Many of the settlements which would benefit from vacutug services are unlikely to have sewers sufficiently near for sludge disposal. The tank could be located in a fixed location, which is emptied by a vacuum tanker. But the better option is a mobile tanker which can be transported by a tractor to the treatment site. This, however needs good management of the total service. The main conclusion after the trial period is that the vacutug is a viable method to empty pit latrines in densely populated low-income areas.
Local mechanics can repair the machine and repairs can be paid out of operating costs.
Technical improvements can be incorporated in the design The operating efficiency of the vacutug has been affected by the many break-downs which can be expected from a first prototype. In the new pre-production machines which are currently being manufactured and which will be tested in Kenya, Vietnam and possibly Bangladesh, improvements have been incorporated which will reduce the technical problems. This is more expensive than the tested vacutug because of the changes in design and materials used as well as the general increase in cost. Management critical for financial sustainability The management of the service is critical in determining the financial sustainability. Because it is difficult to have complete control over the operators and all other staff, it is best to have the service run by an entrepreneur, who will make sure that no unrecorded loads are taken out and who will make sure that repairs are carried out immediately.