Before the connection between the cesspit enzymes and the toilet, sinks, and drains were made, there used to be an array of methods through which human waste reached the cesspit where natural cesspit enzymes and bacteria accumulated. Chamber pots were waste receptacles in the home during the Victorian era that collected human waste. When it was full, the contents were just poured out into the exposed sewers, which were the cesspits back then. During the Edwardian period, the earth closet was used. It as pretty much like a chamber pot but with soil (dry) placed inside. It was just technically, a bucket of soil. When waste was placed in it, it was just covered with more soil. When the bucket was full, the contents were disposed of away from the home. Of course, the smells were too terrible to bear so eventually, flush toilets were invented to prevent the sewer odors from entering living vicinities. This finally started the connection of toilets to the cesspit.
As the modern household continues to be attached to the use of cesspits, it is a given that its sanitation and efficiency should be maintained. Since each home is equipped with its own wastewater treatment facility, it’s the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain the systems with enzyme and bacterial supplements. The most essential means to do this is through pump outs and maintenance treatments. This is basically to keep the sludge level in the cesspit at normal levels and the leaching area clear. Once the sludge level goes beyond the acceptable amount, overflow and system blockage will occur, leaving the household and the environment in a detrimental situation. Pumping out depends on the number of people in the household. You should talk to your septic expert about the living arrangements in the house so that a stable and consistent schedule can be established. For homes with two residents, pump out the cesspit every three years. For houses with up to 5 people, pump out every 2 years. And for large households of 6 or more people, pump out yearly.
The homeowner is also left with the choice of using cesspit enzymes and bacterial treatment to help in the maintenance of the system. Cesspit enzymes are classified under biological additives, which are ideal and safe for the household, the cesspit, and the environment. Enzymes are naturally occurring catalysts of metabolism. They are present in any living organism. In your body, enzymes are found in the digestive system to help the stomach break down the solid food items that you ingest. These food particles are then deteriorated into much more smaller portions so that assimilation into the small intestines can be performed. If you look at the cesspit, the same process is done by the resident bacteria and enzymes.
The cesspit is technically a living system. It is governed by bacteria that take care of the solid wastes that enter it. There are times when the cesspit system becomes inefficient because of the heavy use of harsh chemicals, antibiotics, and antibacterial solutions. In order to keep the system up and running, some experts say that it would be better to add enzymes into the cesspit to restore everything and help the process a bit more. But there are some who disagree that cesspit enzymes are significantly helping the cesspit do its job. They say that enzymes in the additives produced are in very small amounts. It would do the system much better from the enzymes the cesspit gets from the humans wastes that you dump everyday.
Additional bacteria would provide much faster improvement in the cesspit during times when it’s really inefficient. Many states recommend the use of bacteria because they really act fast in aggressively breaking down the solid waste materials that have accumulated in the cesspit. They also eliminate the disarming smells. Most importantly, they don’t have chemical components that pollute the surrounding water systems.
Using cesspit enzymes is really up to you. Just don’t be swayed by exaggerated promises like you won’t have to pump out your cesspit when you use cesspit enzymes. Always remember your basic responsibilities in taking care of your cesspit. This way, whether you use cesspit enzymes or not, you won’t end up being the careless homeowner and spend thousands just to replace your failed cesspit.