I/A OWTS
Nitrogen-reducing systems are a central Suffolk County topic when a cesspool is being replaced. Nitrogen-reducing systems.
Cesspool Replacement and Conversion
A cesspool is not a septic tank with a different name.
Suffolk County prohibits replacing an existing cesspool in kind with another cesspool. When replacement is required, the new system has to meet current applicable standards.
A Cesspool Is Not a Septic Tank
A cesspool is a buried structure that receives household wastewater more directly. A septic system separates solids in a tank and disperses liquid through a distribution box into an absorption area. Calling a cesspool a tank leads to the wrong repair.
Suffolk County prohibits replacing an existing cesspool in kind with another cesspool. When a cesspool is replaced, the new system has to meet current applicable standards. At minimum, where those standards apply, that means a code-compliant septic system rather than another cesspool.
An existing cesspool does not have to be replaced on a fixed schedule just because it exists. Sewer status, the work being proposed, and current County and Town rules decide what the replacement must be. Grant-funded Suffolk projects use an approved I/A OWTS. A non-grant project may or may not have the same technology requirement.
- Confirm whether the property has a cesspool, a septic system, or both
- Conversion means designing a replacement system
- A nitrogen-reducing I/A OWTS may be required for some projects and not for others
- Funding, if any, depends on current program rules for that property
Replacement, Conversion, or More Evaluation
A cesspool that backs up, odors, or seems to fill again quickly can point to several conditions. It can also be confused with a septic tank that was pumped and filled again for a different reason.
Confirm whether the structure is a cesspool or a septic tank, then separate capacity limits, structural failure, groundwater on that lot, and the need for a different system.
Related topics
Grants and funding
Qualifying homeowners replacing an existing cesspool with an approved I/A OWTS may currently be eligible for up to $45,000 in combined County and New York State grants. Not every cesspool replacement qualifies. Replacement funding.
Septic system installation
When a cesspool comes out of service, the replacement is a new onsite system designed for the property. Septic installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cesspool the same as a septic tank?
No. A cesspool and a septic tank are different structures. Treating them as synonyms leads to the wrong repair, replacement, and funding questions.
Does every Town of Brookhaven property have to replace a cesspool?
No. Requirements depend on the property, the project, sewer status, and current Town and County rules. There is no single rule for every parcel.
Can a grant pay for cesspool replacement?
Qualifying homeowners replacing an existing cesspool with an approved I/A OWTS may currently be eligible for up to $45,000 in combined County and New York State grants. The county pays the SIP portion to an approved installer, and the grant has to be issued before installation.
Have a Cesspool Question
Tell us the community, the ZIP, and what the property is doing. If you are not sure whether it is a cesspool or a septic tank, say that.