CLEARMASTERS
Blocked drains on the clifftop
We clear blocked drains at homes in Telscombe Cliffs and East Saltdean with high-pressure jetting and tell you what caused them.
Learn moreTelscombe is really two places. Telscombe Cliffs and East Saltdean are busy clifftop suburbs between Saltdean and Peacehaven, on mains drainage. A mile inland, the old village of Telscombe sits in a quiet fold of the South Downs, a tiny cluster of flint cottages and farms where private drainage is the norm.
On the clifftop, our work is drains: blockages, CCTV surveys and silted soakaways in a mix of inter-war and post-war homes, many extended over the years. Inland, in the village and on the downland farms, it’s septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants, on chalk that supplies drinking water.
Our crews work along this coast most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our Telscombe drainage services
View all services
Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys
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Septic Tank Surveys
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Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying
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Treatment Plant Servicing
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Treatment Plant & Pump Repairs
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Grease Traps & Commercial Waste
Learn moreCovering Telscombe
& villages
& villages
24/7
call-outs
call-outs
Homes &
businesses
businesses
Waste transfer
notes
notes
Own tanker
fleet
fleet
What we do for Telscombe customers
CCTV drain surveys
If a drain keeps blocking or you’re buying, a CCTV survey shows the condition of the pipes and where they run.
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Septic tanks in the village and on the Downs
In Telscombe village and the farms around it, we empty septic tanks and cesspits. Lanes here are narrow, so tell us about access and we’ll bring the right tanker.
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Treatment plant servicing
If you have a treatment plant on the Downs, it needs servicing at least once a year. Our engineers service the common makes and leave a written report.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Drainage around Telscombe: what to know
A clifftop suburb and a downland village.
South Downs National Park
Telscombe village is in the national park, so new or replacement drainage may need park authority planning permission.
Chalk and drinking water
The chalk supplies drinking water. Septic tanks and plants on the Downs must work properly.
Clifftop soakaways
Soakaways on the clifftop silt up over time. Water should never be put into the ground near the cliff edge.
Local to you
Areas we cover in and around Telscombe
We cover Telscombe and the neighbouring clifftop and downland areas.
Telscombe · and neighbouring areas
- Telscombe
- Telscombe Cliffs
- East Saltdean
- Peacehaven
Surrounding areas · including homes on septic tanks
- Saltdean
- Rottingdean
- Woodingdean
- Rodmell
- Southease
- Piddinghoe
- Newhaven
- Kingston
- Iford
- Ovingdean
- Falmer
- Lewes
Not sure if we cover you?
If you’re in or around Telscombe, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Nearby areas
Why Telscombe customers use us
Clifftop drains and downland tanks
Whether it’s a blocked drain in East Saltdean or a septic tank in Telscombe village, here’s what you get.
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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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Day and night, all year
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
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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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One call for everything
Tanks, treatment plants, pump stations, grease traps and drains, all handled by one team.
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
★★★★★I've used Clearmasters for at least 10 years and always find them reliable, helpful, knowledgable and great at what is a really unpleasant job! I won't use anyone else.
Nina C. Google review
★★★★★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.
★★★★★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.
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 you need. For the village and farms, let us know about 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 Telscombe 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, surveys and tanks
- Septic tanks and treatment plants on the Downs
- Written reports after every survey
Urgent?
03333 233566
Questions answered
Telscombe drainage FAQs
What homeowners in Telscombe ask us most.
Is Telscombe village on mains drainage?
Much of the old village and the farms around it aren’t, and rely on septic tanks or cesspits. Telscombe Cliffs and East Saltdean are on mains drainage.
Do I need permission to replace a septic tank in Telscombe village?
You may need planning permission from the South Downs National Park Authority, and the system must meet the Environment Agency’s rules.
Can your tankers get down the lane to the village?
Yes, usually. We have tankers in different sizes. Tell us where the tank is when you book.
Why does my clifftop garden flood after rain?
Usually a silted soakaway or blocked surface-water drain. We can check and clear it.
How often should a septic tank be emptied?
For most households, about once a year. We’ll suggest a schedule after the first visit.
Can you help in an emergency?
Yes. Our crews work along this coast 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.
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.