Septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants emptied, serviced and repaired in Fordingbridge and the villages of the upper Avon valley.
Fordingbridge is a small town on the Avon, close to where Hampshire meets Wiltshire and Dorset. Around it are some of the most rural villages in the county, from Rockbourne, Damerham and Martin on the chalk to the west, to Woodgreen, Hale and Godshill on the edge of the New Forest to the east. Most of them rely on septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants.
That split matters. West of the river is chalk downland, where the ground usually drains well. East of it, on the forest side, the soils are sandier and in places heavy and wet. And along the valley itself, the meadows flood and the water table sits high for months at a time.
We look after private drainage around Fordingbridge all year round. Our tankers and engineers are in Hampshire almost every day, and we’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year when something goes wrong.
We empty septic tanks and cesspits at homes, farms and holiday lets around Fordingbridge. We match the tanker to your access, and while we’re there we check the outlet and baffles and tell you if anything looks wrong.
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A treatment plant needs a yearly service to keep treating water to the standard needed. Our engineers clean and check the plant, test the blower and pumps, and leave you a written report.
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If you’re buying a home here, a septic tank survey tells you what you’re taking on. It also tells you whether an old system meets the General Binding Rules, and what an upgrade might involve.
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When a plant’s alarm goes off or it stops working, we find the fault and repair or replace the blower, pump, float switch or control panel. Our engineers carry the most common parts.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Chalk to the west, forest to the east and a flood plain in between.
In Rockbourne, Damerham and Martin, the chalk usually drains well, but it also holds groundwater used for drinking water, so the rules on new discharges can be tighter.
Low land along the river floods and stays wet. A drainage field on the flood plain may stop working in winter.
The Avon is protected and phosphorus is a concern. New homes here are expected to be nutrient neutral, so check before choosing a treatment plant.
Local to you
From the town out to the chalk villages, the Avon valley and the northern New Forest, here’s where we work.
Fordingbridge · town and nearby
Surrounding villages · where septic tanks and cesspits are common
If you’re in or around Fordingbridge, call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Why Fordingbridge customers use us
Whether it’s a cesspit at a farm near Damerham or a treatment plant at a cottage in Woodgreen, 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.
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
Regular customers get a reminder when their next empty or service is due.
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
★★★★★Clearmasters have been emptying and servicing our treatment plant for the last 7 years and their service and quality of work is of a high standard. I would highly recommend them.
Angus C. Google review
★★★★★Efficient, courteous, customer-facing. Would not hesitate to recommend to others.
★★★★★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.
How it works
The same simple process every time.
Step 1
Call us or book online and tell us what system you have and whether anything’s wrong. If you have old paperwork or a photo of the lid, that helps.
Step 2
We book a date that suits you and send the right vehicle. 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 give you a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now instead.
Questions answered
What homeowners and farms around Fordingbridge most often ask us.
It can matter a lot. West of the Avon the ground is mostly chalk and drains freely; east of it, towards the forest, it can be sandy or heavy and wet. That affects how well a soakaway or drainage field works, and what kind of system suits the site.
Most small household systems don’t, provided they meet the General Binding Rules. Rules are tighter close to drinking water sources. Read the rules on GOV.UK, or ask us for a survey.
For most homes, about once a year. A big tank with few people may go longer; a busy household may need it more often. We’ll suggest a schedule after the first visit.
Call 03333 233566. Use as little water as possible until we’ve found the fault. Our engineers carry common parts, so many repairs can be done on the first visit.
Yes. Tell us when the property is empty between guests and we’ll arrange the visit around it.
Our crews are in Hampshire most days, and we answer 24 hours a day. Call 03333 233566 and we’ll tell you when we can get to you.
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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