Septic Tank & Cesspit Emptying
Reliable emptying for septic tanks, cesspits and sewage treatment plants at homes, farms and rural businesses across East Sussex. Book a one-off visit or set up regular emptying, and we'll take the waste away for licensed disposal.
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Septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants
One-off visits or scheduled emptying
Waste taken away for licensed disposal
Covering rural East Sussex and the Weald
Off-Mains Drainage
Across East Sussex, thousands of homes aren't connected to the mains sewer, especially in the villages and farmland of the Weald around Heathfield, Uckfield, Crowborough and Battle. These properties rely on a septic tank, cesspit or sewage treatment plant, and all of them need emptying to keep working.
Leave it too long and you risk blockages, smells, sewage backing up into the house and damage to the drainage field, which can be expensive to put right. Regular emptying is the simplest way to avoid all of that.
What We Empty
A septic tank separates solids from waste water. The liquid drains away to a drainage field, while sludge builds up in the tank and needs removing regularly.
A cesspit, or cesspool, is a sealed tank with no outlet. Everything that goes in stays there until it's emptied, so cesspits need emptying much more often.
Treatment plants clean waste water before it's released, but they still collect sludge that has to be removed (desludged) in line with the manufacturer's guidance.
How Often?
There's no single answer, because it depends on the type of system, its size and how many people use it. As a general guide:
If you're not sure how often yours needs doing, tell us the type and size of your system and how many people live in the property, and we'll suggest a schedule.
Warning Signs
Don't wait for an overflow. Book an empty if you notice:
The Rules
In England, most septic tanks and small treatment plants fall under the Environment Agency's general binding rules for small sewage discharges. Among other things, they say your system must be maintained properly, emptied regularly so it doesn't exceed its capacity, and that sludge must be removed by an authorised waste carrier.
Septic tanks must not discharge directly into a ditch, stream or other watercourse. If yours does, it needs upgrading, usually by adding a drainage field or replacing it with a treatment plant. If you're selling a property with an off-mains system, you also need to tell the buyer about it in writing.
Regular emptying by us helps you stay on the right side of the rules, and you'll have a record of each visit.
Scheduled Emptying
Most of our septic tank customers prefer not to think about it. We can set up regular visits at whatever interval your system needs, contact you before each one and keep a record of when it was last emptied. If something changes, such as more people in the house or a new extension, we can adjust the schedule.
How It Works
Tell us the type of system, roughly how big it is, when it was last emptied and where it is on the property.
We confirm where the tanker can park and how far it is to the tank, so we bring the right equipment.
We empty the tank, check the lid and visible parts as we go, and let you know if we spot any problems.
We take the waste away for disposal at a licensed treatment site and give you a record of the visit.
Before We Arrive
Rural properties can be tricky to reach with a tanker. When you book, it helps to tell us:
Areas We Cover
We empty septic tanks and cesspits from our base in Hailsham across East Sussex, including Heathfield, Uckfield, Crowborough, Battle, Herstmonceux, Hellingly, East Hoathly, Ringmer, Rye and the surrounding villages.
See all the areas we cover, or get in touch to book an empty.
Related Services
Large-scale tanker work for commercial sites, interceptors and flood water.
Check the pipes to and from your tank if you're having drainage problems.
Repair or replace broken drains and pipework around your system.
Book Emptying
Tell us about your system and where it is, and we'll come back to you with a price and available dates. If it's overflowing, call 01323 364755.
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Our services
From blocked drains and CCTV surveys to high-volume suction tankers and pump station maintenance, see every service we provide across Eastbourne and East Sussex.
Get a Quote
Send us a few details or call 01323 364755. We will talk it through and give you clear advice and a quote, whether it is a home, a business or a commercial site.
Vector Pump & Drainage Solutions is a drainage, tanker and pump station specialist based in Hailsham, East Sussex. We look after homes, businesses and commercial sites across Eastbourne and the wider county, from emergency call-outs and CCTV drain surveys to high-volume suction tanker work and planned pump station maintenance.
Vector Pump & Drainage Solutions
Based in East Sussex,
T: 01323 364755
E: info@vectorpumpanddrainagesolutions.com
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