Pumps for Patients is now accepting applications for free septic pumping!
Did You Know?
Chemo Is Hard on Homes, Too
Ask any professional septic pumper and they’ll tell you:
Chemo takes its toll on a septic system.
Just one glance is often enough for an experienced pumper to know that a resident is on chemotherapy. Why? Because in the same way that they attack cancer cells, powerful chemotherapy drugs break down the beneficial bacteria in septic systems.
Without enough good bacteria, the septic system can prematurely deteriorate or even fail completely.
How Chemo Affects Septic Systems
- Throws off the bacterial balance
- Makes the system less efficient
- Disrupts biological action, leading to more solids build-up
- Potentially leaches drug residues into the environment
- May cause total system failure
The best known solution for chemo-related septic issues at this time is proactive maintenance, including regular septic pumping at closer intervals.
That’s where Pumps for Patients comes in.
What We Do
Connecting Septic Pumpers + Chemo Recipients
Join Us
Get Help or Get Involved
Who We Are
Small-but-Mighty, Like the Girl Who Inspired It All
Pumps for Patients is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded by Mathew and Nicki Deines, the husband-and-wife team behind All-American Septic Pumping & Services in San Diego, CA.
As professional septic pumpers, Mathew and Nicki learned how chemotherapy damages residential septic systems — and how few chemo recipients are even aware of the problem.
But the story of Pumps for Patients isn’t really about us at all. It’s about a little girl named Hannah whose fight with cancer opened our eyes and continues to inspire our mission.
FAQs About Pumps for Patients
Who Provides the Pumping Services?
Pumps for Patients coordinates septic pumping services that are provided by our network of professional septic pumping companies.
All pumpers within our network have been vetted and are licensed and insured.
Who is eligible to apply?
At this time, qualifying applicants must:
- Be a U.S. resident
- Be receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy treatment
- Have a septic system in their home
- Be able to prove financial need with tax returns and bank statements
To apply, please complete our inquiry form here.
Why have I never heard of this before?
The issue of chemo-related septic damage is still relatively unknown, even among professional septic pumpers. We ourselves hadn’t heard of it until we met Hannah! But word is slowly getting out — and we want to be part of that education.
Want to join in? Help us spread the word by learning about chemotherapy and septic systems or by supporting our work.
Why is this important?
Families fighting cancer have so many things to worry about that the “mundane” stuff — like home maintenance — often goes overlooked. But in the case of septic systems, proactive maintenance is required when someone in the house is taking chemotherapy drugs. Without regular maintenance, these powerful drugs can lead to premature system failure, costing thousands of dollars and a huge, unsanitary headache.
By stepping in for these chemo-affected families, Pumps for Patients (and our network of caring septic pumpers!) are making life easier and, more importantly, showing that people care.
How did your nonprofit get started?
Pumps for Patients’ cofounders, Mathew and Nicki, own a septic pumping company in San Diego. One day, they received a call from a family whose daughter (Hannah) was undergoing chemotherapy and needed septic maintenance to prevent chemo-related damage.
Despite years of septic pumping experience, Mathew and Nicki had never heard of this issue before. Right then and there, they decided to offer free septic service to Hannah’s family — and to do everything they could to help other families in the same situation. And here we are today!
How can I help?
We’re glad you asked! There are so many ways you can help us:
- Donate to fund our operations and allow us to continue serving families.
- Tell your friends and family about our work.
- Know someone fighting cancer? Refer them to us for free septic pumping.
- Want to support a caring local business? Give your business to the septic pumping partners who so generously work pro bono with us.