A cesspit and a septic tank is available in a variety of sizes, with some more beneficial to certain homes than others.
If your drainage system is too small, it’s unlikely that it will cope with the amount of wastewater you produce, which in turn can cause an array of issues. If your drainage system is too large, it can also cause issues as the wastewater will have problems flowing through and thus the cesspit will not function as it should.
You can work out what size your cesspit should be with the help from our quick guide.
Start by calculating the number of people within your property-
If you have a 1-bed property, it is classed as two people.
2 and 3-bed properties are classed as five people.
4-bed properties are classed as six people.
5-bed properties are classed as seven people.
Based on the number of people in your household, you can work out the volume of the cesspit you need. The very minimum required volume for any domestic household is 18,000 litres. This would be the size needed for a one-bedroom property containing two people.
3 people per household will need a cesspit that holds 24,800 litres.
4 people per household will need a cesspit that holds 31,600 litres.
5 people per household will need a cesspit that holds 38,400 litres.
6 people per household will need a cesspit that holds 42,500 litres.
7 people per household will need a cesspit that holds 52,000 litres.
8 people per household will need a cesspit that holds 58,800 litres.
Additional occupants in the home can be calculated by increasing the cesspit volume by 6,800 litres for each user. The above volumes will last approximately 45 days. It is recommended that households with a cesspit install a high-level alarm to alert them that the tank is ready to be emptied. Cesspit emptying must be carried out by a licensed waste carrier.
If you are experiencing problems with your cesspit or septic tank, it could mean that you have one that is too small or too large. If you can see visible leaks or seepage, can smell nasty aromas or have an overflowing issue, we can help. Our approved specialists will resolve the issue as quick as possible for you, using a CCTV inspection is necessary to identify any issues.
For more information, you can contact the Drain Checker team by visiting our contact page or by giving us a call on 0800 849 8099.