Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What is this vehicle doing?

42 replies

SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:11

This vehicle came to visit a few nights ago. DS woke up about quarter to 3, which is unusual, and when I checked the CCTV the next day I saw this vehicle had turned up about that time. It was in the road right outside his room with its engine idling. A guy got out, put some cones up and there was some kind of big hose that looked like he was stretching it down the driveways opposite our house, although I couldn't see what he did. All in all he was there about 45 minutes.

Any ideas what it was doing at 3am on our street?!

What is this vehicle doing?
OP posts:
dementedpixie · 22/09/2021 19:12

Do they have a septic tank maybe?

PlanDeRaccordement · 22/09/2021 19:14

Yes sounds like he was cleaning out a septic tank to me too.

GreatPotato · 22/09/2021 19:15

@PlanDeRaccordement

Yes sounds like he was cleaning out a septic tank to me too.
I agree but at 3am?!
MrsMoastyToasty · 22/09/2021 19:16

Cleaning the sewer because of a blockage.

Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:17

Interesting. I love MN for finding things out! Do small-town semis often have septic tanks?! I'd never have thought of that.

OP posts:
EddieVeddersfoxymop · 22/09/2021 19:17

Oil delivery? Rural houses often use oil for heating, us included. But at 3am?? Possibly not.....

Gizlotsmum · 22/09/2021 19:17

Either cleaning out a septic tank or illegally dumping something into a sewer…

MrsMoastyToasty · 22/09/2021 19:17

Basically hoovering up the blockage rather than pushing it down the system.

Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:18

It may be worth adding that the vehicle had lots of bright lights around it that he flicked on again when he drove off. They illuminated the road around the vehicle.

OP posts:
Gizlotsmum · 22/09/2021 19:18

Or clearing a blockage/ could you see any signage indicating a company?

Wotwhywhen · 22/09/2021 19:18

Modern night soil man

Sucking up people's shite.. it might have been an emergency call out..
That's a thought isn't it? Having your septic tank back flowing up your pipes at 3am..

OhRene · 22/09/2021 19:18

Are you due heavy rain soon? It'll be blockage clearing. They do that here too but in sociable hours but that's probably because we're a small area.

Suitcaseseverywhere · 22/09/2021 19:19

That’s not an oil tanker. Looks like a sewage unblocker to me

Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:20

@Gizlotsmum - no, no signage at all. That's why I had to ask here as I couldn't Google it! I spent a whole searching for "nighttime vehicles residential" and similar trying to figure it out!

OP posts:
Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:21

@OhRene

Are you due heavy rain soon? It'll be blockage clearing. They do that here too but in sociable hours but that's probably because we're a small area.
Interesting. We did have very heavy rain a couple of days beforehand.
OP posts:
Wotwhywhen · 22/09/2021 19:23

I just used Google Lens on my phone, links to a water tanker for fixing leaks a mind such or sewage tanker for emptying out tanks

MrsMoastyToasty · 22/09/2021 19:25

I used to work in the control room of a water and sewerage company. Emergencies were dealt with around the clock. The other reason for their attending at night is often if its a traffic sensitive or major road.

bigbluebus · 22/09/2021 19:28

Do your neighbours have oil tanks for their heating? Have they had their heating oil stolen?

Can't imagine anyone coming to empty septic tanks at 3am but I can imagine heating oil being taken - happened to my PILs.

Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:29

@Wotwhywhen

I just used Google Lens on my phone, links to a water tanker for fixing leaks a mind such or sewage tanker for emptying out tanks
I tried reverse image search too, but couldn't think why a water or sewage tanker would be on our street at that time - it's not like there were any lights on in the houses to show someone had discovered a leak or anything.
OP posts:
LIZS · 22/09/2021 19:30

Drain clearance

Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:30

@MrsMoastyToasty

I used to work in the control room of a water and sewerage company. Emergencies were dealt with around the clock. The other reason for their attending at night is often if its a traffic sensitive or major road.
Not a major road. Very quiet road at one end of a small town.
OP posts:
Wotwhywhen · 22/09/2021 19:31

@SpookyIan

Maybe the neighbours reported no water at 7pm, water board was busy, sent someone to fix stuff as soon as someone was free?

It's either that or...

The government are forcing 5g Virus into your water supply.and you'll all develop super.powers if you have too.many baths this week... #dontdipyourtoes

Tangledtresses · 22/09/2021 19:32

They did this near us recently at 4.30am and we're clearing out the drains.

Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:33

@bigbluebus It wouldn't never have occurred to me that oil tanks are a thing! I'm going to have to ask the neighbours now!

How on earth did their oil get stolen?!

OP posts:
Original poster
SpookyIan · 22/09/2021 19:34

[quote Wotwhywhen]@SpookyIan

Maybe the neighbours reported no water at 7pm, water board was busy, sent someone to fix stuff as soon as someone was free?

It's either that or...

The government are forcing 5g Virus into your water supply.and you'll all develop super.powers if you have too.many baths this week... #dontdipyourtoes[/quote]
As long as my super power is something good, like invisibility! Grin

OP posts: