24/7 emergency call-outs, 365 days a year
03333 233566
Liquid Waste Disposal Repairs & Servicing CCTV Surveying and Reporting Blockages and Jetting Services Drainage Groundworks
Emergencies
Our Locations Meet the Team Leave us a Review
Contact Us
Pay Online Book Online

Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying in East Horsley

Tank and cesspit emptying for houses and farms on the downs and the clay around the Horsleys, Effingham and Ockham.

The Horsleys and Effingham sit on a slope that runs from the top of the North Downs down onto the London Clay. Most homes in the village centres drain to the public sewer, but houses and farms higher up towards the downs, and scattered properties around Ockham and Hatchford, often have a septic tank or cesspit instead.

What happens to the liquid from a septic tank depends on where you are on that slope. Up on the chalk it usually soaks away freely. Lower down, on the clay around Ockham and the northern ends of the parishes, it drains slowly and drainage fields can become waterlogged after a wet spell. A cesspit on the clay can also take in rainwater through a tired lid or cracked neck, which fills it faster than it should.

We bring a tanker that suits your drive, from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, with jetting kit on board to clear blocked pipes on the same visit. You’ll get a waste transfer note after each empty to file with the house papers.

What's included

What you get with every empty

It’s more than just a pump-out.

  • Cesspits as well as septic tanks

    We empty sealed cesspits and holding tanks too, as one-off jobs or on a regular cycle.

  • Waste taken away legally

    Everything we remove goes to a licensed treatment site, and you get a waste transfer note for your records.

  • Paperwork you can keep

    Your waste transfer note shows what was taken and where it went, which is useful when you sell or let the property.

  • Advice on your drainage field

    If the tank is backing up because the soakaway or drainage field can’t cope, we’ll tell you so you’re not paying for empties that won’t fix it.

  • Long hose runs

    We carry enough hose to reach tanks well away from the drive, through gardens and across paddocks.

  • A reminder when it’s due

    If you’d like one, our office will get in touch when your next empty comes round.

How often, and what it costs

01
Clearmasters tanker emptying an underground septic tank through an open manhole

Chalk above, clay below

East and West Horsley parishes run from the crest of the downs across the chalk, then the Thanet and Woolwich Beds, and finally onto the London Clay. Near the top, clay with flints caps the chalk in places and can make a soakaway behave unpredictably. Further north, the London Clay is dense and slow to take water.

Because water moves through chalk quickly, a failing septic tank on the higher ground is more than a smell problem. Keep it emptied on schedule, and if you think it’s leaking, a septic tank survey will show what’s going on.

Learn more
02
A Clearmasters tanker emptying a tank at a rural property

What affects the price?

The cost depends mainly on how much there is to take away and how easy the tank is to reach. A tank at the end of a long drive, or one that needs its pipes jetting as well, takes longer than one by the road.

We give you a free quote before we start. Call 03333 233566 or use the form below.

Learn more

Local to you

Septic tank emptying around East Horsley

We empty septic tanks and cesspits in East Horsley, West Horsley, Effingham, Effingham Junction, Ockham, Hatchford, Wisley, Ripley, Send Marsh and East Clandon. If you’re down a farm track or a private road off the A246, let us know how the drive is laid out so we send the right tanker. See the full East Horsley area list.

Other services in East Horsley

We look after the whole system, not just one part of it.

Related services

Call 03333 233566

What our customers say

9.84/10

Checkatrade

From 134 reviews · Read them
4.9/5

Google

From 63 reviews · Read them

Scores as of October 2026

★★★★★

Excellent service from start to finish. The guys turned up on time and completed the job really quickly and efficiently. Highly recommended.

Checkatrade review Checkatrade · KT24
★★★★★

Great service, as ever...been using Clearmasters for 8 years now, very professional, reliable and have sorted blockages and camera inspection for problems in the past.

Checkatrade review Checkatrade · KT24
★★★★★

Pleasure to deal with this company. The are efficient and competitively priced

Checkatrade review Checkatrade · GU4
Read all our reviews

Free, no-obligation quote

Book a septic tank or cesspit empty in East Horsley

Let us know the type of tank and where it is, and we’ll quote and book you in. Overflowing? Call now.

  • Free quotes, one-off or regular emptying
  • Our own crews and tankers
  • Emergency call-outs 24/7
Emergency? 03333 233566

We'll only use your details to reply to your enquiry. See our privacy policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

Questions answered

Your emptying questions answered

Are homes in the Horsleys on mains drainage?

Most homes in the centres of East and West Horsley and Effingham are. Septic tanks and cesspits are more common at farms and larger properties up towards the downs, and at scattered houses around Ockham and Hatchford. If you can’t find a record, a quick look at the covers in the garden usually settles it.

What is a waste transfer note?

It’s a record of what waste was taken, who took it and where it went. Householders have a duty to make sure their waste goes to a registered carrier, so keep the note we give you after every empty.

Will emptying fix a smell from my tank?

Sometimes. If the tank is simply full, emptying it will help. If the smell comes from a blocked outlet or a failing drainage field, we’ll tell you what we find so you can put the cause right.

Does the chalk above East Horsley help a drainage field?

Usually, yes. Chalk lets liquid soak away well, so fields on the higher ground tend to cope better than those on the London Clay further north. The catch is that water travels through chalk quickly, so a tank that’s overflowing or cracked needs sorting promptly.

How do I know my septic tank needs emptying?

The usual signs are slow sinks and toilets, gurgling pipes, a smell near the tank or wet patches over the drainage field. If you don’t know when it was last done, book an empty and start a regular schedule from there.

How big a tanker do you send?

Our tankers range from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons. We choose the size to suit your tank and the access, so tell us about narrow lanes or soft ground when you book.

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.

Call Email