Septic Tank Emptying
Regular emptying of domestic and commercial septic tanks across Cornwall. Whoever does it must be a registered waste carrier. Most standard tanks take under an hour.
From £150Full tank in St Austell? An independent guide to septic tank emptying in St Austell and across PL25 and PL26: what it involves, what it typically costs, and how to check a firm is a registered waste carrier. We’re not a septic tank company.
St Austell (PL25, PL26) sits at the centre of Cornwall's china clay country, with rural villages and isolated cottages spread across the surrounding parishes. Properties in Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown, Roche, Bugle, Foxhole and the Eden Project hinterland often rely on septic tanks or cesspits rather than mains drainage.
Work here ranges from holiday-let emptying between changeovers to year-round schedules for working farmhouses. The clay country has its own quirks — old workings, soft ground, awkward driveways — so ask any firm whether they know your area before you book.
The landscape north and west of St Austell is shaped by the china clay industry — spoil tips, altered drainage and made ground across the villages around Roche, Bugle and Nanpean. Ground conditions vary sharply over short distances here, which matters more for drainage fields and soakaways than for routine emptying.
Down toward Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown and Porthpean the property mix shifts heavily toward holiday lets. A tank sized for a family of four is a very different proposition when it's serving eight guests changing over weekly through August. Owners here tend to book scheduled emptying rather than waiting for a problem.
Mevagissey in particular is tight — the older parts of the village were not built with tankers in mind, and long-hose work from the nearest accessible point is routine rather than exceptional. Say where you are when you enquire and the right vehicle gets sent.
We’re an independent guide, not a septic tank company. These are the honest options; pick whichever suits you.
Anyone who takes septic tank waste away must be a registered waste carrier. Whichever local firm you find, look it up on the Environment Agency’s public register before you book.
Ask for the firm’s waste carrier registration and check it, get a written price that says what’s included (disposal, hose length, access), and ask for a waste transfer note once the job is done.
Leave your details and we’ll try to introduce you to one local septic tank firm covering your postcode. We’re still looking for local firms to work with, so we may not have one for your area yet. We’ll tell you who before sharing anything, and septic tank firms may pay us for introductions.
Whatever’s going on below ground at your St Austell property, here’s what each job involves and what it typically costs.
Regular emptying of domestic and commercial septic tanks across Cornwall. Whoever does it must be a registered waste carrier. Most standard tanks take under an hour.
From £150Full cesspit pump-outs for sealed systems. Cesspits need emptying far more often than septic tanks, so the running cost adds up.
From £120New septic tank or treatment plant installation, fully compliant with the General Binding Rules 2020. Survey, install, commission: what a full job includes.
From £3,000Tank backing up, soakaway saturated, weird smells in the garden? Diagnosis via CCTV, then repair or replace: how to decide.
From £150 (survey)Blocked or slow-running drains cleared fast using high-pressure jetting. From kitchen sinks to main sewer lines.
From £80Camera inspections to diagnose blockages, root ingress, collapsed pipes, and drainage issues before they become expensive problems. A written report should be part of it.
From £150Prices depend on tank size, access, and your exact location. These are guides, not quotes: always get a written price before work starts.
Standard domestic tank (up to 2,700L). Price varies by access and distance.
Sealed cesspit pump-out. Larger cesspits (10,000L+) quoted individually.
High-pressure jetting. Most domestic blockages cleared in under an hour.
Out-of-hours and weekend work, where a firm has capacity. Ask for the price before they set off.
Old system failing, or building off the mains? Our installation guide covers septic tanks and treatment plants — surveys, groundwork, General Binding Rules compliance and typical costs.
Septic tank installation in Cornwall →Peak-season occupancy fills tanks fast — and a backed-up tank mid-stay means refunds. Our holiday-let guide covers scheduling emptying around changeover days and planning for peak season.
Septic tank care for holiday lets →Everything you need to know about septic tank emptying in St Austell and the surrounding area.
Septic tank emptying in St Austell typically costs between £150 and £300, depending on tank size, access, and how far the specialist needs to travel. Cesspits usually cost more due to larger volumes. Emergency or out-of-hours callouts may incur an additional charge — always get a written quote up front.
Most domestic septic tanks in the St Austell area should be emptied every 6 to 12 months. A family of four with a 2,700-litre tank typically needs annual emptying. Smaller tanks, larger households, or heavy holiday-let use can mean more frequent service. Slow drains or odours usually mean it's overdue.
Some local firms can empty a tank the same day when their schedule allows, but it isn’t guaranteed, especially in peak season. Ring two or three firms that work around St Austell and say how urgent it is; calling early in the day helps.
You don't need a permit to have your tank emptied, but the waste must be disposed of by a licensed waste carrier registered with the Environment Agency. You can check any firm on the Environment Agency’s public register of waste carriers. Under the General Binding Rules (2020), your tank must also discharge to a drainage field — not directly to a watercourse.
This guide covers St Austell and the surrounding villages and hamlets across PL25 and PL26, including Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown, Roche, Bugle, Foxhole, Sticker and Tregony. We’re an independent guide, so we don’t send anyone out ourselves; look for a firm that works your patch and check it on the waste carrier register, or ask us for an introduction.
All waste is transported by licensed tanker to an approved treatment facility or sewage works. Whoever empties your tank must be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency, and you can ask for a waste transfer note as proof of legal disposal.
Yes. Coastal lets around Mevagissey, Pentewan and Charlestown fill tanks fast in peak season, so owners book emptying timed to changeover days — and regular schedules if they want it off their mind. See our holiday-let septic tank page for how that works.
It can. Clay drains slowly, and a soakaway that copes in summer may struggle after sustained winter rain. If your tank is needing emptying more often than it used to, a failing drainage field is a more likely explanation than a suddenly larger household.
That's the normal request here. Coastal lets fill fast through the season, and most owners schedule emptying against changeover days. Book early for peak weeks — August slots go well in advance, and Mevagissey access needs the right vehicle.