Basically, a cesspool is a hole in the ground that has been lined with stone, brick or some other material to allow raw contaminated liquid sewage to leach into the soil while retaining the organic matter and solids. Most communities, however, no longer allow cesspools in new constructions because of environmental and health considerations, so it might be difficult to install a new cesspol.
Older homes that do have cesspool disposal systems are not required to upgrade them to septic systems if they are functioning properly. When problems develop, the homeowner is often legally obliged to replace the old cesspool with a new septic system. Installing a new septic system may cost more than ten thousand dollars, depending on soil conditions, available space and topography.
Cesspool Inspection – Failure Criteria, Safety and Maintenance
If the waste level is within 12 inches of the inlet pipe near the top of a cesspool, this means the system is at the end of its life span and needs to be replaced. The distance, however, may vary according to municipality or the experts consulted. Generally, the following are considered a failed or unacceptable cesspool installation:
- less than six inches of freeboard in the cesspool
- less than ½ day’s storage
- cesspools located within 100 feet of a pond or dug well
- cesspools located within 50 feet of a private well
- cesspools located between 50 and 100 feet from a private well if the well fails bacteria tests
- cesspools located within Zone 1 of a public well (in some states)
- a Board of Health (BOH) evaluation may be required if a cesspool is located within 50 feet of any surface water such as a lake, pond, stream or river
If it meets any of these failure criteria, the cesspool needs replacement. A septic company may offer to pump, partially pump out, agitate or aerate the bottom sludge in the cesspool to postpone its replacement, however these procedures can be very dangerous and will only be a temporary solution.