Tank emptying, treatment plant and pump station servicing and drain clearance for homes and businesses in Haywards Heath and the villages of Mid Sussex.
Haywards Heath is a busy commuter town surrounded by some of the prettiest villages in Mid Sussex. The town itself is on the mains, but many of the homes around it, in and beyond Lindfield, Cuckfield, Ardingly, Scaynes Hill and Horsted Keynes, rely on septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants, and that’s where much of our work here comes from.
A lot of those properties are older houses, farms and converted barns, with systems that have been added to over the years. Some still have an old septic tank that drains to a ditch, which no longer meets the Environment Agency’s rules. Others have a modern treatment plant that needs servicing every year to keep it working properly.
In and around the town, we also service pump stations on newer developments, clear blocked drains and empty grease traps for businesses. Haywards Heath is within easy reach of our yard in Copthorne, and we’re on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
From cottages in Lindfield to farmhouses near Ardingly, we empty septic tanks and cesspits with tankers of 2,000 to 4,000 gallons. We’ll tell you if we spot a problem, such as a cracked tank, a blocked outlet or a drainage field that isn’t coping, and we can book your next empty so it doesn’t get forgotten.
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Treatment plants need servicing at least once a year to keep the blower, pumps and filters doing their job. Our engineers service all the common makes and carry the most common parts. If your old septic tank discharges to a ditch or stream, we can survey it and install a treatment plant that meets the rules.
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Many of the newer homes and small developments around Haywards Heath rely on a pump station to get sewage to the sewer. We service and repair domestic and estate pump stations, test the pumps, floats and alarms, and clean out the wet well. If the alarm goes off, call us day or night.
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We clear blocked drains with high-pressure jetting and survey them with a camera when a blockage keeps coming back. Written CCTV reports are useful for landlords and managing agents, and for anyone buying an older property with drains of unknown age.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
The local ground and the age of many properties both play a part in how drainage works here.
Much of the area sits on clay, which drains slowly. Drainage fields need to be bigger here, and some older ones were never large enough to begin with.
Some older systems still discharge straight to a ditch or stream. That hasn’t met the Environment Agency’s rules since 2020 and needs upgrading.
Buyers’ surveyors often ask about septic tanks and treatment plants. A survey and service records make a sale go more smoothly.
Local to you
From the town centre to villages across Mid Sussex, we cover Haywards Heath and the countryside around it.
Haywards Heath · town and nearby
Surrounding villages · where septic tanks and cesspits are common
If you’re within a few miles of Haywards Heath, the answer is almost certainly yes. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Why Haywards Heath customers use us
Whether it’s a cesspit in Scaynes Hill or a pump station on a development in town, here’s what you can expect.
Our tankers come from Copthorne and our office is in Smallfield, both a short drive from Haywards Heath.
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
A waste transfer note with every collection, and a written report after surveys and services.
Regular customers get a reminder when their next empty or service is due.
Tanks, treatment plants, pump stations, grease traps and drains, all handled by one team.
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
★★★★★So glad we found them. The team was professional, courteous and helpful. They came the next day and pricing is way more competitive than a national chain. Will be using them again in a year's time to service the pump. Thanks again!
Drake I. Google review
★★★★★We've been using Clearmasters for several years now and they've been great. We're in a tricky area to get to but they always make a plan without complaint. Great team! Highly Recommended.
★★★★★Had a very good experience with Clear Masters. They provide an excellent, professional service, friendly and helpful, on time as per the agreed price
How it works
The same simple process whether it’s a regular tank empty or a one-off problem.
Step 1
Call us or book online and tell us what you’ve got. If you’re not sure whether it’s a septic tank, cesspit or treatment plant, that’s fine: we’ll find out when we arrive.
Step 2
We send the right size tanker or a service van for the job. It helps if:
Step 3
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.
Free, no-obligation quote
Regular emptying, a service or a one-off job, tell us what you need and we’ll come back with a price. If something’s overflowing, call us now instead.
Questions answered
The questions we’re asked most often by homeowners, landlords and businesses in and around Haywards Heath.
For a typical family home, about once a year. It depends on the size of the tank and how many people live there. After the first empty we can suggest a schedule and remind you when it’s due.
Not any more. Under the Environment Agency’s General Binding Rules, septic tanks can’t discharge straight to a ditch, stream or river. Those that did had to be upgraded by 1 January 2020, usually to a treatment plant. A septic tank survey will tell you where yours goes.
Yes. If you sell a property with a septic tank or treatment plant, you must tell the buyer in writing about the system and its maintenance. A survey and service records help. You can read the rules on GOV.UK.
At least once a year for most domestic plants, plus emptying when the sludge builds up. We service all the common makes.
It could be the water company, the developer, a management company or the residents. Your deeds or management company should know. If it’s private, we can service it regularly.
Our yard is in Copthorne, within easy reach. For emergencies, call 03333 233566 and we’ll tell you when we can be there. Routine work is booked at a time that suits you.
Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.
We're independently vetted and certified so you can trust who you're letting onto your site.
Health & safety pre-qualification accreditation, verifying our processes meet recognised safety standards.
Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme — approved to work safely within the rail industry supply chain.
Utilities Vetting Database membership, confirming we meet the utilities sector's supply chain standards.
Vetted and approved under the local authority's trusted trader scheme for honesty and fair dealing.
Members of the National Association of Drainage Contractors, the UK trade body for the drainage industry.
Registered with the Environment Agency, so your waste is handled and disposed of fully within the law.
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