A cesspit, also called a cesspool, is a sealed underground tank that simply stores raw sewage with no treatment or onward discharge until it is emptied by a licensed vacuum tanker. UK installations must comply with Building Regulations Part H2 and BS 6297, and the tank must be of sufficient capacity for the population it serves, typically at least 18,000 litres for a small household. Cesspits are usually only fitted where ground conditions or proximity to watercourses make a septic tank or package treatment plant unsuitable. Frequent emptying is needed, often every few weeks, which can make running costs high. Overflowing or leaking cesspits are a serious environmental and public health concern and may be reported to the local authority under nuisance provisions.
Cesspit (cesspool)
Sealed underground tank that stores sewage with no treatment until emptied by tanker.
