Who covers York
The city of York is on mains drainage, but step outside the ring road and many villages, farms and converted barns rely on a septic tank, cesspit or treatment plant. That includes much of the Vale of York, the Howardian Hills and the edge of the Wolds.
Tanks & Drains is run by its owner from The Lodge at Buttercrambe, near Stamford Bridge, and covers York, Selby, Malton, Pocklington, Easingwold, Thirsk and more than a dozen other towns. It empties tanks, installs new treatment plants and services pump chambers. Yorkshire Septics works across Yorkshire; its Yell listing places it at Sutton-on-the-Forest, north of the city. It empties tanks, cesspits and plants, carries out compliance surveys and installs tanks, plants, pumping stations and drainage fields. Euroloo has pages for York, Malton, Easingwold and Pocklington from its national network.
Which firm for which job
For a routine empty east of York, around Stamford Bridge, Pocklington and Malton, Tanks & Drains is close and you deal with the owner. North of the city, around Easingwold and Haxby, Yorkshire Septics is nearby and lets you book an empty online. For a bigger job, such as replacing an old septic tank with a treatment plant or adding a drainage field, both install, so get two quotes.
Selling a house near York
If you are selling, your buyer's solicitor will ask what drainage the property has and whether it meets the rules. Yorkshire Septics offers septic tank compliance and home mover surveys. Read our septic tank surveys page for what a survey should cover.
Rules that apply
York and North Yorkshire follow the Environment Agency general binding rules. Since 2020, a septic tank that discharges to a watercourse must be replaced or upgraded, usually with a treatment plant or a drainage field. Building control is run by City of York Council inside its boundary and by North Yorkshire Council beyond it. The Ouse, Derwent and Foss floodplains around York can make drainage fields hard to site, so ask about ground conditions early.
Listed contractors
Show these contractors on a map.
Business address checked on its own website Area the business covers, not a premises
Tanks & Drains
Buttercrambe, York
Owner run firm near York emptying septic tanks, installing treatment plants and servicing pump chambers across North Yorkshire and the East Riding.
View business detailsCall this business07814 882512
Yorkshire Septics
Sutton-on-the-Forest, York
York area company emptying septic tanks, cesspits and treatment plants, and installing tanks, plants, pumping stations and drainage fields.
View business detailsCall this business01904 439747
Euroloo
Chelmsford, Essex (national depots)
National tank emptying company with regional depots, advertising septic tank, cesspit and Klargester emptying for homes and businesses.
View business detailsCall this business0808 291 1507
Get a quote in North Yorkshire
Tell us about the job and we will pass it to one listed contractor that covers your postcode and does this work. It is free, and you agree the price and visit directly with the business. Prefer to choose yourself? Call any business on this page.
Sources
Each listing was checked against the business's own website on 19 October 2026:
- Tanks & Drains: own website
- Yorkshire Septics: own website
- Euroloo: own website
- GOV.UK: general binding rules for small sewage discharges
See also the national service page and all mapped areas.