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Septic tanks and cesspits are both types of sewage and wastewater systems, but they differ in key ways. The main difference between the two systems is that septic tanks separate sewage from wastewater and allow the latter to flow into a drainage field to filter and disperse into the soil. Cesspits don’t have outlets and instead, store sewage until it needs to be pumped by a professional.

Ideally, you should conduct a mechanical inspection and a bacterial or well water inspection yearly. While you might be able to push it off to every other year, it’s best to have peace of mind, especially when it comes to something that you use so frequently. 

If you experience repeated gastrointestinal illness in the household, it's important to test the well water more regularly for quality and cleanliness to check for bacteria.

The dimensions of a 500-gallon concrete septic tank can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the tank is large enough to handle the wastewater of a small home with up to one bedroom. Keep in mind that some states have a minimum septic tank size, and this often starts at 750 gallons. A 500-gallon septic tank may be too small to meet local regulations.

You can put yogurt in your septic tank, but it will not increase the bacteria in your septic tank. In other words, it won't harm your tank, but it won't get rid of a septic smell or boost the performance of your septic system. While yogurt contains helpful bacteria, you would need to buy an extraordinary amount of yogurt to make any difference. Adding yogurt is not a helpful or cost-effective strategy.