Cesspit - How much hassle?
Discussion
I’m on the verge of buying a property In the middle of nowhere-in common with everything I have been looking at, it has no mains drainage but unlike everything else I have seen (which had septic tanks or newer water treatment systems). This one has a sealed cesspit.
The estate agent has dismissed this as no big deal and something that only needs emptying once every six months or so but online it seems to be that this old style sealed tank system is a money pit (in addition with being a pit of the obvious!)
Long term the plan would be to ditch it and install a water treatment system-it is an old mill so can discharge into the stream from that. But is it going to be grief in the meantime or worrying about nothing? Also, when I do switch over Would it be a case of just seal up the old tank and leaving it forever and then put the water treatment plant somewhere else or does the old system need ripping out at this stage, I don’t know when the cesspit was built but I would imagine it was a very long time ago.
Property is pretty perfect in every other way - If you like things in the middle of nowhere 😂
The estate agent has dismissed this as no big deal and something that only needs emptying once every six months or so but online it seems to be that this old style sealed tank system is a money pit (in addition with being a pit of the obvious!)
Long term the plan would be to ditch it and install a water treatment system-it is an old mill so can discharge into the stream from that. But is it going to be grief in the meantime or worrying about nothing? Also, when I do switch over Would it be a case of just seal up the old tank and leaving it forever and then put the water treatment plant somewhere else or does the old system need ripping out at this stage, I don’t know when the cesspit was built but I would imagine it was a very long time ago.
Property is pretty perfect in every other way - If you like things in the middle of nowhere 😂
Probably recoup the cost of a septic tank in a few years by avoiding the frequent emptying.
Add to that the water bill savings of a "supply only" service. Drainage costs more than supply. My water bill, supply only, on a meter, is a tenner a month.
My last house had a very old brick-built septic tank, shared between 3 properties. Needed emptying once a year, and also had to have a submersible pump running to lift the runoff up to the drainage field. Still cheaper than paying for mains drainage.
Previous owner of my house had installed a modern plastic septic tank setup, because the 1960's original filled up too quickly.
After I'd lived here for 8 years, I thought if would be a good idea to get it emptied. Chap turned up, lifted the inspection covers, and said it was fine, didn't need emptying, but might as well do it because he was already here.
Add to that the water bill savings of a "supply only" service. Drainage costs more than supply. My water bill, supply only, on a meter, is a tenner a month.
My last house had a very old brick-built septic tank, shared between 3 properties. Needed emptying once a year, and also had to have a submersible pump running to lift the runoff up to the drainage field. Still cheaper than paying for mains drainage.
Previous owner of my house had installed a modern plastic septic tank setup, because the 1960's original filled up too quickly.
After I'd lived here for 8 years, I thought if would be a good idea to get it emptied. Chap turned up, lifted the inspection covers, and said it was fine, didn't need emptying, but might as well do it because he was already here.
clockworks said:
Probably recoup the cost of a septic tank in a few years by avoiding the frequent emptying.
Add to that the water bill savings of a "supply only" service. Drainage costs more than supply. My water bill, supply only, on a meter, is a tenner a month.
OP won't be paying drainage costs for a cess pit either. Add to that the water bill savings of a "supply only" service. Drainage costs more than supply. My water bill, supply only, on a meter, is a tenner a month.
We had a klargester replaced a few years back, and IIRC they just emptied it, stove the top in with a digger and filled it with spoil.
Septic tank won't be acceptable close to water. That's going to need a biodisc.
I’ve been told that replacing our septic tank with a modern treatment system would cost £15-£20k.
When they dig the hole for your new tank they will dump the spoil in your old cesspit.
I would suggest talking directly to the existing owner about how often the cesspit needs to be emptied.
When they dig the hole for your new tank they will dump the spoil in your old cesspit.
I would suggest talking directly to the existing owner about how often the cesspit needs to be emptied.
this is my username said:
I’ve been told that replacing our septic tank with a modern treatment system would cost £15-£20k.
Unless you have 27 relatives living with you or some sort of particularly difficult scenario then it should be about half that at the very most. It's really not that big or complicated a job. You would need confirmation from local water authority I imagine. Permission applied for with a specification of the system and drainage.
This may help.
https://www.kingspan.com/gb/en/campaigns/septic-ta...
This may help.
https://www.kingspan.com/gb/en/campaigns/septic-ta...
Edited by Mr Magooagain on Friday 5th July 06:35
Mark Lewis said:
He has said every 6 months but is that right? As a cesspit has no outlet at all (compared to a septic tank) surely it feels that faster than that – either we’ve just two people
Seems too infrequent unless they don't use much water, ours is emptied 18,000 litres at a time, costs £190, every 2 months.We use about 300/350l per day, so it's easy-ish to work out.
Water bill is cheaper as there's no waste charge or surface water charge, not sure how much this would be, £60 maybe?
silentbrown said:
clockworks said:
Probably recoup the cost of a septic tank in a few years by avoiding the frequent emptying.
Add to that the water bill savings of a "supply only" service. Drainage costs more than supply. My water bill, supply only, on a meter, is a tenner a month.
OP won't be paying drainage costs for a cess pit either. Add to that the water bill savings of a "supply only" service. Drainage costs more than supply. My water bill, supply only, on a meter, is a tenner a month.
We had a klargester replaced a few years back, and IIRC they just emptied it, stove the top in with a digger and filled it with spoil.
Septic tank won't be acceptable close to water. That's going to need a biodisc.
Quite a few people I know are surprised that, at least where I live, drainage charges make up more than half of the average bill.
Mark Lewis said:
I’m on the verge of buying a property In the middle of nowhere-in common with everything I have been looking at, it has no mains drainage but unlike everything else I have seen (which had septic tanks or newer water treatment systems). This one has a sealed cesspit.
The estate agent has dismissed this as no big deal and something that only needs emptying once every six months or so but online it seems to be that this old style sealed tank system is a money pit (in addition with being a pit of the obvious!)
Long term the plan would be to ditch it and install a water treatment system-it is an old mill so can discharge into the stream from that. But is it going to be grief in the meantime or worrying about nothing? Also, when I do switch over Would it be a case of just seal up the old tank and leaving it forever and then put the water treatment plant somewhere else or does the old system need ripping out at this stage, I don’t know when the cesspit was built but I would imagine it was a very long time ago.
Property is pretty perfect in every other way - If you like things in the middle of nowhere ??
Step one is to ignore the EA. They just want the sale and they know exactly the issues with these systems today, even when they're working perfectly well. First step is to ensure it is a cesspit not a septic tank. The estate agent has dismissed this as no big deal and something that only needs emptying once every six months or so but online it seems to be that this old style sealed tank system is a money pit (in addition with being a pit of the obvious!)
Long term the plan would be to ditch it and install a water treatment system-it is an old mill so can discharge into the stream from that. But is it going to be grief in the meantime or worrying about nothing? Also, when I do switch over Would it be a case of just seal up the old tank and leaving it forever and then put the water treatment plant somewhere else or does the old system need ripping out at this stage, I don’t know when the cesspit was built but I would imagine it was a very long time ago.
Property is pretty perfect in every other way - If you like things in the middle of nowhere ??
You need to know its compliance to the general binding regs and you also need to know where the local water courses are. You then need to consider that you may need to sell the property in the future.
The norm these days is that the seller pays for the cost of bringing the system up to modern compliance, even if the system is technically compliant.
It's something you do need to know much more about and must ignore the EA. Especially as they have a habit of calling septic tanks cesspits.
Edited by DonkeyApple on Friday 5th July 08:58
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff