86463</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:00:53 +0100</pubDate>
		<author>mike7</author>
		<description>
			<![CDATA[It was a long haul, but I'm just celebrating the end of my cistern clearing. I ended up using a jetwash lance on a pole, alternating with a 20ft long 'egg whisk' on a slow drill, plus getting down there with a garden fork to break up really solid stuff lower down. Also good was pumping the water up to my trailer, and then syphoning it back down in a directed flow via a long 2" tube. Round and round it went until really good and gloopy, and bringing the gravel up with it. I recon I shifted getting on for 10 m^3 of sediment. Hours of fun.<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts and concern for my safety. I heeded your advice.]]>
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