Tank emptying, treatment plant servicing and installations, and drain clearance for homes, farms and estates in Midhurst and across the Rother valley.
Midhurst sits in the middle of the South Downs National Park, and once you leave the town, you’re in some of the most rural country in West Sussex. From Easebourne and Stedham to Cocking, Graffham and the Hartings, a large share of the homes, farms and estate cottages around Midhurst aren’t on the mains sewer and rely on a septic tank, cesspit or treatment plant.
Many of those properties are old, and their drainage has grown with them: a septic tank installed decades ago, an extension added later, a barn converted with its own system. We’re often asked to work out what’s there, empty it, and tell the owner honestly whether it’s fit for the next twenty years.
We empty tanks, service and repair treatment plants, install new ones when an old system needs replacing, and clear and survey drains. Our tankers cover Midhurst from our yard in Copthorne, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Farmhouses, cottages and estate properties around Midhurst often have a septic tank or cesspit some distance from the house. We empty both with tankers of 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, and we’ll send the right size for your lane and drive. While we’re there, we check the inlet and outlet and let you know about anything that needs attention.
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A treatment plant needs a service at least once a year to keep its blower, pumps and filters working and its discharge clean. Our engineers service all the common makes, carry the most common parts and hold current confined space entry certificates. If a blower or pump fails, we can usually repair or replace it on the first visit.
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Some older septic tanks around Midhurst discharge straight to a ditch or stream, which the Environment Agency’s rules no longer allow, and others have simply reached the end of their life. We survey the existing system, advise on the options, and install new treatment plants and drainage fields.
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Old drains on country properties suffer from roots, cracks and collapsed sections. We clear blockages with high-pressure jetting, then survey the drain with a camera so you can see what’s wrong before anyone starts digging. A written survey is also useful if you’re buying a rural property.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Living in the National Park, on sandy and clay soils, affects how off-mains drainage works here.
Much of the land around Midhurst is sandy and drains well, which suits drainage fields. Pockets of clay don’t, so a percolation test matters before anything new goes in.
The South Downs National Park Authority handles planning here. If a new installation needs permission, allow extra time for it.
Buyers must be told in writing about a septic tank or treatment plant. A survey and service records make that simple.
Local to you
From the town to the villages and farms of the Rother valley and the downs, we cover Midhurst and the countryside around it.
Midhurst · town and nearby
Surrounding villages · where septic tanks and cesspits are common
If you’re anywhere around Midhurst, the answer is almost certainly yes. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Why Midhurst customers use us
Whether it’s a cesspit on a farm near Graffham or a treatment plant at a barn conversion in Stedham, here’s what you can expect from us.
We’ve been emptying tanks and servicing systems since long before most of the kit on the market existed.
We tell you what your system needs now, what can wait, and what’s not worth spending money on.
Our engineers and most of our tanker drivers hold current confined space entry certificates, and the engineers carry the most common parts.
Emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with a real person answering the phone.
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.
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
★★★★★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.
★★★★★Great service from the initial call to the guys that come out. And we’re at the house within 3-4 hours. That’s why we’ve always used them
How it works
The same simple process whether it’s a regular tank empty, a service or a new installation.
Step 1
Call us or book online and tell us what you have. If you’ve just moved in and don’t know what kind of system it is or where the tank is, tell us that too: we find them all the time.
Step 2
We send the right size tanker or a service van. 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 advice on replacing an old system: 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 Midhurst.
Start with any paperwork from the sale, then look for a lid or cover in the garden, usually downhill from the house. If you can’t find it, we can trace the drains from the house to the tank. When we empty it, we’ll tell you what type of system it is and how it’s working.
For most family homes, about once a year. Holiday lets and larger households may need it more often. We can suggest a schedule after the first empty and remind you when it’s due.
If it discharges straight to a ditch, stream or river, it needs upgrading under the Environment Agency’s rules, usually to a treatment plant. If it drains to a working drainage field, it may be fine. A septic tank survey will tell you for certain.
It depends on the site and the system. You’ll generally need Building Regulations approval, and in some cases planning permission from the South Downs National Park Authority. We’ll advise on what your installation needs.
Most manufacturers ask for at least one service a year, plus emptying when the sludge builds up. We service all the common makes.
Our tankers are based in Copthorne and cover the whole of West Sussex. For emergencies, call 03333 233566 and we’ll tell you honestly when we can be there. Routine emptying and servicing is booked in advance.
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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