Septic Preservation Services

Pros and Cons of Cesspools

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services has a septic installation starting today in North Attleboro, MA.  We were contacted by a homeowner who has a cesspool and wants to replace their cesspool and upgrade to a septic system.  People often have their cesspool upgraded because it is failing.  However, it is often wise to consider replacing a cesspool because cesspools are considered substandard systems.  They don’t treat wastewater, they merely dispose of it.  Cesspools concentrate the wastewater in one location, often deep within the ground and in direct contact with groundwater, causing groundwater contamination.  This groundwater flows into drinking water wells and surface waters contributing to adverse public health and environmental impacts.  In contrast, conventional septic systems place the wastewater well above the level of soils saturated by groundwater and they disperse this effluent over a large area, which results in substantial removal of pathogens and other pollutants.  Cesspools which serve only as “overflow” pits from septic tanks are much more efficient than the older systems because they receive much less solid material. However, where there is no septic tank to hold the solids, the cesspool will require much more maintenance.  Over time, when the drainage area around the leaching pool becomes saturated, additional pools may have to be dug to handle the volume. Cesspools generally have larger maintenance costs also in addition to not treating waste as efficiently.  We have extensive experience with septic system installation and have recently completed septic installations in Norton, Fairhaven, Franklin and Lakeville, MA.  If you have questions about septic system installations or cesspool replacement please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com