Two steel surge storage tanks that hold 10,000 gallons each have been one of the best investments for First Call Septic Services Inc., says owner Ronnie Tamez. The wastewater treatment plant in his service area in southwest Washington state maintains limited hours for dumping (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Since much of his work is completed outside those hours, Tamez isn’t able to dump a load at the plant until the next day.

That can waste time if pumpers from across the region are stacked up at the treatment plant to off-load when it opens in the morning.

“Also, I don’t want to have people call with an emergency I can’t service because the trucks’ tanks are full,” Tamez says. Rather than wait in line at the plant or limit their pumping capacity during off hours, Tamez and his employee, Chris Gross, have the option to dump into the tanks in First Call’s yard.

“We wait to haul on a slow day or weekend. On Saturday or Sunday we can run three or four loads when it’s not as busy,” Tamez says.

The unbranded steel cylindrical tanks were purchased used. They lay on their sides above ground. No permits were necessary for the setup.

“They have two access manholes on top in case we need to pump them from above,” Tamez explains. “We have a top load pipe with valve, and a bottom unload pipe with valve. We keep all the valves capped. Winter time we have to put heat tape on them to keep them from freezing.”

Having the storage available also allows them to take jobs that need to be done quickly. For example, the U.S. Forest Service hired First Call to pump 30,000 gallons of septage from tanks at the Johnston Ridge Observatory on Mount St. Helens.

“You have to do the work when the roads are clear. We need to be able to empty the tanks fast, and doing it on a weekend is easier,” Tamez says. “We made faster round trips by unloading in the surge tanks.”

Tamez purchased the tanks six years ago and admits they require maintenance, such as changing valves, etc. But by pumping them thoroughly he hasn’t had any issues with odor or plugging.

For more on First Call Septic, read a full profile here.