Cesspools, cesspits and cesspit maintenance treatments have been used for centuries dating back to pre 600 B.C. Even homeowners of that long ago error understood the importance of treating a cesspit, maintaining cesspit odors and the integrity of their systems.
I don’t think the replacement of a cesspit in 600 B.C. would cost anything near the replacement of a system in today’s standards. Still, the knowledge of the benefits of maintaining a cesspit was still obvious to homeowner of this ancient period.
Cesspits systems and septic tank with drain fields are basically using the same digestion process. Both systems are designed based on the amount of projected waste generated by the home, number of bedrooms, the size of the home and the soils ability to absorb liquid effluent produced by the cesspit system or the septic tank and drain field.
What is the difference between a septic tank using a cesspool as a leaching system and a septic tank using a drain field as a leaching system? Cesspit are typically constructed of perforated concrete rings that are stacked on top of each other to form what resembles an old fashion water well 5 feet to 20 feet in depth. The bottom of the cesspit is filled with crushed stone and gravel where liquid effluent will leach into the soil forming the cesspit. Drain field are typically constructed of 4 inch schedule 40 PVC perforated drain field pipe. The drain field is constructed below the frost line by laying the perforated pipe end to end surrounded by crushes stone and gravel. The drain field will usually extend 150 feet to 300 feet in length.
Maintaining a cesspit will reduce cesspit odors and smells wile extending the life expectance of your cesspit. Maintaining a cesspit will consist of some basic common since techniques based on the type of system you have and the demand placed on the system.
Cesspit odors are indicative of a failing cesspit system. Cesspit systems will usually emit cesspit odors due to a lack of bacteria naturally found in the system. Beneficial bacteria are depleted by products toxic to the cesspit system, products such as antibacterial hand soaps, paint thinners and bathroom cleaners kill off beneficial bacteria essential to the digestion of solid waste generated by the home.
Without the presents of the natural bacteria, digestion of solid waste generated by the household is not possible. Solid waste will coagulate in the cesspit creating a bio-mat build up reducing the systems ability to control cesspit odors.
In an effort to reduce or eliminate bio-mat build up in a cesspit, treating a cesspit system regularly with a cesspit maintenance treatment is recommender by professionals worldwide. The monthly maintenance treatments will reduce cesspit odors ensuring a properly operating system giving the home owner years of problem free service eliminating cesspit odors, ensuring cesspit integrity.