An effluent tank is a temporary liquid waste holding tank, used under portable structures, including toilet blocks, showers, catering facilities and offices.
They are used to collect wastewater and sewage in outdoor areas where there is no fixed plumbing, but there is a need for sanitation services. This includes camping and glamping sites, festivals, construction sites and sporting events.
Effluent tanks are a key requirement of any big outdoor event, like a concert or festival. They securely collect and store large quantities of wastewater and sewage, ensuring the hazardous contents are safely contained until they can be disposed of professionally.
For one-off events, businesses may choose to hire effluent tanks. But for companies like camping and glamping sites or construction firms, which need a wastewater solution all year round, it makes more sense to buy effluent tanks for your business.
Tanks for Everything stocks above ground effluent tanks in capacities from 725 to 4546 litres. For particularly high demand events, such as festivals, it is possible to link multiple tanks together.
Waste leaks or spills can have a detrimental effect on the environment, so we only stock tanks made from the strongest and most reliable materials. All of our effluent takes are made of durable, hardwearing plastic, meaning there is no risk of rust. Their low-profile shape means they fit easily underneath temporary structures.
What size effluent tank do I need?
It is important to buy the right size of tank (including several linked tanks), taking into account how often the tanks will be emptied. It is important to go a bit bigger than you calculate, just in case your tanker company can’t get to you straightaway. Remember that excess use of toilet paper – or more ‘number twos’ than ‘number ones’ - can also fill your tanks more quickly.
We all go to the toilet six to eight times per day. For a business like a camping or glamping site, your toilets need to handle all of those daily toilet trips! For a construction site, your facilities will probably only need to deal with half of a day’s toilet trips.
If your tank also has to deal with showers, washing up facilities, cooking facilities and drink making facilities, that all adds to the water consumption.
At home, people will use around 150 litres of water a day each – including showering, washing machines and dishwashers.
While camping or at work on a construction site, they are clearly going to use less.
If you have a campsite with toilets and showers and space for 100 people, daily wastewater volume can be calculated as:
1 x 5 minute shower @8 litres/ minute = 40 litres per person per day
6 x toilet visits @6 litres/ flush = 36 litres per person per day
6 x handwashing after using the toilet @1 litre = 6 litres
That is 82 litres per person per day.
If the campsite is at full capacity, it will produce 8,200 litres of wastewater to be held in effluent tanks until it can be collected and disposed of.
For a construction site, there is likely to be less toilet visits and generally no shower facilities.
4 x toilet visits @6 litres/ flush = 24 litres per person per day
4 x handwashing after using the toilet @1 litre = 4 litres per person per day
That is 28 litres per person per day.
With 10 contractors on site all day, that would be 280 litres per day.
With 50 contractors on site all day, that would be 1,400 litres of wastewater to be held in effluent tanks until it can be collected and disposed of.
Effluent tanks are a must when on a site where there is no access to drainage. These above ground tanks can sit under any trailer or portable unit, providing much-needed storage of effluent from toilets, sinks or showers.
For a business like a campsite or glamping site, it makes sound business sense to buy effluent tanks rather than hire them. The investment will soon pay off.
