What Is a Cesspool or Cesspit?
A cesspool is a waste containment system; an underground enclosure of block, brick or concrete that collects the waste from a home plumbing system. Some types are designed to allow water to drain out while retaining solids. A cesspool or cesspit requires periodic pumping to remove waste material.
Due to the risk of contamination of soil and water, installation of cesspools for new residential construction has been prohibited in most areas of the United State since the 1970s. However, older homes in rural areas may still have cesspools.
Differences Between Cesspits and Septic Tanks
You might hear the terms cesspool and cesspit in reference to a full septic tank and system, but actual cesspools and cesspits are not the same as the more modern septic tank and septic system. Here are the key differences between a cesspool and a septic tank and system:
Cesspool or Cesspit
- A cesspool or cesspit is simply an underground holding tank with no outlet.
- A cesspool doesn’t break down waste like a septic tank does.
- A cesspool stores material until it’s pumped away.
- Untreated waste liquid and solids can seep through the cesspool walls and contaminate the ground and groundwater.
Septic Tank
- A septic tank is an underground storage tank, but it’s also part of a larger septic system that separates solids and scum, such as soaps and fats, from the wastewater.
- Bacteria in the tank break down some of the organic material.
- The septic tanks holds solids and the scum material until they’re pumped away.
- The system disperses wastewater to a leach field or drain field.
- As the wastewater filters through the drain field, the soil collects remaining solids and naturally occurring microscopic organisms in the soil eliminate many of the pathogens.
How to Maintain a Cesspool or Cesspit
If you live in a home with a cesspool, good maintenance is necessary to prevent plumbing backups and unpleasant overflows in your yard. We’ve got some maintenance tips below, as well as some signs of problems that require a professional. Many of these tips and symptoms also apply to home connected to a septic tank or municipal sewage system.
Cesspool Maintenance Practices
- Fixing leaking faucets, toilet problems, etc., to prevent excess water from filling the cesspool
- Using low-flow fixtures or WaterSense® labeled faucets and WaterSense® labeled showerheads to reduce the amount of liquid the cesspool collects
- Keeping food, oils, fats, etc. out of your sink drains
- Keeping paper towels, wipes, etc. out of toilets to avoid filling the cesspool prematurely
- Ensuring any plumbing treatment or drain cleaners you use are suitable for your system
- Ensuring downspouts and other drainage and runoff flows away from your cesspool to minimize the risk of overflowing
- Regularly checking the area around the cesspool for overflows
- Professional pumping as frequently as every six weeks to every 3 months, depending on the size of the family, home and cesspool
Good practices and regular inspections like the ones above can help you prevent a problem with a cesspool or catch an issue quickly. They can also keep the need for pumping to a minimum.
Downspout extensions give you an easy way to direct water from your gutter system away from your foundation, cesspit, etc..
Common Signs of Cesspool Problems
- Clogged or slow drains in the house
- Bubbling noises in your plumbing
- A persistent, unpleasant odor in the home or yard
- Standing water around the cesspool
- Unusually thick, green grass around the cesspool
Contact a waste management professional if you notice these symptoms or suspect a problem. Don’t attempt to repair or open a cesspool yourself.
If only one drain is slow, you might have a simple clog. Our how-to projects, How to Unclog a Sink: 7 Easy Tips to Try and Snaking the Drain: How to Use a Drain Snake or Plumber Snake, will give you tips on clearing a clogged drain.
Should You Upgrade a Cesspool to a Septic System?
If you have a standard cesspool or cesspit, you may need to consider upgrading to a more modern septic system or connecting to a municipal sewer system if:
- You want to sell your home and your state or municipality requires the upgrade before selling or shortly after the sale
- The cesspool is damaged and your state or municipality requires replacement of a cesspool rather than repair
- You determine that the long-term cost of maintenance and regular pumping outweigh the cost of a septic system
- The cesspool is leaking and contaminating groundwater and nearby bodies of water
- You want a waste management system that’s more efficient with less risk of soil and water contamination
Restrictions and rules for septic systems vary by state, county, city, etc., so check the regulations for your area.