What is a Cesspit Tank?
A cesspit, or cesspool, is a way of managing wastewater for homes which aren’t connected to the mains sewer. It is an underground sealed tank, which collects water from sinks, baths, showers, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers, and stores it. It needs to be regularly emptied by a licenced waste disposal company for it to function properly and safely.
Cesspits are illegal in Scotland, because of environmental concerns around potential leaks. They are legal in England and Wales.
But they are usually a last resort option, even in England and Wales because:
- They are generally less ‘clean’ than a septic tank or sewage treatment plant
- There is more risk of an overflow
- They are more expensive to maintain
You do not need a permit for a cesspit unless the Environment Agency tells you that you do. But legally you must maintain your cesspit and ensure it doesn’t leak or overflow.
If your cesspit isn’t working properly, you risk a leak contaminating the surrounding land and groundwater. If it is in poor condition, your local council or the Environment Agency can make you replace it.
So the short answer to the question ‘Who needs a cesspit and why?’ is ‘Not many people!’.
Septic Tanks
The preferred method for most people to deal with wastewater when they’re not connected to the mains sewer is a septic tank, or even a sewage treatment plant. But there are certain circumstances where a cesspit would be the preferred option.
A septic tank treats wastewater and breaks it down. It separates solids from the liquid waste. The liquid waste is then treated, before the water disperses safely into a soakaway or drainage field (usually an area of your garden). Solid waste will form a sludge at the bottom of the tank, which will need emptying periodically by a licenced contractor.
How does a Cesspit work?
A cesspit has no outlet for the wastewater to be discharged (although there is usually a vent to allow gases to escape safely and effectively). Cesspits do not clean the wastewater or discharge it into the environment. It is simply storage and will continue to fill up as it is used. The average water used per person per day is 150 litres.
How often do you empty a Cesspit?
Depending on the size of the cesspit and the number of people using it, it could need emptying as often as every six weeks, at a not insignificant cost. Cesspit users don’t have to pay sewage handling fees, which are part of a standard water bill, but the saving won’t be sufficient to offset the cost of having a cesspit emptied regularly.
But sometimes circumstances will dictate that a cesspit is the only viable option for wastewater management. If the soil in your area isn’t good for drainage, a septic tank could be impossible to install. This includes soils with a high clay content or other non-absorbent soil types. This sort of soil isn’t suitable for the soakaway system required by a septic tank to disperse the water gradually into the ground.
If you need to install a new cesspit in these circumstances, you must get planning permission and building regulations approval. You must also ensure it has a minimum capacity of 18,000 litres per two people, plus an extra 6,800 litres for each additional person who will be using it.
Cesspits may also be the right choice for when you only need waste management on a temporary basis. This could include a construction site or a seasonal business, such as a campsite. One of the advantages of cesspits is that they are simple to install and remove, which makes them the sensible choice and far more cost effective for temporary waste management.
Generally speaking, septic tanks and sewage treatment plants are the right way to navigate waste management at home. If you have the choice, you should always choose one of these options rather than a cesspit. But if a cesspit is the only option, it can be operated very safely, as long as you ensure it is regularly maintained and regularly emptied.
Please explore our range of cesspit tanks from trusted providers such as Marsh Industries, Clearwater, and Atlantis to find the right solution for your wastewater management needs.
