Vacuum truck

The pump is designed to pneumatically suck liquids, sludges, slurries, or the like from a location (often underground) into the tank of the truck.

A common material to be transported is septage (or more broadly: fecal sludge) which is human excreta mixed with water, e.g. from septic tanks and pit latrines.

They also transport sewage sludge, industrial liquids, or slurries from animal waste from livestock facilities with pens.

These trucks may use compressed air or water to break up the ground safely, without risk of damage, before installation may begin.

Commercial vacuum trucks which collect fecal sludge usually have a volume of 10–55 cubic metres (350–1,940 cu ft).

Through this process, the overall density of the sludge/air mixture can be reduced below that of pure water and thus a higher lift (10–15 metres (33–49 ft)) can be reached under optimal conditions.

[citation needed] Vacuum trucks are used by town and municipal governments, as well as commercial entities around the world.

Vacuum trucks discharge these wastes to the sewer network, to a wastewater treatment plant, or—usually illegally, for example in many developing countries— directly into the environment.

The latter practice, called "institutionalised open defecation", is dangerous since it constitutes a public health and environmental hazard.

Before installing many pieces of underground equipment, the ground must be excavated far enough down to create a solid foundation for the structure to be placed on.

Underground utilities can include lamp poles, traffic lights, road signs, and even commercial grade trees for landscaping.