Northeast Sanitation Blog

How does a cesspool work?

Well this is a commonly asked question. We have finally decided to answer it in our blog. Waste flows from you home into the cesspool where organic solids float to the top and inorganic solids sink to the bottom. Naturally occurring bacteria in the cesspool converts the organic solids into liquid. This liquid which is now clear, flows out the sides of the tank and into the surrounding soil. The grass is always greener….So, as you can see, cesspool systems fail because of the build up of solids. By not servicing and maintaining your system properly, solids build up within the tank and clog the pores of the cesspool walls. This will prevent liquid from escaping the tank into the surrounding soil. In addition, the presence of inorganic household substances in the tank, like cleaners, grease, and anti-bacterial soap will turn into solids and will also clog the cesspool walls. This can result in a system overflow. Please limit the amount of inorganic materials flowing out of your house through your pipes and into your cesspool.