Septic Tank Emptying & Drainage in Arundel

Arundel is a small town with a lot of countryside around it. Beyond the streets below the castle, many of the homes in the surrounding villages, from Burpham, South Stoke and Houghton in the Arun valley to Slindon and Madehurst up on the downs, aren’t connected to the mains sewer. They rely on septic tanks, cesspits and small treatment plants, and those are the systems we’re most often asked to look after here.

The ground changes a lot over a short distance. The valley floor beside the river is low-lying and wet in winter, which can leave drainage fields waterlogged, while the chalk of the downs drains freely but holds the groundwater that supplies drinking water, so the rules on what goes into the ground are tighter. We look at the whole system, not just the tank.

In the town itself, the pubs, restaurants and tea rooms that serve Arundel’s visitors need their grease traps emptied and their drains kept clear. Our tankers cover Arundel from our yard in Copthorne, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and every collection comes with the paperwork.

Septic tank and cesspit emptying in Arundel

Covering Arundel
& villages

24/7
call-outs

Homes &
businesses

Waste transfer
notes

Own tanker
fleet

What we do for Arundel customers

A Clearmasters tanker emptying a tank at a rural property

Septic tanks and cesspits in the valley and on the downs

Farmhouses, cottages and barn conversions around Arundel often have a septic tank or cesspit tucked away at the bottom of the garden. We empty both, with tankers that hold between 2,000 and 4,000 gallons, and we’ll tell you if we spot anything that needs attention, like a damaged baffle, a blocked outlet or a drainage field that isn’t coping. A cesspit has no outlet, so it fills much faster; we can book regular collections so it never gets close to full.

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Treatment plant servicing and repairs

Newer and upgraded homes around Arundel often have a sewage treatment plant instead of a septic tank. A plant needs servicing at least once a year to keep the air blower, pumps and filters working and the water it discharges clean. Our engineers service all the common makes, carry the most common parts, and repair or replace blowers, diffusers and pumps when they fail.

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Drain clearance and CCTV surveys

A blocked drain in an old property is rarely just a blockage. Clay pipes, tree roots and decades of ground movement all take their toll. We clear blockages with high-pressure jetting, and if it keeps happening we’ll put a camera down the pipe so you can see exactly what’s wrong before anyone picks up a spade. A written survey is also worth having if you’re buying an older property in the area.

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A Clearmasters tanker at a commercial site

Grease traps for pubs, cafés and restaurants

Kitchens in a busy visitor town produce a lot of fat, oil and grease. Left to build up, it sets hard in the drains and can back up into the kitchen. We empty grease traps on a schedule that suits how busy you are, early in the morning if you’d rather we weren’t there during service, and leave a waste transfer note every time.

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Local knowledge

Drainage around Arundel: what to know

A few things about the area that affect how septic tanks, treatment plants and drains work here.

Wet valley ground

Land beside the Arun is low-lying and the water table rises in winter. A drainage field in wet ground can struggle, so slow drains after a lot of rain are worth getting looked at.

Chalk on the downs

The chalk above Arundel drains well but holds groundwater used for drinking water. Close to the most sensitive sources, discharging to the ground can need an Environment Agency permit.

Old buildings, old pipes

Older and listed properties often have drainage that was added to over many years. We find out where it all goes before recommending any work.

Local to you

Areas we cover in and around Arundel

From the town centre to farms along the Arun and villages on the downs, we cover Arundel and the countryside around it.

Arundel · town and nearby

Arundel
Crossbush
Warningcamp
Lyminster
Ford

Surrounding villages · where septic tanks and cesspits are common

Burpham
South Stoke
Houghton
Amberley
Slindon
Madehurst
Walberton
Binsted
Fontwell
Poling
Yapton
Climping

Not sure if we cover you?

If you’re within a few miles of Arundel, the answer is almost certainly yes. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.

Nearby areas

Call 03333 233566

Why Arundel customers use us

Honest, dependable tank and drain work

Whether it’s a cesspit on a farm near Burpham or a grease trap in the town centre, here’s what you can expect from us.

34 years in drainage
We’ve been emptying tanks and servicing systems since long before most of the kit on the market existed.
Day and night, all year
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
Trained engineers
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
Paperwork done properly
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
We remember so you don’t have to
Regular customers get a reminder when their next empty or service is due.
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

Google

From 63 reviews · Read them

Scores as of September 2026

★★★★★

Our family have been using Clearmasters for years and are the only choice as far as we are concerned! All the staff are friendly, helpful and accommodating. Couldn’t recommend them highly enough!
Stu Google review

★★★★★

I have used Clearmasters for years. They are always on time, polite and reliable whether your need them to empty your septic tank or undertake maintenance work. I wouldn’t use anyone else. Local and the best.
John E. Google review

★★★★★

Work carried out professionally as usual, the only company I'd recommend.
Mary M. Google review

Read all our reviews

How it works

What happens when you book

The same simple process whether it’s a regular tank empty or a one-off blocked drain.

Step 1

Tell us what you’ve got

Call us or book online and tell us what kind of system you have and what’s wrong, if anything. If you don’t know whether it’s a septic tank, cesspit or treatment plant, that’s fine: we’ll work it out.
Step 2

We come out and do the job

We send the right size tanker or a service van for the job. It helps if:
- there’s room for a tanker within reach of the tank, and you tell us if the lane or drive is narrow
- lids and covers are uncovered and easy to find
- you let us know about any gates, codes or animals in the field
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.

Book online Call 03333 233566

Free, no-obligation quote

Get a quote for your Arundel property

Regular emptying, a service or a one-off problem: tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now instead.

Free quotes for one-off jobs and regular emptying
Septic tanks, cesspits, treatment plants and drains
Emergency cover around the clock, every day of the year

Urgent? 03333 233566

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Questions answered

Arundel septic tank and drainage FAQs

The questions we’re asked most often by homeowners, landlords and businesses in and around Arundel.

How often should a septic tank be emptied?

For a typical family home, about once a year. A large tank serving a couple might go longer, and a busy household may need it more often. After the first empty we can tell you how quickly yours fills and suggest a schedule.

My drains are slow after heavy rain. Is my septic tank full?

Not always. Around Arundel, slow drains after a wet spell often mean the drainage field is struggling in waterlogged ground rather than the tank being full. We can empty the tank to buy time, and check the outlet and drainage field to see what’s really going on.

Do I need a permit for my septic tank?

Most small domestic systems don’t, as long as they meet the Environment Agency’s General Binding Rules. The rules are stricter close to drinking water sources, which includes parts of the chalk downs. If you’re not sure where you stand, a septic tank survey will tell you, or you can read the rules on GOV.UK.

Can you empty my cesspit regularly without me having to ring?

Yes. A cesspit has no outlet, so it fills steadily. We can book regular collections based on how fast yours fills, and change them if your household changes.

Do you empty grease traps for businesses in Arundel?

Yes, for pubs, restaurants, cafés and tea rooms. We’ll suggest how often yours needs doing based on its size and how busy you are, and you’ll get a waste transfer note every time.

How quickly can you get to Arundel?

Our tankers are based in Copthorne and cover the whole of West Sussex. For an emergency, call 03333 233566 and we’ll tell you honestly when we can be there. Regular emptying and servicing is booked in advance at a time that suits you.

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.

Septic Tank & Drainage Services in Arundel

Our Arundel drainage and waste services

Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying

Treatment Plant Servicing

Blocked Drains & CCTV Surveys

Grease Traps & Commercial Waste

Treatment Plant Installations

Septic Tank Surveys

What we do for Arundel customers

Septic tanks and cesspits in the valley and on the downs

Treatment plant servicing and repairs

Drain clearance and CCTV surveys

Grease traps for pubs, cafés and restaurants

Drainage around Arundel: what to know

Wet valley ground

Chalk on the downs

Old buildings, old pipes

Areas we cover in and around Arundel

Not sure if we cover you?

Nearby areas

Honest, dependable tank and drain work

34 years in drainage

Day and night, all year

Trained engineers

Paperwork done properly

We remember so you don’t have to

One call for everything

What our customers say

What happens when you book

Tell us what you’ve got

We come out and do the job

Paperwork and the next visit

Get a quote for your Arundel property

Arundel septic tank and drainage FAQs

Fully accredited & compliant

SafeContractor

RISQS

Achilles UVDB

Trading Standards Approved

NADC Member

Registered Waste Carrier