A cesspool is a basic and primitive underground chamber or pit designed to collect and temporarily store sewage, wastewater, or other liquid waste. It serves as a simple form of on-site sewage disposal, primarily in rural or less developed areas where proper sewage systems are not available. Cesspools work through the process of percolation, allowing the liquid waste to slowly seep into the surrounding soil, where natural biological processes break down the contaminants. While they are a cost-effective solution for waste disposal, cesspools can pose environmental and health risks if not maintained or replaced when they become overwhelmed or malfunction. As a result, many regions have moved towards more modern and environmentally friendly sewage treatment systems.