Septic tank and cesspit emptying, treatment plant servicing and drain clearance for homes, farms and businesses in Petworth and the surrounding villages.
Petworth is a small market town surrounded by farmland, woods and villages, and a great many of the homes around it aren’t connected to the mains sewer. From Tillington and Byworth on the edge of town to Kirdford, Wisborough Green, Fittleworth and Northchapel further out, septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants are part of everyday life.
It’s a place of old buildings, narrow lanes and long drives. Access is often the first thing we think about here: which tanker will fit down the lane, where it can park, and how far the hose has to reach. Tell us about your access when you book and we’ll plan for it.
The ground changes as you move around. North of the town, towards Kirdford and Wisborough Green, heavy Weald clay drains slowly and makes drainage fields work hard. We look at the whole system, not just the tank, and give you honest advice. Our tankers cover Petworth from our yard in Copthorne, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We empty septic tanks and cesspits across the Petworth area with tankers from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, so we can match the vehicle to your access. Cesspits fill quickly because nothing leaves them, so we can book regular collections. For septic tanks, once a year is typical, and we’ll remind you when it’s due.
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If your home has a treatment plant, it needs servicing at least once a year to keep the blower, pumps and filters working. Our engineers service all the common makes, carry the most common parts and explain what they’ve done in plain English.
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Old properties often have old drains, and roots, cracks and collapsed pipes are common. We clear blockages with high-pressure jetting and use a camera to find the cause, so you only dig where you need to. We can also survey the drains before you buy.
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Pubs, cafés and restaurants in the town need their grease traps emptied regularly to stop fat blocking the drains. We work to a schedule that suits your kitchen, early if you’d rather we weren’t there during service, and leave a waste transfer note every time.
Learn moreLocal knowledge
Old buildings, narrow lanes and mixed ground all affect off-mains drainage here.
Around Kirdford and Wisborough Green, heavy clay drains slowly. Drainage fields there need to be generous, and older ones can struggle in winter.
Narrow lanes, low bridges and soft ground can limit which tanker can reach a tank. Let us know about access and we’ll send the right one.
Many older septic tanks were built long before today’s rules. If yours drains to a ditch or stream, it needs upgrading.
Local to you
From the town centre to farms and villages in the Rother valley and the Low Weald, we cover Petworth and the countryside around it.
Petworth · town and nearby
Surrounding villages · where septic tanks and cesspits are common
If you’re anywhere around Petworth, the answer is almost certainly yes. Call with your postcode and we’ll confirm.
Why Petworth customers use us
Whether it’s a cesspit on a farm near Kirdford or a septic tank at a cottage in Fittleworth, here’s what you can expect.
We’ve been emptying tanks and servicing systems since long before most of the kit on the market existed.
Tankers from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, so we can match the vehicle to narrow lanes and tight drives.
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
★★★★★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. The engineer also provided advice and a written report. I was not only impressed with the attention to detail, but the rates for the work were very reasonable - just parts (with a 12month warranty) and labour. There were no callout or other unfair charges on top.
Checkatrade review Checkatrade · RH20
★★★★★We use Clearmasters regularly for our cesspool emptying and can't fault them at all. Always friendly and professional, both on the phone and the drivers. Online credit card payment which makes life easy. Highly recommend.
★★★★★Turned up on time, cleared the blockage with little fuss and the lads who turned up were professional throughout
How it works
The same simple process whether it’s a regular empty, a service or a one-off problem.
Step 1
Call us or book online and tell us what you have and how we get to it. Details about narrow lanes, gates, soft ground or where to park help us send the right vehicle.
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 Petworth.
Much more often than a septic tank, because nothing leaves a cesspit. Depending on its size and how many people use it, that can be every few weeks or every couple of months. We can book regular collections so it never gets close to full.
Usually, yes. Our tankers range from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, and we’ll send the size that suits your access. Tell us about narrow lanes, weight limits, overhanging trees or soft verges when you book.
Often it’s the drainage field rather than the tank. On clay ground, like much of the land north of Petworth, the soil can’t take any more water in a wet winter. Emptying the tank helps in the short term; if it happens every year, the drainage field may need replacing.
Small domestic systems in England must meet the Environment Agency’s General Binding Rules. Among other things, a septic tank must not discharge straight to a ditch or stream, and it must be emptied regularly. You can read the rules on GOV.UK.
Yes, all the common makes. Most need a service at least once a year. See our treatment plant servicing page for what’s included.
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 work is booked in 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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