Septic tanks, cesspits, treatment plants and pumps looked after in Rye and the marsh and Weald villages around it.
Rye is an old hilltop town above the levels where the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede meet, on the edge of Romney Marsh. The town itself is on mains drainage, but the countryside around it, from Peasmarsh, Iden and Playden to the marsh farms and Camber, has a great many homes and businesses on septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants.
Much of this land is flat, low marsh drained by ditches, with a high water table for months at a time. Drainage fields struggle, and many properties rely on cesspits or treatment plants instead. The holiday parks and caravan sites at Camber depend on pump stations and private drainage too, especially in the busy season.
Our crews work in East Sussex most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We empty septic tanks and cesspits for homes and farms around Rye. On the marsh, cesspits are common and fill fast, so we can book regular collections and remind you when the next is due.
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Treatment plants on the marsh discharge to ditches that feed protected wetland, so they need to work properly. Our engineers service them at least once a year and leave a written report.
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Caravan parks and holiday sites around Camber rely on pump stations. We service them before and during the busy season, and respond 24/7 if one fails.
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Rye’s pubs, restaurants and tea rooms need grease traps emptied, and its old streets have drains that need clearing. We handle both.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Hilltop town, flat marsh and busy holiday parks.
The marsh is flat and low, with a high water table. Drainage fields often fail, which is why so many properties have cesspits.
Ditches here feed protected wetland. A septic tank discharging into a ditch must be upgraded under the General Binding Rules.
Holiday parks see huge changes in use. Pump stations should be serviced before the season starts.
Local to you
We cover Rye and the marsh and Weald villages around it.
Rye · town and nearby
Surrounding villages · where private drainage is common
If you’re in or around Rye, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Why Rye customers use us
Whether it’s a cesspit on a marsh farm or a pump station at Camber, here’s what you can expect.
We’ve been emptying tanks and servicing systems since long before most of the kit on the market existed.
Tankers from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, jet/vac combination units, CCTV survey kit and confined space teams for pump station wet wells.
Regular customers get a reminder when their next empty or service is due.
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
★★★★★I have used Clearmasters now for 4 years and the service has been excellent. Very punctual on the day and their planning team have always been very helpful in finding convenient dates to service and maintain our pumps and tanks. I recommend.
Adam G. Google review
★★★★★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.
★★★★★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
How it works
The same simple process for every job.
Step 1
Call us or book online and tell us what you have. Holiday parks: let us know your busy periods so we can plan around them.
Step 2
We book a date and send the right tanker or engineer. It helps if:
Step 3
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
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now.
Questions answered
What homeowners, farms and holiday parks around Rye ask us most.
The marsh is flat and low with a high water table, so drainage fields often can’t work. A cesspit holds everything until it’s emptied, which avoids the problem.
It depends on its size and water use, often every few weeks. We can book regular collections.
Before the busy season starts, and again during or after it depending on how hard it works.
No. Under the General Binding Rules, septic tanks can’t discharge to surface water and must be upgraded. A survey will confirm where yours goes.
Yes, for pubs, restaurants and tea rooms, with a waste transfer note each time.
Yes. Our crews work in East Sussex most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day. Call 03333 233566.
Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.
We're independently vetted and certified so you can trust who you're letting onto your site.
Health & safety pre-qualification accreditation, verifying our processes meet recognised safety standards.
Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme — approved to work safely within the rail industry supply chain.
Utilities Vetting Database membership, confirming we meet the utilities sector's supply chain standards.
Vetted and approved under the local authority's trusted trader scheme for honesty and fair dealing.
Members of the National Association of Drainage Contractors, the UK trade body for the drainage industry.
Registered with the Environment Agency, so your waste is handled and disposed of fully within the law.
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