ABOUT US

WHO ARE WE?

PID is proud to present the Pitvaq, the Honeysucker that can go anywhere. Between 2012 and 2020, we designed, built, and tested this machine under the name eVac. In 2020, we changed the name to Pitvaq, describing more precisely what it does: removes sludge from pits and septic tanks using a vacuum pump. Its compact design allows small teams the flexibility to move the machine by hand and manoeuvre it into hard-to-reach places.   The Pitvaq (aka the eVac) uses the same principle as a vacuum tanker, also known as a honeysucker, to remove sludge from pits.  A vacuum pump creates a vacuum in a tank.  That vacuum is used to suck up the sludge from the pit through a suction hose and into the tank.  A ball float valve in the tank and a moisture trap next to the pump ensure that sludge does not get into the moving parts of the pump.  The pump is very robust and is built to last for many thousands of hours of use. Not only can it get to locations that are hard for a honeysucker to reach, it is also faster than manual emptying when properly used, and its much more sanitary!  


The Pitvaq was invented by Dave Still at Partners in Development (PID), located in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.  PID began in 1993 as a home-based business and has grown into an engineering consultancy that contributes to projects throughout South Africa.  Our mission is simple: Enable developing communities to construct, operate and maintain infrastructure in order to achieve a sustainable improvement in their quality of life. Mayihlome Construction and Training Services (MCTS) company was started as a partnership between PID (33%) and the Mayihlome Trust (67%). As such, PID also provides construction services in matters relating to water, sanitation, and agriculture.