24/7 emergency call-outs, 365 days a year
03333 233566
Liquid Waste Disposal Repairs & Servicing CCTV Surveying and Reporting Blockages and Jetting Services Drainage Groundworks
Emergencies
Our Locations Meet the Team Leave us a Review
Contact Us
Pay Online Book Online

Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying in Pulborough

Tanks and cesspits emptied for homes and farms in Pulborough, on the greensand ridge and down in the Arun and Rother valleys.

Pulborough sits on a ridge of sandy Lower Greensand, looking south over the wide floodplain of the Arun towards the South Downs. The main village is on mains drainage, but a lot of the homes around it aren’t. Out in the lanes around Nutbourne, Codmore Hill and West Chiltington, and on farms towards Fittleworth, Watersfield and Bury, many still rely on a septic tank or cesspit.

What happens to the water after it leaves the tank depends a lot on where you live. Up on the greensand the soil is light and drains freely, so soakaways and drainage fields usually cope well. Down near the river the picture is very different, with low ground that floods and a water table that rises high in winter.

Free-draining sand has its own catch. Liquid passes through it quickly, so a tank that’s overdue for emptying can push solids and poorly treated water into the ground before anyone notices. Regular emptying keeps the system working as it should, and we’ll flag anything that looks wrong while we’re there.

What's included

What happens on the day

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

  • Tidy and careful

    Hoses are laid neatly and anything we spill is cleaned up before we leave.

  • Lids put back securely

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

  • A reminder when it’s due

    If you’d like one, our office will get in touch when your next empty comes round.

  • Waste taken away legally

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

  • Cesspits as well as septic tanks

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

  • Paperwork you can keep

    Your waste transfer note shows what was taken and where it went, which is useful when you sell or let the property.

Frequency, price and access

01
Clearmasters tanker on a rural driveway, with its hose run through the garden to the tank

Sandy ridge, wet brooks

The brooks below Pulborough are wet grassland that is often under water through the winter, and the RSPB reserve at Wiggonholt is managed with that in mind. Homes on lower ground near the Arun and Rother can find their drainage field sitting in saturated soil for weeks at a time.

When that happens the tank can’t release its liquid into the ground, and the level rises. Emptying it gives you breathing space while the water drops. If it happens every year, a septic tank survey will show whether the system needs changing.

Learn more
02
Clearmasters tanker emptying an underground septic tank through an open manhole

The General Binding Rules

Septic tanks in England must meet the Environment Agency’s General Binding Rules. Tanks that discharge straight to a ditch, stream or river should have been upgraded or replaced, and every tank must be emptied before the sludge goes beyond its capacity.

If you’re not sure your system complies, a septic tank survey will tell you.

Learn more

Local to you

Septic tank emptying around Pulborough

We empty tanks in Pulborough, Codmore Hill and Nutbourne, across West Chiltington and West Chiltington Common, and along the valleys at Stopham, Fittleworth, Hardham, Coldwaltham, Watersfield, Greatham and Bury. If your home has its own tank anywhere in RH20, we can empty it. See the full Pulborough area list.

Other services in Pulborough

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

★★★★★

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
★★★★★

Efficient, courteous, customer-facing. Would not hesitate to recommend to others.

Jonathan O. Google review
Read all our reviews

Free, no-obligation quote

Book a septic tank or cesspit empty in Pulborough

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

We'll only use your details to reply to your enquiry. See our privacy policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

Questions answered

Your emptying questions answered

Does the sandy soil around Pulborough help soakaways?

Generally, yes. The greensand drains much better than the clay further north, so drainage fields on the ridge tend to cope. The exception is low ground near the rivers, where the water table can sit close to the surface in winter. The sand also holds groundwater, which is one more reason to keep a system in good order.

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.

How do I know my septic tank needs emptying?

The usual signs are slow sinks and toilets, gurgling pipes, a smell near the tank or wet patches over the drainage field. If you don’t know when it was last done, book an empty and start a regular schedule from there.

Can you get a tanker down the lanes around West Chiltington?

In most cases, yes. Our tankers run from 2,000 to 4,000 gallons, so we can send a smaller one where a lane is tight or a drive is soft. Let us know about gates, low branches, weight limits or a long walk to the tank when you book, and we’ll plan the visit around it.

Will emptying fix a smell from my tank?

Sometimes. If the tank is simply full, emptying it will help. If the smell comes from a blocked outlet or a failing drainage field, we’ll tell you what we find so you can put the cause right.

Do I need to be home when you come?

Not always. As long as we can reach the tank, the lid is uncovered and any gates are open, we can usually do the job and leave the paperwork. Let us know when you book.

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.

Call Email