Tank Cleaning & Decontamination Services

Tanks and vessels quietly do the heavy lifting on any industrial site, holding fuels, chemicals, effluent, sludges and process liquids around the clock. Over time, solids settle out, residues stick to internal surfaces and access points begin to choke up. At that stage, simply pumping a tank empty isn’t enough.

Telcoss provides specialist tank cleaning services to strip out sludge, wash down internal surfaces and remove waste safely, so your tanks are ready for inspection, maintenance or a change of duty.

Working from Wilton International in the North East and supporting customers across the UK, we combine high-pressure jetting, powerful vacuum tankers and experienced confined-space teams to deliver safe, efficient industrial tank cleaning on plants of all shapes and sizes.

What is industrial tank cleaning?

Industrial tank cleaning is the planned removal of liquids, sludge and deposits from storage tanks and process vessels to keep them safe and effective. A typical job will involve:

Isolating and making the tank safe
Pumping out remaining liquids and sludge using vacuum tankers
Using high-pressure water jetting to loosen and wash off residues
Collecting all waste and transferring it off site for treatment or disposal

Some tanks can be cleaned remotely using lances and rotating nozzles. Others need physical access by a confined-space entry team. Telcoss offers both approaches and designs each job around the specific tank, contents and site constraints.

Tanks and vessels we can clean

Our tank cleaning services cover a wide range of assets, including:

Wastewater and effluent storage tanks
Balance tanks, wet wells and pumping station chambers
Sludge tanks, settlement tanks, lagoons and pits
Process and chemical storage tanks (subject to assessment)
Fuel, oil and diesel storage tanks as part of wider projects
Digesters and other biological treatment units

If you’re unsure how a particular tank should be handled, we can review existing information or arrange sampling to decide the safest and most cost-effective route.

Need professional tank cleaning services?

If you have tanks, pits or lagoons that are heavily sludged, difficult to empty or due for inspection, Telcoss can help.

We’ll work with you to:

Understand your tanks and connected systems
Choose the safest mix of remote and man-entry cleaning
Remove and manage all waste compliantly
Leave you with clean, inspectable tanks and clear records

Get in touch with the Telcoss team to discuss your next tank cleaning project and we’ll design a practical, safe solution that fits your site, your schedule and your budget.

Telcoss, taking care of you

Why work with Telcoss for tank cleaning?

Industrial and environmental specialists
Tank cleaning at Telcoss is delivered by an industrial services team that deals with complex sites every day – from chemical plants and power stations to utilities and manufacturing. We understand permits, isolation, confined spaces and the pressures of working around live operations.

Modern fleet and specialist equipment
Our fleet includes articulated 5,500-gallon vacuum tankers, liquid ring units for tougher suction duties, high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure jetting systems and specialist vacuum kit for dense solids. That means we can scale from a single small vessel to multiple large tanks or lagoons.

Safety-first culture
Confined-space entry, high-pressure jetting and heavy plant all carry risk. We manage that risk through training, planning and supervision – with gas monitoring, rescue equipment and clear communication built into every job.

Flexible, project-friendly delivery
We can slot tank cleaning into a planned shutdown, run it as a standalone project or respond quickly when an issue develops unexpectedly. Our aim is always the same: do the job once, do it safely and hand the tank back clean, empty and ready for whatever comes next.

How the Telcoss tank cleaning process works

To keep tank cleaning safe and predictable, we follow a clear step-by-step process.

1. Assessment and planning
• We gather details about the tank (size, design, contents, history and location).
• If needed, we visit site to check isolation options, access routes and any special hazards.
• A cleaning plan is agreed with you, including proposed methods and timescales.

2. Safety and documentation
• Our team prepares tank-specific risk assessments and method statements.
• Isolation, ventilation, gas testing and rescue arrangements are defined and agreed.
• Permits, equipment lists and staffing levels are locked in before work begins.

3. Set-up and mobilisation
• Telcoss mobilises the right mix of vacuum tankers, high-pressure jetting units and, where needed, specialist vacuum equipment for heavy solids.
• Exclusion zones and barriers are set up and all monitoring equipment is checked and commissioned.
4. Cleaning and waste removal
• Liquids and sludge are removed using vacuum tankers and transfer lines.
• High-pressure water jetting is used to dislodge, cut and wash deposits from internal surfaces.
• For man-entry work, operatives follow confined-space procedures with continuous gas monitoring and communication.

5. Disposal and hand-back
• All collected material is taken to authorised facilities as part of our hazardous and non-hazardous waste management service.
• You receive the relevant documentation for your records and, if needed, photos or reports to support inspections and future maintenance planning.

Remote tank cleaning vs man-entry

No two tanks are exactly the same, so we never force a single method. Telcoss uses both remote cleaning techniques and man-entry tank cleaning, depending on access, geometry and risk.

Remote tank cleaning
• Best where internal access is limited or conditions are particularly harsh
• Uses high-pressure water jetting, fixed or rotating heads and lances
• Breaks up heavy residues so they can be removed by suction
• Reduces or removes the need for personnel inside the tank

Man-entry tank cleaning
• Used when deposits are stubborn, internal fittings are complex or a close visual inspection is required
• Carried out by confined-space trained operatives with full PPE, gas monitoring, rescue cover and permits to work
• Allows targeted removal of remaining sludge and scale, plus detailed inspection of walls, bases and fittings

For many projects we use a combination of both methods – remote cleaning to remove the bulk, followed by short, carefully controlled entry to finish and inspect.