A cesspool is often just one sealed chamber made of brick (for older systems) or fibreglass.  Overflows are illegal as the effluent is untreated.  Cesspools require regular emptying dependent on capacity and the volume of wastewater produced by the household.  

General advice

• Cesspools should be inspected fortnightly for overflow
• Typically they require emptying on a monthly basis by a licensed contractor (Emptying frequencies are estimated assuming a filling rate of 150 litres per person per day. If the cesspool does not fill within the estimated period, the tank should be checked for leakage.)
• Keep your emptying receipts as the Environment Agency may ask for them at any time
• Check the inlet for grease build up
• Only use bleaches that are recommended for cesspools and septic tanks
• Check that ventilation is provided to the main chamber

We can only provide an emptying service for Council owned properties, if you own your own home or rent privately, you can find Waste Disposal Services on the Yellow Pages website.