CLEARMASTERS
Septic tanks in the downland villages
We empty septic tanks and cesspits for homes and farms in the villages around Lewes. On the chalk, it’s important that tanks work properly, so we check the outlet and tell you if anything looks wrong.
Learn moreLewes is the county town of East Sussex, an old hilltop town above the River Ouse and right inside the South Downs National Park. The town is on mains drainage, and its steep streets of old houses keep us busy with blocked and broken drains. Around it, villages such as Kingston, Rodmell, Glynde, Firle, Barcombe and Hamsey have many homes on septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants.
Two landscapes meet here. The chalk Downs drain freely but feed drinking water supplies, so private systems need to work properly. The Ouse valley floor is low and wet; the town itself flooded badly in 2000. Drainage fields on the valley floor and the clay north of the town can struggle in winter.
Our crews work in East Sussex most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our Lewes drainage and waste services
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Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying
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Treatment Plant Servicing
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Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys
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Septic Tank Surveys
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Treatment Plant & Pump Repairs
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Flood & Groundwater Removal
Learn moreCovering Lewes
& villages
& villages
24/7
call-outs
call-outs
Homes &
businesses
businesses
Waste transfer
notes
notes
Own tanker
fleet
fleet
What we do for Lewes customers
Treatment plant servicing
Treatment plants around Lewes need servicing at least once a year. Our engineers clean and check every part, test the blower and pumps, and leave a written report.
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Drains in old town streets
Lewes’s old houses often have clay drains that have been added to over centuries. We clear blockages with high-pressure jetting and survey the pipes with CCTV to find the cause.
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Surveys and upgrades
A septic tank survey tells you what system a property has and whether it meets the General Binding Rules. In the national park, we’ll help you understand what an upgrade involves.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Drainage around Lewes: what to know
Chalk downs, a flood-prone river and a national park.
South Downs National Park
Lewes and its villages are in the park. New or replacement drainage may need park authority planning permission.
Chalk and drinking water
The chalk Downs supply drinking water. Near sources, new discharges to ground may need an Environment Agency permit.
The Ouse valley
The valley floor is low and wet and has flooded before. Drainage fields there can struggle in winter.
Local to you
Areas we cover in and around Lewes
We cover Lewes and the villages of the Downs and the Ouse valley.
Lewes · town and nearby
- Lewes
- Kingston
- Southover
- Cliffe
- Malling
- Offham
Surrounding villages · where private drainage is common
- Ringmer
- Barcombe
- Hamsey
- Cooksbridge
- Glynde
- Firle
- Beddingham
- Iford
- Rodmell
- Southease
- Plumpton
- Laughton
Not sure if we cover you?
If you’re in or around Lewes, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll give you a date.
Nearby areas
Why Lewes customers use us
Careful work in the national park
Whether it’s a blocked drain in the old town or a septic tank in Rodmell, here’s what you can expect.
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34 years in drainage
We’ve been emptying tanks and servicing systems since long before most of the kit on the market existed.
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One call for everything
Tanks, treatment plants, pump stations, grease traps and drains, all handled by one team.
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Trained engineers
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
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Paperwork done properly
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
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We remember so you don’t have to
Regular customers get a reminder when their next empty or service is due.
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Day and night, all year
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
What our customers say
9.84/10
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
4.9/5
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
★★★★★Very professional operation. Super clean tanker. Responded quickly to quote and booking requests. Arrived on time. Kept us notified throughout. Very pleasant and helpful guy operating the equipment. Gave sound advice with ongoing maintenance tips. Will definitely be saving Clearmasters' contact details to use them again.
Angie B. Google review
★★★★★Clearmasters have emptied our Septic Tank for many years. It is not an easy placed tank to get to but the chaps manage perfectly. I find them very efficient, friendly and polite. Thank you Valerie Wise
★★★★★So glad we found them. The team was professional, courteous and helpful. They came the next day and pricing is way more competitive than a national chain. Will be using them again in a year's time to service the pump. Thanks again!
How it works
What happens when you book
The same simple process for every job.
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Step 1
Tell us what you’ve got
Call us or book online and tell us what’s happening. For old town properties, let us know about parking and access.
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Step 2
We come out and do the job
We send the right van, tanker or engineer. It helps if:
- there’s room to park a tanker close to the tank, trap or manhole
- lids, covers and hatches are clear and easy to find
- you tell us about narrow access, gates or site rules before we arrive
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Step 3
Paperwork and the next visit
You get a waste transfer note for anything we take away, and a written report after a survey or service. If it’s a regular job, we’ll remind you when the next one is due.
Free, no-obligation quote
Get a quote for your Lewes property
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now.
- Free quotes for drains, tanks and surveys
- Septic tanks, treatment plants and drains
- Help with upgrades in the national park
Urgent?
03333 233566
Questions answered
Lewes septic tank and drainage FAQs
What homeowners in and around Lewes ask us most.
Do I need permission to replace my septic tank near Lewes?
You may need planning permission from the South Downs National Park Authority, and the new system must meet the Environment Agency’s rules. Check before work starts.
Why do drains in Lewes’s old streets block so often?
Many are old clay drains that have been altered and extended over the years, with joints that let in roots or have shifted. A CCTV survey shows exactly what’s going on.
Does the chalk affect my septic tank?
Chalk usually drains well, but it supplies drinking water. Tanks and plants must work properly, and new discharges near water sources may need a permit.
Do you empty septic tanks in Ringmer and Barcombe?
Yes. We empty septic tanks and cesspits and service treatment plants throughout the villages around Lewes.
Can you help when the Ouse floods?
Yes. Our tankers can pump flood water out of basements and chambers, and we can jet and survey drains afterwards.
Can you come out at night?
Yes. We answer the phone 24 hours a day. Call 03333 233566 and we’ll tell you when we can be there.
Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.
Fully accredited & compliant
We're independently vetted and certified so you can trust who you're letting onto your site.
SafeContractor
Health & safety pre-qualification accreditation, verifying our processes meet recognised safety standards.
RISQS
Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme — approved to work safely within the rail industry supply chain.
Achilles UVDB
Utilities Vetting Database membership, confirming we meet the utilities sector's supply chain standards.
Trading Standards Approved
Vetted and approved under the local authority's trusted trader scheme for honesty and fair dealing.
NADC Member
Members of the National Association of Drainage Contractors, the UK trade body for the drainage industry.
Registered Waste Carrier
Registered with the Environment Agency, so your waste is handled and disposed of fully within the law.