The Ontario Building Code | Construction Requirements

8.5.2.1. Construction Requirements

(1) The bottom of the cesspool shall be at least 900 mm above the high ground water table.

(2) The cesspool shall be constructed in such a manner as to prevent the collapse of its sidewalls.

(3) Any material used to support or form the sidewalls of the cesspool shall be an open jointed material of a type that will permit leaching from the cesspool.

(4) The cesspool shall be provided with a tight strong cover that shall remain over the cesspool except when it is necessary to remove it for the purposes of adding sanitary sewage to or removing sanitary sewage from the cesspool or for purposes of maintenance of the cesspool.

(5) Where the cesspool extends to the ground surface, the cover required in Sentence (4) shall be lockable.

(6) The soil or leaching bed fill around the perimeter of the cesspool shall be raised or mounded to a height of at least 150 mm above ground level.

(7) The surface of the ground in the area of the cesspool shall be graded such that surface drainage in the area will be diverted away from the cesspool.

(8) The cesspool shall be surrounded on all sides and on its bottom by at least 600 mm of soil or leaching bed fill, except the top where the cesspool extends to the surface of the ground.

Section 8.6. Class 4 Sewage Systems

8.6.1. General Requirements