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Drainage, Pump, Sewage Treatment & Tanker Services FAQs
Helpful answers from Alton Facility Services
Clear answers about drainage, pumps, sewage treatment, tanker services and planned maintenance
Use this FAQ hub to find direct answers about AFS services, including blocked drains, CCTV drain surveys, pre-purchase inspections, drain repairs, sewage treatment plant installation, septic tank conversion, package pump stations, sewage pumps, sewage tanker services and Alton Assure planned maintenance.
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Company and coverage
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Who are Alton Facility Services?
Alton Facility Services is a specialist drainage, pump, sewage treatment and tanker services company supporting homes, businesses, estates, landlords and commercial sites. The team works on blocked drains, drain repairs, CCTV drain surveys, sewage treatment plants, septic tank compliance, pumping stations, sewage pumps, tanker emptying and planned maintenance.
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What services does Alton Facility Services provide?
Alton Facility Services provides drainage repairs, blocked drain clearance, CCTV drain surveys, pre-purchase drainage inspections, sewage treatment plant installation and servicing, septic tank conversion, package pump stations, sewage pump repairs, pump station maintenance, cesspit emptying, gully sucking and sewage tanker services.
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What areas do Alton Facility Services cover?
Alton Facility Services is based in Hampshire and supports customers across Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex and the wider South of England. Core service areas include Alton, Basingstoke, Winchester, Guildford, Farnham, Petersfield, Liphook, Bordon, Andover and surrounding towns. Availability depends on the service, urgency and engineer schedule.
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Do you work with domestic and commercial customers?
Yes. Alton Facility Services works with domestic customers, landlords, estate agents, facilities managers, property managers, developers, commercial premises, rural estates and industrial sites. Work can be reactive, such as emergency drainage or pump faults, or planned, such as maintenance, servicing, installation and compliance checks.
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Do you provide planned maintenance contracts?
Yes. Alton Facility Services provides planned maintenance through Alton Assure for drainage systems, pumping stations, sewage pumps, sewage treatment plants and associated control equipment. Regular servicing helps reduce emergency call-outs, identify defects early, maintain compliance and give site owners a clearer record of system condition and recommended remedial work.
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What is Alton Assure?
Alton Assure is the AFS planned maintenance programme for sites that rely on drainage, pumps, sewage treatment plants and wastewater infrastructure. It provides structured service visits, condition checks, reporting and recommendations to reduce emergency call-outs, improve reliability and give clearer visibility over asset condition.
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Do you carry out site surveys before quoting?
Yes. A site survey can be arranged where the work needs inspection before a reliable quote can be prepared. Surveys are often useful for main sewer connections, sewage treatment plant upgrades, septic tank conversions, pump station projects, drainage repairs, CCTV drainage investigations and larger commercial works.
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Drainage services
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Do you clear blocked drains?
Yes. Alton Facility Services clears blocked drains for homes, businesses and commercial sites. Depending on the blockage, engineers may use high-pressure water jetting, mechanical methods and CCTV diagnostics to restore flow and identify the underlying cause, such as debris, scale, root ingress, displaced joints or damaged pipework.
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How do you clear blocked drains?
Blocked drains are usually cleared using professional drain jetting equipment and appropriate access points such as inspection chambers. If the blockage is recurring or the cause is unclear, CCTV inspection can be used to check whether there is root ingress, a damaged pipe, a collapsed drain or another structural issue.
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Do you repair collapsed or damaged drains?
Yes. Alton Facility Services repairs collapsed, cracked, displaced and damaged drains. The correct repair method depends on the survey findings, location, pipe condition and access. Options may include excavation and replacement, patch repairs, relining or other suitable remedial works following CCTV inspection.
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What are signs that a drain may need repair rather than cleaning?
A drain may need repair if blockages keep returning, water backs up repeatedly, chambers surcharge, there are bad smells, ground movement, sinkage, damp patches or CCTV footage shows cracks, root ingress, collapsed pipework, displaced joints or poor falls. Cleaning may restore flow, but structural defects normally need remedial work.
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Do you install new drainage systems?
Yes. Alton Facility Services can help with new drainage installations, alterations, connections and upgrades. Installation work may be needed for building projects, new developments, property extensions, off-mains drainage upgrades, surface water management, pump stations or replacement of failed drainage infrastructure.
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Do you provide commercial drainage support?
Yes. Commercial drainage support is available for businesses, facilities managers, landlords, property managers and industrial sites. Work can include planned maintenance, reactive call-outs, CCTV surveys, blocked drain clearance, repairs, tanker services, pump station support and wastewater system checks.
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CCTV drain surveys and home buyer inspections
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Do you provide CCTV drain surveys?
Yes. Alton Facility Services carries out CCTV drain surveys to inspect underground drainage, identify defects and provide clear findings. CCTV surveys can help diagnose recurring blockages, cracked pipes, root ingress, displaced joints, collapsed drains, drainage layout issues and problems found during property purchases or building works.
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What is included in a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey normally includes inspection of accessible drainage runs using specialist camera equipment. Where required, drains may be cleaned or jetted first to improve visibility. The survey can identify blockages, cracks, root ingress, collapsed sections, poor falls and other defects, with findings and recommendations provided afterwards.
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Do I need a CCTV drain survey before buying a house?
A pre-purchase CCTV drain survey is recommended when buying a property because underground drainage defects are not normally visible during a standard house survey. A drainage survey can identify collapsed pipes, root damage, misconnections, blockages, poor repairs and other issues before exchange or completion.
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Can you provide a home buyer drainage report?
Yes. Alton Facility Services can provide home buyer drainage inspections and reports to support a property purchase. The report can help buyers, solicitors and surveyors understand the drainage layout, visible defects, structural condition and recommended next steps before making decisions on the purchase.
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Can you locate hidden drains and pipe routes?
Yes. Drain tracing and CCTV survey work can help locate hidden drainage runs, pipe routes, inspection chambers and defect locations. This is useful for property purchases, building work, drainage repairs, insurance investigations, extensions and sites where no accurate drainage plan is available.
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Do you carry out drain repairs after a survey?
Yes. If a CCTV drain survey identifies damage, Alton Facility Services can advise on suitable remedial options. Depending on the defect, this may involve cleaning, patch repair, relining, excavation, pipe replacement, root removal, chamber repair or further investigation before works are quoted.
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Sewage treatment plants and septic tank compliance
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Do you install sewage treatment plants?
Yes. Alton Facility Services installs sewage treatment plants for domestic, commercial and rural properties. Installation may be required for new off-mains drainage systems, failed septic tank replacement, property upgrades, environmental compliance or sites where an existing system is no longer suitable.
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Can you replace a septic tank with a sewage treatment plant?
Yes. Alton Facility Services can assess an existing septic tank and advise whether it should be upgraded, repaired or replaced with a sewage treatment plant. This is often needed where the current system is failing, non-compliant, overloaded or discharging in a way that no longer meets environmental requirements.
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Is my septic tank still compliant?
A septic tank may not be compliant if it discharges directly to a watercourse, ditch, stream or surface water drain, or if it causes pollution. The Environment Agency general binding rules explain when septic tanks and small sewage treatment plants can operate without an environmental permit. AFS can inspect the system and advise on practical next steps.
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What are the General Binding Rules for septic tanks?
The General Binding Rules are Environment Agency rules for small sewage discharges in England. They set conditions for when septic tanks and sewage treatment plants can discharge without an environmental permit. The rules differ depending on whether wastewater discharges to ground or to surface water and when the discharge started.
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Do you service sewage treatment plants?
Yes. Alton Facility Services services and maintains sewage treatment plants to support reliable operation, reduce breakdown risk and help site owners keep systems in good condition. Maintenance can include inspection, mechanical checks, electrical checks, alarm checks, component testing, performance review and advice on repairs or emptying requirements.
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Do you empty sewage treatment plants?
Yes. Treatment plant emptying can be arranged as part of tanker services. Regular desludging helps prevent poor performance, odour issues, excessive solids build-up and avoidable system strain. The required emptying frequency depends on the plant type, manufacturer guidance, usage and site conditions.
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Can you help with failed or non-compliant off-mains drainage?
Yes. Alton Facility Services can inspect failed or non-compliant off-mains drainage systems and advise on realistic solutions. Depending on the site, this may include treatment plant servicing, repairs, septic tank conversion, new drainage field assessment, tanker emptying, pump station work or complete system replacement.
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Pumping stations and sewage pumps
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Do you install package pump stations?
Yes. Alton Facility Services supplies, installs, repairs and maintains package pump stations for domestic, commercial and development sites. Pump stations are used where wastewater or surface water cannot drain by gravity and needs to be pumped to a sewer, treatment plant or discharge point.
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Do you repair sewage pumping stations?
Yes. Sewage pumping station repair is available for pump failures, alarm activations, control panel faults, float switch problems, blockages, tripping electrics, poor performance and high-level conditions. Engineers can inspect the pumps, chamber, controls, pipework and electrical components before recommending repair or replacement.
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What should I do if my pump station alarm is sounding?
If a pump station alarm is sounding, reduce water use where possible and contact a pump engineer. An alarm may indicate high water level, pump failure, float switch failure, control panel faults, blocked pumps or electrical issues. Urgent action helps reduce the risk of flooding, surcharge or system damage.
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Do you service sewage pumps and control panels?
Yes. Alton Facility Services services sewage pumps, pump chambers, floats, guide rails, valves, alarms and control panels. Planned servicing helps identify wear, control faults, blockages and high-level risks before they become emergency failures or cause disruption to a home, estate or commercial site.
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Can you replace a failed sewage pump?
Yes. If a sewage pump has failed or is beyond economic repair, Alton Facility Services can advise on a suitable replacement. The correct pump depends on flow, head, chamber depth, duty requirements, solids handling, controls, power supply and whether the system serves a domestic or commercial site.
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Do you maintain pumping stations for commercial sites?
Yes. Alton Facility Services maintains pumping stations for commercial sites, property managers, estates and facilities teams. Planned checks can include pumps, floats, non-return valves, guide rails, chambers, control panels, alarms and general asset condition, helping reduce breakdown risk and giving better visibility of future remedial work.
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Tanker services, cesspits and emptying
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Do you provide sewage tanker services?
Yes. Alton Facility Services provides sewage tanker services including cesspit emptying, septic tank emptying, treatment plant emptying, gully sucking and liquid waste removal. Tanker visits can be arranged as one-off call-outs or scheduled visits depending on site requirements.
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Do you empty cesspits and septic tanks?
Yes. Cesspit and septic tank emptying can be arranged for domestic, rural, commercial and off-mains drainage sites. Emptying frequency depends on the tank size, number of users, system type, site usage and whether the tank is a holding tank, septic tank or part of a treatment system.
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Do you provide gully sucking?
Yes. Gully sucking is available for drainage gullies, car parks, yards, commercial sites, highways, estates and locations where silt, debris or standing water needs to be removed. Gully cleaning helps reduce flooding risk and keeps surface water drainage working properly.
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Can you arrange scheduled tanker visits?
Yes. Scheduled tanker visits can be arranged for sites that need routine emptying or regular waste removal. A planned schedule helps avoid overfilling, odours, emergency call-outs, treatment plant performance issues and disruption to homes, businesses or commercial operations.
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Emergency response
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Do you provide emergency drainage and pump call-outs?
Yes. Alton Facility Services provides emergency support for urgent drainage failures, blocked drains, pump breakdowns, pump station alarms, sewage system issues and flooding risks. Urgent failures are prioritised, especially where there is loss of service, sewage surcharge, flooding risk or a critical pump fault.
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How quickly can you attend an emergency?
Emergency response times depend on the issue, location, engineer availability and current workload. Alton Facility Services prioritises urgent problems such as sewage backing up, pump station alarms, blocked drains affecting use, flooding risk and serious wastewater failures. Call 01420 561661 with the location and fault details.
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What should I do before an emergency engineer arrives?
Where safe, stop using water, avoid flushing toilets if drains are backing up, keep people away from contaminated water, do not enter confined spaces or chambers, and note any alarms, smells, overflows or affected fixtures. This helps the engineer understand the risk and prioritise the first checks on arrival.
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Can you help if sewage is backing up into a property?
Yes. Sewage backing up into a property should be treated as urgent. It may be caused by a blocked drain, pump station failure, collapsed pipe, surcharge, chamber problem or downstream restriction. Alton Facility Services can investigate, restore flow where possible and advise on any repair or cleaning required.
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Pricing, quotes and next steps
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How much does a drainage or pump job cost?
The cost depends on the service, site location, access, urgency, system type and the amount of work required. Simple call-outs, surveys, repairs, tanker visits, installations and compliance works are priced differently. The best starting point is to provide photos, the address, symptoms and any existing system details.
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Can you give a fixed quote?
A fixed quote may be possible once the scope is clear. Some work can be quoted from details, photos, survey results or previous records, while more complex drainage, pump station, sewage treatment, septic conversion or repair projects may need a site survey before an accurate price can be confirmed.
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What information should I provide when enquiring?
Provide your name, phone number, email address, job site address, postcode, the service required, a description of the problem, any photos or videos, system details if known, and whether the issue is urgent. For off-mains systems, include whether it is a septic tank, treatment plant, cesspit or pump station.
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How do I contact Alton Facility Services?
You can contact Alton Facility Services by phone on 01420 561661, by email at sales@altonfs.com, or by using the contact form on the website. Include the job location, service required and a clear description of the issue so the team can route the enquiry correctly.
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Should I call or use the website form?
For urgent drainage, pump or sewage problems, phone 01420 561661 so the issue can be triaged quickly. For planned work, maintenance, quotes, surveys, compliance checks or non-urgent enquiries, the website form is useful because it captures the site details and gives the office a written record.
Planned Maintenance
For sites that rely on drainage, pumps, sewage treatment plants or wastewater infrastructure, Alton Assure provides structured planned maintenance to reduce emergency call-outs and improve reliability.
