Farm and rural water tank cleaning business

Farmers, smallholders, rural estates, holiday lets, campsites and homes on private water supplies.

Priced per tank, by size and access, often with seasonal or annual repeat visits. Travel between sites is a cost to build into prices.

• Comfortable with physical, outdoor work
• Safe driving and vehicle loading
• Planning routes between rural sites
• Basic understanding of water quality

• Public liability insurance, plus cover for your van and equipment
• Confined spaces: some large tanks may count as confined spaces, so check the rules and training needed before entering any tank
• Disposal of dirty or chlorinated water on farmland or near watercourses: check with the environmental regulator
• Private water supplies may be overseen by the local council, so check what applies and what you can advise on
• Disinfectant handling and storage: check COSHH requirements

Estimated startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on your van, pressure equipment and insurance. Treat these as estimates and price up your own kit list before you commit to anything.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,500, depending on how many farms and rural sites you serve and how often you work. That is revenue before costs, and you can start from around 10 hours a week.

Check the confined space rules and training needed before entering any tank. Also check how to dispose of dirty or chlorinated water with the environmental regulator, COSHH requirements for disinfectants, and what your local council oversees for private water supplies.