What is a Cesspool?

Table of Contents:

Becoming a homeowner comes with many unforeseen responsibilities. While living on rental property, apartments, or condos, many of these responsibilities fall on the maintenance crew. As a homeowner, you’ll have to coordinate the upkeep of the interior and exterior of your home. Something to consider is which sewage system a home has before purchasing. A cesspool is a sewage management system typically found in older homes or rural areas. Septic systems are more common due to maintenance, long-term cost, and household efficiency.

What is a cesspool, and how does it work?

A cesspool is an underground container system with one pipe which leads all waste/wastewater underground. In simple terms, a cesspool is a holding tank sewage system where there is no treatment of the waste.

How often should a cesspool be pumped out?

A cesspool needs to be emptied when filled with liquid. On average, a home with a cesspool will need to be emptied every six weeks, depending on the household size and the cesspool. For example, a 1-2 Bedroom home can fill a 1,000 – 2,000-liter cesspool every 3-4 days. For this reason, Cesspools are not as common today.

Is cesspool better than septic?

Cesspools are not a standard house sewage management option today. Cesspools come in different sizes; standard sizes are 750, 1,000, 1,200, and 1,500 gallons. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has banned large-capacity cesspools because untreated sanitary waste from cesspools can enter groundwater and contaminate drinking water sources. A good example of challenges caused by cesspool systems is the usage of cesspools in the state of Hawaii.

Due to local geology, many rural communities cannot connect to sewer lines, enabling them to have a septic tank system. The state faces many challenges because of this. Cesspools are used throughout Hawaii for the disposal of untreated sanitary waste. Discharge of raw, untreated sewage to a cesspool can contaminate oceans, streams, and groundwater by releasing disease-causing pathogens and nitrates. Pathogens found in untreated sewage can impact human health by contaminating drinking water or waters used for swimming. Nitrates can damage the land or aquatic ecosystems, including coral reefs. Groundwater provides approximately 95% of all domestic water in Hawaii.

To summarize, a cesspool is less effective and sustainable than a septic system. Saving for a septic system would benefit a homeowner greatly because it does not require as much attention. In addition, when a failure occurs, other signifiers exist before your lawn begins to flood or smelly backup comes into the house.

Is a cesspool hard to maintain?

If your home has a cesspool and you want to upkeep this option being aware is the key to a healthy cesspool.

How often should a cesspool be pumped out?

Every cesspool needs to be pumped periodically to avoid; The precise frequency depends on various factors. For example, older cesspools need to be pumped more frequently than newer ones. If you have a large family, that will also affect how quickly it fills up.

Barring any major leaks or other damage, a cesspool in good working order will typically need to be pumped every three to five years. If you are pumping yours more frequently, it could indicate a leak or some other cesspool problem.

A smarter way to buy your home.

Buy your home and get up to 1% cashback.

Book a Call

How long do cesspits last?

Although a cesspool is made from durable material, nothing lasts forever. A cesspit can last up to 30 years with proper care and maintenance. However, if a cesspool leaks and is left untreated, the wastewater and sewage container could fail, resulting in a wrong pit area. Sewage professionals can come and perform sludge removal, maintenance, and water treatments. It is always best to have professionals maintain your holding tank sewage system.

How do you know when your cesspool is full?

There are a few ways to tell if your cesspool is full or if there is something wrong. Firstly, be aware of pooling water around the drain field on your lawn. When cesspools are working fine, everything should stay out of sight underground, so it is telling when there is unexplained flooding in the yard. Another critical factor is a foul smell. Wastewater consists of everything sent through the drains of your home. As your tank fills, it will emit a foul odor that most likely will be obvious due to the smell coming from sludgy, solid, and liquid waste.

Slow drains can be an inconvenience and an indication to check your tank. If you’ve tried using draining chemicals or reached out to a service technician and the problem persists. You could need to pump your cesspool. Not only will drains move slowly, but toilets will also flush slowly. When flushing toilets, if there is dark, smelly backup, this can also be a result of a full cesspool.

Finally, Nitrate Concentration will be a definite factor that your sewage system needs service. Overly full systems harbor bacteria and nitrates that can leak through soil and well water. To determine the health of your water, test it with a water testing strip. You can also do this regularly to avoid overfull systems and nitrate concentration going unnoticed.

Can you sell a house with a cesspool?

Many older homes that still have cesspools are still on the market. Although a cesspool is not as sustainable as a septic tank, it is not the homeowner’s responsibility to change the sewer system before selling. On the other hand, if you plan to sell your home and you have a cesspool system, buyers could be wary of buying a house with an old septic system due to cesspool problems or converting a cesspool to septic cost. The sewer vs. septic property value can add up to $20,000 if a cesspool needs to be upgraded.

Should I buy a house with a septic tank?

A more common waste system is a septic tank. A septic tank has a pipe running all waste and wastewater into an underground tank then, and then the wastewater runs through the tank into a soak-away area. The soak-away site allows gray water to soak back into the earth, which means the tank does not need to be emptied as often.

Let’s weigh all of the septic tank benefits here:

• According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, household septic tanks are typically pumped every 3-5 years.
• Different types of tanks like anaerobic and aerobic systems use different methods to break down waste.

What is the most common cause of septic system failure?

The most frequent reasons a septic tank could fail is from inadequate maintenance and improper care. You can avoid septic system failures by being aware of the following:

Inspect and pump frequently

Household septic systems should be inspected every 3-5 years by a service professional. Factors of the household that influence the frequency of septic pumping are things like household size, total wastewater from sinks/toilets/washing machines, the volume of solids within wastewater, and septic tank size.

Use Water Efficiently

The typical indoor water use totals an average of 70 gallons per person. Therefore, a leak in the home can cause up to 200 gallons of water a day. The more water a household can preserve, the less water enters the septic systems, reducing failure. There are other ways to increase water efficiency by utilizing energy-smart appliances like those labeled ENERGY STAR. For example, toilets can account for 25 to 30 percent of wastewater; replacing an old model with a newer version can save more water per flush. Other fixtures to consider are faucets and shower heads. Turning the water off when unnecessary and reducing water flow through a shower head can also lessen fluids that are taking up a septic tank.

The toilet is not a trash can.

The worse thing to do for your septic system and plumbing is flushing something other than human waste or toilet paper. A report showing the most frequently flushed items that cause clogging are:

• Cooking oil
• Non-flushable wipes
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Photography Solution
• Diapers
• Condoms
• Cat Litter
• Coffee Grounds
• Paper Towels
• Pharmaceuticals
• Household Chemicals

What is the most expensive septic system?

Septic tank costs depend on several factors, including household size, soil permeability, and preferred waste breakdown. A typical range of tank install is between $3,109 to $9,677, with the national average being $6,361. This average does not account for setting up the entire system because the whole system will be specific to your household and wastewater usage. Below are some examples of different septic systems:

Anaerobic VS. Aerobic

Anaerobic Septic Systems rely on oxygen-averse bacteria to naturally break down waste within the tank. Anaerobic systems are one of the less expensive tanks that can be installed at $2,000 to $5,000. Aerobic systems rely on an air pump that aerates the tank to let oxygen-loving bacteria break down waste. This system costs between $10,000 and $20,000.

Mound Septic System

When installing a septic system, installers have to do a ground inspection. If the ground inspection reveals that the soil is not well suited for a drain field, a mound septic system could be an option. Perforated tiles are installed with a thin biofilm that provides a suitable environment to naturally purify wastewater before going to the water table below. Building the water table space below a mounded system can cost around $15,000, according to the national average.

Sand Filter Septic System

A Sand filter septic system also utilizes a pump. The pump flushes liquid and effluent matter through the filter system that contains a box with sand-filled pipes. The wastewater is filtered through the sand pipes before reaching the water table below. These systems range between $6,000 and $10,000 to install.

A smarter way to buy your home.

Buy your home and get up to 1% cashback.

Book a Call

Pressure Distribution Septic System

Homeowners can opt for a pressure distribution system installed within 2 feet of a water table. This method utilizes a pump that processes the flowing liquid to the drain field quicker than others, where the water will process before reaching the water table. This system costs on average $7,000 to $10,000.

Other factors that can account for cost are replacement parts needed for issues with mechanical systems. For example, septic tanks can last on average 20 to 40 years when maintained properly. A Baffle is a part of a septics mechanical system designed to prevent scum from clogging inlets and pipes. Baffles are a common issue, and professionals will typically replace these for a cheaper fix than replacing an entire tank. A Baffle Replacement can range between $300 and $500.

Summary

A household sewage system should be considered when budgeting for a new home. A homeowner can choose to maintain a cesspool but would benefit from upgrading to a more modern septic system. A cesspool or septic system requires inspections and maintenance to avoid dealing with smelly floods, backed-up pipes, or gallons of wastewater.

The main difference between a septic tank and a cesspool is that a septic tank allows water to flow into a leach field, where it undergoes a filtration process before going into a tank. On the other hand, a cesspool is a tank made of stone or cement that holds untreated waste in a tight tank beneath the ground. The modern septic system was established in the 1900s, has been around for about a hundred years, and is mostly used in housing communities today. However, some rural areas that cannot connect to sewage systems will have to use a cesspool; in this case, always be aware and don’t flush high-volume items down the toilet!