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Septic Tank Emptying in Godalming

Septic tanks and cesspits emptied at cottages, farmhouses and estates in the villages and hamlets around Godalming.

Godalming town and Farncombe are on the main sewer, but step outside them and private drainage soon takes over. Hamlets such as Peper Harow, Eashing and Hurtmore, the heath villages of Elstead and Thursley, and the scattered houses around Hambledon and Hascombe have plenty of homes with their own tank. In Milford, Witley and Busbridge the main streets are generally on the sewer, while houses on the outskirts often aren’t.

A lot of these properties are built of Bargate stone, the local sandstone that was quarried round here until the Second World War. Some of the tanks behind them are nearly as old as the houses, built in brick and added to whenever a bathroom or an extension went in. They still work, but they need emptying before the sludge gets near the outlet.

Whether you want a single empty or a regular slot, our crews will sort it. Each tanker has jetting kit on board for clearing blockages. A waste transfer note is left for each load. If you’re not sure where the lid is, we can help you find it.

What's included

What you get with every empty

It’s more than just a pump-out.

  • A straight answer

    If we see a cracked wall, a missing baffle or a blocked outlet, we tell you plainly and explain what can be done.

  • A look before we start

    The operator checks the level and condition of the tank first, so anything unusual is spotted before the pump goes on.

  • Long hose runs

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

  • A full pump-out

    The tank is emptied into one of our own tankers, which hold between 2,000 and 4,000 gallons.

  • 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.

  • Inlet and outlet cleared

    Every tanker carries jetting kit, so a blocked inlet or outlet pipe can be cleared on the same visit.

Planning your empties

01
Clearmasters tanker on a rural driveway, with its hose run through the garden to the tank

Greensand that drains, with clay in places

Most of the land around Godalming is Lower Greensand. It’s sandy and free-draining, which suits a soakaway as long as solids are kept out of it. There are exceptions, though. At Binscombe, in the north of the parish, a band of Atherfield Clay comes to the surface, and patches like that drain far more slowly.

On the open heath around Thursley and Elstead the sand is very loose. A soakaway there can work for decades, but if it ever silts up, the fix is usually a new drainage field rather than a quick clean.

Learn more
02
Clearmasters tanker emptying an underground septic tank through an open manhole

Getting the tanker to your tank

Our tankers are big vehicles, so it helps to tell us about narrow lanes, weak bridges, low branches or soft verges when you book. We’ll send the right size of tanker and plan the hose run.

If the lid is buried under lawn or gravel, uncovering it before we arrive saves time on the day.

Learn more

Local to you

Septic tank emptying around Godalming

We empty tanks in the villages and hamlets on every side of Godalming. That includes Busbridge, Milford, Eashing, Hurtmore, Shackleford, Peper Harow, Elstead and Thursley to the west, and Hambledon, Hascombe, Witley, Wormley and Brook to the south. Tell us which hamlet you’re in and we’ll match the tanker to the lane. See the full Godalming area list.

Other services in Godalming

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

★★★★★

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.

Adam G. Google review
★★★★★

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.

Angie B. Google review
Read all our reviews

Free, no-obligation quote

Book a septic tank or cesspit empty in Godalming

A few details about your tank and access are all we need to quote. For an emergency, ring us.

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

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Questions answered

Septic tank and cesspit questions

Our cottage near Peper Harow has an old brick tank. Is that a problem?

Not in itself. Plenty of brick tanks around Godalming still do their job. When we empty it, we check the walls, inlet and outlet, and we’ll be straight with you if anything has cracked or slipped. If the tank discharges to a ditch, it will need upgrading under the General Binding Rules.

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.

My cesspit fills up very fast. Is that normal?

Cesspits fill quickly because nothing drains out. But if yours fills much faster than it used to, rainwater or groundwater may be getting in, or the tank may be damaged. A survey will find out which.

Why does our soakaway in Thursley still work after so many years?

The sand on the heath around Thursley drains very freely, so a well-built soakaway can last a long time. Regular emptying is what keeps it that way. Once sludge starts to wash through, it blocks the sand around the pipes, and on loose ground that’s hard to put right.

Can I go on a regular schedule?

Yes. Many customers have their tank emptied on a set cycle, and our office gets in touch when the next one is due, so you don’t have to remember.

Can you empty my tank in an emergency?

Yes, we take emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Until we arrive, cut your water use right down: no baths, showers, washing machine or dishwasher, and flush as little as possible. Then 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.

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