Septic and cesspool help anywhere in Rhode Island
Bought a house with a cesspool? Got a letter from the town about an overdue inspection? Or just noticed the yard is wetter than it should be? Tell us once what's going on. RISepticQuotes.com is a free request service, not a septic company.
Rhode Island's cesspool clock
Here is the rule that sends most people looking for help. Under the Rhode Island Cesspool Act, when a property with a cesspool is sold or transferred, the cesspool has to be taken out of service within one year of the closing date. That has applied to every closing since January 1, 2016, anywhere in the state.
It doesn't matter whether the cesspool seems to work. Every cesspool in Rhode Island was built before 1968, and the law's goal is to phase them all out. A cesspool that has failed has to be replaced within a year of the failure, or sooner if it's a threat to public health.
So if you're buying, selling, or you closed a few months ago, the clock is the first thing to understand. How the cesspool rule works →
What you can ask about
Cesspool replacement — Swapping a cesspool for a septic system or a sewer connection, usually on a deadline.
Inspections — For a purchase, a sale, or a town that requires one on a schedule.
Repair and replacement — From a failed leach field to a full new system, with the loan programs that help pay for it.
Pumping — Routine pump-outs, including towns that require proof.
Sewer tie-ins — Connecting to a sewer line and properly closing out the old system. Pick "sewer tie-in" on the form.
Your town may have its own rules
The state sets the baseline, but a number of Rhode Island towns run their own wastewater programs, with required inspections, pumping schedules, or cesspool deadlines. A few examples:
- North Kingstown: inspect or pump every three years.
- Charlestown: inspect at least every three years.
- Portsmouth: town-wide inspection and cesspool deadlines.
- South Kingstown: cesspool rules that go further than the state's.
If you've had a letter from your town, mention it on the form.
Near the water? Expect a different system
Along the south shore salt ponds and the Narrow River, a cesspool that has to be replaced must be replaced with an advanced system that reduces nitrogen. Those cost more than a conventional system, so it's worth knowing before you budget. What systems cost →
How it works
- You send the form. What you need, your town, and any deadline.
- You get a confirmation email right away, and a person reads your request.
- We work to connect you with a licensed Rhode Island septic professional who serves your town. Any design, quote, permit, or contract is between you and them.
Who's behind this
RISepticQuotes.com is a small request service for Rhode Island septic projects. We aren't a licensed designer, installer, inspector, or pumper, and we don't perform any of the work. No septic company pays us today. In the future, companies may pay to receive requests, which is how the site would stay free.
Send one request
Tell us what's going on and which town you're in. It takes a couple of minutes and costs nothing. A confirmation email arrives right away. We review every request and work to connect you with a licensed Rhode Island septic professional who serves your town.
Sewage coming up in the house or yard? Don't wait on a form. Call a licensed pumper now.