CLEARMASTERS
Blocked drains in older streets
Clay drains in Caterham’s Victorian and Edwardian streets crack, shift and let roots in. We clear blockages with high-pressure jetting and can tell you whether the problem is in your drain or a shared one.
Learn moreCaterham sits on the North Downs, split between Caterham-on-the-Hill, the older village up on the ridge, and Caterham Valley, the Victorian railway town below it. It’s on mains drainage, and much of our work here is clearing and surveying drains in streets where the houses, and their pipes, are now 80 to 120 years old.
The hills around the town are chalk, and some of the scattered homes and farms on them, around Chaldon, Woldingham and the lanes towards Tatsfield, rely on septic tanks and treatment plants. Steep driveways and narrow lanes make access part of the job.
Being on chalk, much of the area drains well, but it also feeds the groundwater that supplies drinking water, so private systems here need to work properly. We’re a short drive from Caterham and answer the phone 24 hours a day.
Our Caterham drainage services
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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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Grease Traps & Commercial Waste
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Pump Station Servicing
Learn moreCovering Caterham
& villages
& villages
24/7
call-outs
call-outs
Homes &
businesses
businesses
Waste transfer
notes
notes
Own tanker
fleet
fleet
What we do for Caterham customers
CCTV drain surveys
A camera survey shows exactly what’s going on inside the pipe: roots, cracks, displaced joints or a collapse. You get a written report with photos, useful for repairs, insurers or a house purchase.
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Septic tanks on the Downs
Homes and farms around Chaldon, Woldingham and the lanes towards Tatsfield are sometimes off the mains. We empty septic tanks and cesspits and check them while we’re there. Tell us about steep or narrow access and we’ll send the right tanker.
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Treatment plant servicing
Treatment plants on the chalk need to work properly to protect the groundwater. Our engineers service them at least once a year, carry the most common parts and repair them when they fail.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Drainage around Caterham: what to know
A hilltop town on the chalk.
Old clay pipes
Many homes in Caterham are a century old or more. Their clay drains are prone to cracks and root ingress.
Chalk and groundwater
The chalk drains well but supplies drinking water. Near water sources, new discharges to ground may need an Environment Agency permit.
Steep access
Hilly roads and steep drives mean we need to plan the right vehicle. Let us know about access when you book.
Local to you
Areas we cover in and around Caterham
We cover Caterham and the towns and villages around it on the North Downs.
Caterham · town and nearby
- Caterham
- Caterham-on-the-Hill
- Whyteleafe
- Kenley
- Warlingham
Surrounding villages · including homes on septic tanks
- Chaldon
- Woldingham
- Chelsham
- Farleigh
- Tatsfield
- Godstone
- Old Coulsdon
- Hooley
- Merstham
- Bletchingley
- Chipstead
- Oxted
Not sure if we cover you?
If you’re in or around Caterham, we cover you. Call with your postcode and we’ll give you a date.
Why Caterham customers use us
Straight answers about your drains
Whether it’s a root-blocked drain in town or a septic tank on the Downs, here’s what you can expect.
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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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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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Paperwork done properly
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
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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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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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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
★★★★★Very prompt and efficient service and most helpful
Checkatrade review Checkatrade · CR3
★★★★★Very efficient and competitive service, driver and mate very helpful
★★★★★Great service always. The guys are always polite and do an excellent job leaving no mess and no damage to the garden bed which surrounds our septic tank.
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. If it’s a survey, let us know what you need it for.
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Step 2
We come out and do the job
We send the right van or tanker. It helps if:
- you tell us about steep drives, narrow lanes or tight turns
- manhole covers and tank lids are clear and easy to find
- we know about shared drains or neighbours who are affected
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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 Caterham 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
- CCTV surveys with written reports
- Septic tanks and treatment plants on the Downs
Urgent?
03333 233566
Questions answered
Caterham drainage FAQs
The questions homeowners in and around Caterham ask us most.
My house is over 100 years old. Should I worry about the drains?
Not necessarily, but older clay drains do crack and let roots in. If you’ve had repeated blockages or slow drains, a CCTV survey will show what condition they’re in.
Do you empty septic tanks around Woldingham and Chaldon?
Yes. Some homes and farms on the Downs are off the mains, and we empty their tanks and service their treatment plants.
Can your tankers get up steep drives?
Usually. Our tankers carry long hoses, so we can often park on the road and reach the tank. Tell us about the access when you book.
Does chalk mean my soakaway will always work?
Chalk usually drains well, but it feeds drinking water supplies, so the rules on new discharges can be stricter. Check before installing a new soakaway or drainage field.
Who is responsible for a blocked shared drain?
Drains serving more than one property are usually the water company’s responsibility. We can find the blockage and tell you whose it is.
How quickly can you get to Caterham?
We’re a short drive away and work in the area most days. Call 03333 233566 at any time.
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.