Cesspits

Cesspits were basically holes dug in the ground for human excreta.The problems arising from the cesspit system arose because cesspits were poorly constructed, inappropriately sited, inadequately maintained and completely unregulated. Often these cesspits were little more than "prolonged on-site excreta storage systems" which polluted waterways and streets when they overflowed, bred disease-carrying insects, seeped into groundwater wells, and drained into low-lying neigh-bourhoods where the poorest people lived, saturating the area with sewage. Cesspits were described in an 1875 official report:

In some cases, on account of imperfect construction, surface water flows into them--in others, in porous soil, water percolates into them; in both cases with every shower they fill up and overflow, contaminating the adjacent premises and gutters, and producing the most intolerable nuisance.

The cesspits were emptied by private arrangement with 'night-cart' men who would often dump their load on vacant land on the borders of the city or into the water reserve surrounding the water supply or they might sell it to market gardeners. The uncleaned carts would return to the city in the morning, sometimes bringing back garden produce from the market gardens, and remain in their smelly condition in the city all day.

The situation worsened as water supplies were improved and water closets were introduced into the more affluent areas. The extra waste water caused cesspits to overflow more readily and was often directed into open drains leading to the nearest watercourse. The continued growth of population in the city ensured that the situation deteriorated. Under a system of private responsibility the problem of insanitary conditions became most acute when the people who were responsible for providing for waste disposal were not those who would be affected if it was wanting.

Where landlords built houses for other people to live in, cesspits were ill-constructed, wells were built close to and below the level of cesspits and even where there were sewers or water pipes in the street, houses were not connected to them. Landlords were much criticised by the Herald which claimed that they would buy a piece of land and build fifteen or twenty 'boxes' on it, without drains, water or yard paving. Often one privy would serve several houses. There were no regulations to compel landlords to do anything more and their tenants just had to make do since housing was in short supply.

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