DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi, please may I ask for some advice. I have a 2 year old house that has 2 catchpits for surface water. The 1sr catchpit is shallow about 2 feet and collects rain water from the 2 gutteringsand then transfers it direct via a pipe to the second catchpit that is around 6 feet deep.
The second catchpit collects water also collects water from the driveway and another piece of guttering and also from Catchpit 1.
All this water just sits in the 2nd catchpit until it reaches a certain height and then drains off in to the main sewer. All the silt stays at the bottom of the 2nd Catchpit.
I opened the 2nd catchpit today as it has been 2 years since we looked in it and it is quite full of stagment smelly surface water and the level is just under the outlet pipe, there is about 2 foot of dirty water just sat there.
I have read that periodically there is a need to clean the water and silt out of the catchpit.
Due to the depth of 6 feet, I put some string on a bucket and dropped it in and removed as much water as possible, however there is still just under a foot of water left and the silt at the bottom.
As anyone any idea how to clean this water and silt out ?
Is it by a machine or how does other people do theirs.
It is to tight to jump in and do it by hand.
Any help is greatly welcomed.
Many thanks

Hi jazzey,
Get a wet vacuum cleaner with a long extension pipe and suck it out. One with a 50mm pipe would be preferable.
Regards S

Hi Stoneyboy, thankyou so much for your reply. I will go and get a wet vacuum cleaner this weekend from B&Q. I have seen some for around £30.00
Please may I ask once I have vacuumed up the water and silt do I just empty the hoover tank and will the silt cause any damage to the vacuum ?
Many thanks

Hi jezzey,
You will have to empty the tank a number of times. Once you have finished and emptied the tank use it to suck up clean water. Empty the tank and leave it open to dry.
Regards S

Thankyou again for all your help. It is really appreciated.