Sufficient Suction Pressure?

Question

If a sewage tanker is able to suck out sewage at a depth of 2m vertically below ground level, and at a distance of 1m horizontally (manhole to the truck), can the same tanker suck out the sewage at the same vertical depth but at a distance of 20m away (horizontal distance between tanker truck to tank manhole)?

Answer 1

20 bar is on the order of 780 vertical feet of water.  If the driver's claim is anywhere near correct, you should have no problem with 2 m down and 20 m horizontally.  That needs at least 72 ft of hose.  I don't know the viscosity or average density of sewage, so the only way to know for sure is to simply try it.  Success will probably depend on how many times the hose plugs.

Answer 2

Yes. The horizontal pipe will have some pressure drop, so will take somewhat longer to pump out, but elevation is main issue.

Suction of 1 bar is max for tank at atmospheric pressure; driver is wrong about 20bar pressure. Maybe he means 20feet of water.

Max suction for fresh water is about 35 feet or 10m. Sewage is heavier, thus, somewhat lower lift height.