Assuming that the quantity of sewage amounts to 300 gal. per day, and that the cesspool could be emptied every three months, a cesspool should have a capacity of about 4,300cub. ft. If the pool is 10ft. deep (measured below the inlet drain), it must be not less than 20f ft. square, or of an equivalent area if of any other shape. If the pool is to be emptied every six weeks, half the area given above would suffice. The method of construction is as follows. After marking out and excavating to the required dimensions (the pool being either circular, or rectangular with internal buttress walls), the bottom of the pool should be covered with concrete from 6 in. to 12 in. thick, according to the nature of the soil. The walls should be of brick in cement; and if the pool is rectangular in shape, the bays between the buttresses should be curved outwards to resist the thrust of the earth when the cesspool is empty. If the surrounding soil holds much water, the walls of the pool should be puddled outside with clay, otherwise the cesspool will quickly fill up with water that has drained in from the adjacent land. Brick arches, or H-iron joists with concrete filling, can be used for covering the cesspool, a manhole with cover being constructed to afford access to the pool when required.

The best way to empty a cesspool is to raise the sewage into a night-soil cart by means of a chain pump. Cesspools are generally unsatisfactory, and are being superseded by systems of bacterial tanks which dispose of the sewage daily without offence.