Our Services
Septic Tank Emptying
Cesspit & Tank Clearance
Treatment Plant Desludging
Emergency Call Out
Fast Response
Affordable Prices
Domestic and Commercial
Septic Tank Emptying in the New Forest
The New Forest is one of the least connected parts of southern England when it comes to mains drainage. Across the National Park, from Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst to Burley, Sway, Beaulieu and Bransgore, a large share of homes, farms, campsites and equestrian yards run on septic tanks, cesspits or small treatment plants, and every one of those tanks has to be emptied on a schedule. Canford Drains empties septic tanks right across the forest, usually within a day of your call, with a genuine round-the-clock call-out service.
Every job runs on our own in-house tanker fleet, Canford Tankers, so the local team many forest households already know is the same one carrying out the work. Running the tankers ourselves keeps costs down, and Canford Drains customers get preferential rates because of it.
Now with exclusive preferential rates for Canford Drains customers. By bringing our tanker services fully in-house and removing the need for third-party contractors, we have cut our operating costs, and we are passing those savings straight on to existing customers. You get faster response from our own 24/7 fleet, one trusted local supplier for both drains and tankers, and fully compliant disposal with an electronic Waste Transfer Note on every job.
Slow drains, an overflowing tank or an unpleasant smell? Call our team across the New Forest on 01202 880202 for a fast, no-obligation quote.
A reliable drainage company with over 25 years’ experience.
Why so many New Forest properties rely on septic tanks
Much of the forest is rural, protected and a long way from the nearest sewer, so off-mains drainage is the norm rather than the exception here. Family homes, smallholdings, holiday lets and campsites all depend on a septic tank or treatment plant, and the busier the property, the harder that tank works. Once a year suits most households, but a large family, a seasonal let or a working site often needs emptying more often.
The signs a tank is due are the same wherever you are in the forest: a drain or sink clearing slowly, waste coming back up, or standing water and odour over the drainage field. Acting early keeps solid waste out of the soakaway and avoids a far costlier repair later on.
Septic tanks and the rules across the New Forest
Any off-mains system in the New Forest has to meet the Environment Agency’s general binding rules, which set out how a septic tank or treatment plant is allowed to discharge. A septic tank must drain to a soakaway, never straight to a watercourse. If your wastewater reaches a stream or ditch, the binding rules require a sewage treatment plant that cleans the water first. Out here there is rarely a public main or mains sewage system to fall back on, so that responsibility sits with the property owner, and keeping the tank emptied on schedule is part of staying compliant, because an overloaded tank is far more likely to pollute.
If your current setup does not meet the rules, we can advise on the right drainage solutions, from installing a new treatment system to a full treatment plant installation. It is the same local team and the same emergency call-out service behind every job, whether that is a routine empty or a compliance upgrade, so you are never passed between a tanker firm and a separate drainage contractor.
Our tanker and drainage services
One local team covers the full range of liquid waste disposal for domestic and commercial properties across the New Forest:
- Septic tank emptying and desludging, sometimes called a pump-out or cleaning, to pump out the sludge and get the septic system running again.
- Cesspit emptying and holding tank clearance with high-capacity tankers for sealed systems.
- Treatment plant desludging to keep a sewage treatment plant working efficiently.
- Emergency call-outs for overflowing tanks, slow drains or bad smells, day or night.
If the trouble turns out to be a blockage or a damaged pipe rather than a full tank, the same engineer team handles blocked drains, CCTV drain surveys, a high-pressure jet and repair work, plus septic tank installation when a system needs replacement.
5.0★★★★★
From 3,137 customer reviews on Trustist
- Checkatrade member
- Fully licensed waste carrier
- Digital Waste Transfer Note on every empty
- Our own 24/7 tanker fleet
- Over 25 years in drainage
Why choose Canford Drains?
Because the tankers, the engineers and the know-how all come from one local team that looks after septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants alike. There is no third-party contractor in the middle, so booking is quick and the service is fast and reliable, backed by a genuine round-the-clock call-out. Canford Drains customers get exclusive rates.
Every empty comes with a fully licensed carrier and a digital Waste Transfer Note, so disposal stays compliant with Environment Agency rules and your paperwork takes care of itself.
Get a free quote for septic tank emptying in the New Forest
From a single overdue empty to a planned maintenance contract, our emptying service keeps tanks across the New Forest working on time, for homeowners and businesses alike, with one local team for every service. It is the same service behind our septic tank emptying across Dorset and Hampshire, and our team also handles wider drainage services across the New Forest when a full tank turns out to be part of a bigger problem. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote today.
Septic tank emptying in nearby areas
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Prefer to talk? Call us on 01202 880202 for a fast, no‑obligation quote.
