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Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying in Crawley

Septic tanks and cesspits pumped out for the farms, cottages and country houses just beyond the edge of Crawley.

Crawley grew quickly as a post-war new town, and its neighbourhoods drain to the public sewer. Drive a mile or two past the edge, though, and things change. Around Rusper, Faygate, Colgate and Charlwood, plenty of farmhouses, cottages and converted barns still send everything to a septic tank or cesspit, and some have done so for generations.

North and west of the town, towards Ifield and Rusper, the ground is Weald clay. Rain sits on it for weeks, so a tank that goes too long between empties soon pushes solids into a drainage field that was already struggling. Once that happens the field can clog for good, so emptying on a regular schedule is the simplest protection you can give it.

To the south and east, around Worth, Tilgate and Pease Pottage, the land rises onto sandstone and old forest country, where drives can be long, wooded and narrow. Our fleet covers everything from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, which lets us pick a tanker to suit the access, and each one carries jetting kit for blocked pipes.

What's included

What happens on the day

Every empty follows the same routine, whatever the size of the tank.

  • Cesspits as well as septic tanks

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

  • A full pump-out

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

  • Lids put back securely

    Covers are refitted and left safe, so there’s nothing for children, pets or livestock to fall into.

  • Waste taken away legally

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

  • Inlet and outlet cleared

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

  • 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.

How often, and what it costs

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

Clay country where the Mole begins

The River Mole rises in Baldhorns Copse, just south of Rusper, and collects water from the clay fields as it skirts the north of Crawley. That clay is the main reason drainage fields in this corner have a hard time. It stays wet through the winter, cracks in a dry summer, and leaves the liquid from a septic tank very little room to soak away.

If your field stays boggy or the tank seems to fill faster than it used to, we can check it over. A septic tank survey shows the tank’s condition and where it discharges, so you know what you’re dealing with before spending money.

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

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 Crawley

We empty septic tanks and cesspits in Ifield, Rusper, Faygate, Colgate, Charlwood, Lowfield Heath, Pease Pottage, Worth, Copthorne and Turners Hill, and on the farms and lanes in between. If your home sits outside the town’s sewer network, give us your postcode and we’ll find you a date. See the full Crawley area list.

Other services in Crawley

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

★★★★★

Friendly, efficient and helpful, also gave good practical advice

Checkatrade review Checkatrade · RH10
★★★★★

Excellent service from start to finish. The team came out to empty our septic tank and were professional, efficient, and clearly knew exactly what they were doing. They arrived when expected, got the job done quickly and thoroughly, and left everything clean and tidy afterwards. It’s refreshing to deal with a company that provides such reliable service and takes real pride in doing the job properly.

Checkatrade review Checkatrade · RH6
★★★★★

Fantastic service, emptied cesspit. Turned up on time and was extremely thorough. Would recommend

Checkatrade review Checkatrade · RH6
Read all our reviews

Free, no-obligation quote

Book a septic tank or cesspit empty in Crawley

Tell us about your tank and we’ll come back with a price and a date. If it’s overflowing, call us instead.

  • 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 emptying FAQs

Are the villages around Crawley on mains drainage?

Some homes are and some aren’t. Houses in the bigger villages are often connected, but many outlying farms, cottages and barn conversions around Rusper, Charlwood, Faygate and Colgate rely on a septic tank or cesspit. Your deeds or the seller’s property information form should say which you have.

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.

I can’t find my tank. Can you?

Often, yes. Tell us about any manhole covers or where the drains seem to run. If it’s well hidden, we can use CCTV and drain tracing to find the tank and the pipes leading to it.

Why does my drainage field near Rusper flood every winter?

Because it sits on Weald clay, which drains very slowly. Once the ground is saturated, the liquid from your tank has nowhere to go, so it sits on the surface. Getting the tank emptied on time stops solids clogging the pipes and gives the field its best chance of recovering in spring.

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.

Should I add anything to my septic tank?

Generally no. A healthy tank works on its own bacteria. The best thing you can do is keep wipes, fat, oils and strong chemicals out of it and have it emptied regularly.

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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