CLEARMASTERS
Our tankers start their day in West Sussex. Our transport yard is at Cophall Farm in Copthorne, on the county's northern edge, which puts Crawley, East Grinstead and Horsham close by. From there we cover the whole county, down through the Downs to Chichester, Worthing and the coast.
West Sussex falls into three quite different landscapes. The north is Weald country: heavy clay around Horsham and Crawley, rising to the sandstone ridges of the High Weald around East Grinstead. Across the middle runs the chalk of the South Downs National Park. South of the Downs is the coastal plain around Chichester, Bognor Regis and Selsey, flat and low-lying.
Each one throws up different drainage problems, which is why we've written in-depth guides for Horsham and Crawley. Wherever you are, you get our own crews and tankers, and the same emergency cover day and night.
Our services in West Sussex
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Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying
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Treatment Plant Servicing
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Pump Station Servicing
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Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys
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Drainage Fields & Upgrades
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Grease Traps & Commercial Waste
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Local knowledge
What drainage looks like in West Sussex
From clay in the north to chalk and coast in the south.
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Weald clay in the north
Around Horsham, Crawley and Billingshurst the clay drains slowly, so soakaways and drainage fields struggle in wet winters and tanks can need emptying sooner than expected.
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The chalk of the Downs
The chalk under the South Downs holds groundwater that is used for drinking water. Villages along the Downs need drainage that meets the Environment Agency's rules, and a new drainage field may not be allowed close to a water supply.
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The coastal plain
Near the coast the land is flat and low, and the ground can stay wet for much of the year. That makes it harder to find a good spot for a drainage field, so a treatment plant is often the better option.
Local to you
Towns we cover in West Sussex
Every town below has its own page, and we cover the villages around each one.
★ Full local guide with villages, reviews and recent work
Local guides
In-depth West Sussex guides
What our West Sussex customers say
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
★★★★★Always receive a great service from the guys that arrive but also from the office who always remind me when my tank is due to be emptied. Very professional and helpful
Francoise P Septic tank emptying · RH13
★★★★★Clearmasters have been servicing and emptying my Klargester for many years now. They are a wonderful bunch. Always professional, friendly, helpful, and reliable.
★★★★★First of all the engineer attended site exactly on time and the slot had been within a couple of days of phoning. The required work was completed and the motor realigned to prevent future wear.
Not sure if we cover you?
If you're anywhere in West Sussex, we do. Call with your postcode and we'll give you a date.
Neighbouring areas
Questions answered
West Sussex septic tank FAQs
How do I know if my property is in a Source Protection Zone?
Source Protection Zones are shown on the government's MAGIC map, or you can ask us and we'll check for you. They matter most along the South Downs, where the chalk holds groundwater used for drinking water. A new discharge to ground isn't allowed inside a Zone 1 without an Environment Agency permit.
Do you cover the coast as well as the north of the county?
Yes. Our yard is in Copthorne in the north, and we cover the whole county, including Chichester, Bognor Regis, Selsey, Littlehampton, Worthing and Shoreham, and the downland villages in between.
Do you have dedicated pages for Horsham services?
Yes. As well as our Horsham guide, we have separate pages for septic tank and cesspit emptying, treatment plant servicing and pump station servicing in the Horsham area.
Who looks after the pump station on a new housing estate?
It depends. Some estate pump stations are adopted by the water company, but many are owned by a management company or the residents, who have to pay for servicing and repairs. Check your property deeds or management company paperwork. If it's yours to maintain, we can service it every six or twelve months and respond if the alarm goes off.
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.