CLEARMASTERS
Septic tanks and cesspits
We empty septic tanks and cesspits for homes, farms and holiday lets around Winchelsea, and tell you if the tank or outlet needs attention. On the levels, cesspits fill fast, so we can book regular collections.
Learn moreWinchelsea is one of England’s smallest towns, a medieval planned town on a hill above the Brede levels, with Winchelsea Beach, Pett Level and Fairlight along the coast below it. Much of this area, from the old town to the scattered farms and cottages around Icklesham and Pett, relies on septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants.
The levels below Winchelsea are flat, low and drained by ditches, with a high water table for much of the year. Winchelsea Beach has holiday parks and many homes that depend on pumps or private drainage. Up on the hill, old houses have systems that have been added to over centuries.
Our crews work in East Sussex most days and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our Winchelsea drainage and waste services
View all services
Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying
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Treatment Plant Servicing
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Pump Station Servicing
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Septic Tank Surveys
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Treatment Plant & Pump Repairs
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Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys
Learn moreWinchelsea &
the coast
the coast
Homes, farms
& holiday parks
& holiday parks
Plant servicing
& repairs
& repairs
Waste transfer
notes
notes
24/7
call-outs
call-outs
What we do for Winchelsea customers
Treatment plant servicing
Treatment plants on the levels and the coast need servicing at least once a year to protect the ditches and wetland. Our engineers service the common makes and leave a written report.
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Pumps and holiday park systems
Holiday parks and low-lying homes at Winchelsea Beach and Pett Level rely on pumps. We service them and respond 24/7 when one fails.
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Surveys for old houses
Medieval and Georgian houses in Winchelsea often have drainage that has grown over the centuries. A survey shows what you really have and where it goes.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Drainage around Winchelsea: what to know
A hilltop town above flat, wet levels.
The Brede levels
The levels are low and wet for much of the year. Drainage fields there often fail.
Protected ditches
Ditches and wetland near the coast are protected. A septic tank discharging into one must be upgraded.
Old town systems
Historic houses on the hill have drains added over centuries. A survey before any work saves surprises.
Local to you
Areas we cover in and around Winchelsea
We cover Winchelsea and the coastal villages between Rye and Hastings.
Winchelsea · and nearby
- Winchelsea
- Winchelsea Beach
- Icklesham
- Pett
- Pett Level
Surrounding areas · where private drainage is common
- Fairlight
- Fairlight Cove
- Guestling
- Three Oaks
- Udimore
- Brede
- Rye Harbour
- Rye
- Westfield
- Doleham
- Cock Marling
- Camber
Not sure if we cover you?
If you’re in or around Winchelsea, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Why Winchelsea customers use us
Careful work on old and coastal systems
Whether it’s a cesspit at Pett Level or a treatment plant in Icklesham, 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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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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The right kit for the job
Tankers from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, jet/vac combination units, CCTV survey kit and confined space teams for pump station wet wells.
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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
★★★★★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!
Drake I. Google review
★★★★★We've been using Clearmasters for several years now and they've been great. We're in a tricky area to get to but they always make a plan without complaint. Great team! Highly Recommended.
★★★★★Had a very good experience with Clear Masters. They provide an excellent, professional service, friendly and helpful, on time as per the agreed price
How it works
What happens when you book
Simple and the same every time.
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Step 1
Tell us what you’ve got
Call us or book online and tell us what system you have. For holiday lets and parks, tell us your busy periods.
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Step 2
We come out and do the job
We book a date and send the right tanker or engineer. It helps if:
- there’s firm ground for a tanker, as marsh and levels land gets soft
- tank lids and covers are uncovered and easy to find
- you tell us about narrow tracks, bridges or weight limits on the way in
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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 Winchelsea property
Tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now.
- Free quotes for emptying, servicing and surveys
- Septic tanks, cesspits, treatment plants and pumps
- Visits timed around holiday lets
Urgent?
03333 233566
Questions answered
Winchelsea septic tank FAQs
What homeowners and holiday parks around Winchelsea ask us most.
Is Winchelsea on mains drainage?
Parts of it are, but many homes and farms around the town, on the levels and along the coast rely on septic tanks, cesspits or treatment plants.
Why does my drainage field fail on the levels?
The levels have a high water table, so for much of the year there’s nowhere for the water to soak away. A treatment plant or cesspit may be a better option.
Do you service pumps at Winchelsea Beach?
Yes. We service pumps for homes and holiday parks and respond 24/7 if one fails.
Does my septic tank meet the rules?
If it discharges to a ditch or stream, it needs upgrading under the General Binding Rules. Read the rules on GOV.UK.
Can you survey drains at a historic house?
Yes. We can trace and survey old drains with a camera and show you where they run before any work starts.
Can you help in an emergency?
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.
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.