Scottsdale Cesspools, Drywells & Leachfields 

What Is a Cesspool? 

A cesspool is an open-end cylinder hole that is dug several feet into the ground. Although cesspools generally have brick lined walls, we frequently find them unlined. The waste is routed into the cesspool pit and then into the ground with no filtration. While all sewage waste is unpleasant, cesspools are in their own special category. 

Although cesspools were quite common in the past, they have been prohibited since 1976 due to the potential for raw sewage to contaminate soil and ground water. The regulations against the use of cesspools affect new construction and real estate transfers of existing properties. Properties with a cesspool can have a negative impact on the sale of a property until an approved wastewater system is in place. 

What Are Drywells & Leachfields?  

A drywell is a holding well that is intended for stormwater. Cesspools and drywells are not suitable for treating human waste. For wastewater, a seepage pit is designed for filtering effluent. Seepage pits use leaching rock to aggregate the wastewater. The term seepage pit is often used interchangeably with a leachfield, but there is a difference. 

The main difference between a leachfield and a seepage pit is the way they are designed. Seepage pits are vertical and leachfields are horizontal, but they operate in the same basic way. Both have an expected lifespan of about 20 years. We offer inspections for properties with cesspools drywells leachfields in Scottsdale and a full range of septic services to correct any problems or replace the entire system.