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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK INTRODUCTION SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SOIL & PERC TESTS SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK DEPTH SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC CLEARANCES SEPTIC TANK PUMPING FREQUENCY SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC TREATMENTS SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES Wastewater Treatment Levels Wastewater Dispersal Methods Master List of Septic System Types AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOLS for WASTEWATER CESSPOOL FAILURE CRITERIA CESSPOOL AGE ESTIMATES CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS DRYWELLS SEPTIC EFFLUENT DISINFECTION SYSTEMS EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC SYSTEMS FIXED-FILM PROCESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FILTERS SEQUENCING BATCH SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS TOILET ALTERNATIVES VEGETATED SUBMERGED SEPTIC BEDS WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS SEPTIC INSPECTIONS SEPTIC FAILURE CAUSES SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURES SEPTIC D-BOX INSPECTION SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC DYE TESTS SEPTIC FAILURE SPOTS SEPTIC INSPECTION WORK SHEETS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC AUTHORITIES SEPTIC SYSTEM BOOKS REFS CODES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online More Information InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps Bookstore Electrical Environment Exteriors Heating Home Inspection Insulate Ventilate Interiors Mold Inspect/Test Plumbing Water Septic Roofing Structure Accuracy & Privacy Policies Contact Us |
This document explains what a cesspool is, gives important safety and maintenance advice for cesspool systems, and defines the criteria for cesspool failure. We also provide critical safety warnings concerning cesspool systems as with some older and especially site-built cesspools there is a risk of dangerous collapse or cave-ins. This material is a chapter of our Septic Systems Online Book: That document explains septic system inspection procedures, defects in onsite waste disposal systems, septic tank problems, septic drainfield problems, checklists of system components and things to ask. Septic system maintenance and pumping schedules. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Some technical review by industry experts has been completed-reviewers are listed at "References." Further review comments and content suggestions are welcome. Home buyers who want less technical advice should see the Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems. Also see The Septic Systems Home Page. © Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. CESSPOOLS for WASTEWATER - for onsite wastewater disposalWhat is a cesspool? A cesspool combines the septic treatment tank and absorption system into a single component. In its most basic and traditional form a cesspool is a hole in the ground to receive sewage: the walls of the "hole" are lined with stone or concrete block or (safer) pre-cast concrete (photo) to form a masonry-lined pit into which sewage is discharged. Solids (sewage from the building) remain in the pit, effluent is absorbed into soil below and at the sides of the cesspool. Solids settle to the bottom, floating grease and scum collect at the top, and liquid seeps into the ground, initially through the bottom and most of the time through the side of the cesspool. Cesspools as a means to dispose of sewage have been around since the late 1400's at the beginning of the Renaissance. (Before that people simply tossed their night soil into the street.) While cesspools have been used for a long time, since the development of the more modern septic system (tank and drain field) cesspools have often used where there is limited physical space (no room for a leach field), and perhaps where the soil absorption rate was high such as areas of gravel or sandy soils. For most buildings and onsite waste disposal installations which use a "cesspool", you should consider the use of a cesspool as an obsolete, limited capacity system likely to need replacement, and involving significant cost. Some immediate concerns are stated next. Cesspool Failure Criteria (MA)Failure Criteria for Cesspools: If the waste level is within 12" of the inlet pipe near the top of a cesspool the system is at end of life and needs to be replaced. Some municipalities and experts will state other distances. In Massachusetts according to the Massachusetts Title 5 Septic Law the following are considered a failed or unacceptable cesspool installation:
A cesspool needs replacement if it meets any of these failure criteria. While a septic company may offer to pump, partially pump out, or agitate or aerate the bottom sludge in the cesspool in an effort to extend its life, these procedures are potentially very dangerous (see Cesspool safety Warnings and at best will give only temporary relief.
Fortunately there are alternative onsite wastewater disposal alternative designs which can handle limited or even zero-space sites, so a simple cesspool as a destination for blackwater is no longer the only choice for limited-space sites. Cesspool Safety Warnings and Cesspool Capacity LimitationsVery Important Cesspool Safety Warnings
In summary about cesspool hazards: watch out for cave-ins, keep away: cesspools, particularly older site-built cesspools present a very high risk of collapse from an unsafe cover or following some types of service involving pumping, aeration, or hydro-jetting. Adults or children should not walk over or even near cesspools because of the risk of falling-in followed by collapse, a virtually certain cause of death. If the presence of a cesspool is known or suspected at a property its location should be roped off to prevent access and it should be investigated by a professional. Cesspool Capacity and Testing LimitationsCesspools can obscure or prevent effective septic loading and dye testing: If a cesspool is in use at a property a septic dye test would not be a reliable indication of good system condition since the test could simply be trying to fill a large near-empty hole in the ground; yet such a system may fail soon after being returned to active or heavier regular use. ... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
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02/25/2010 - 07/03/1995- InspectAPedia.com/septic/septcesspools.htm - © 2010 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark