Does the type of sewage drainage affect health?

In a Kent coastal town (population about 3000) some houses have cesspool sewage drainage instead of the usual mains drainage. Following public concern about health hazards of cesspool drainage, the water company was asked to provide mains drainage to all houses. It said it would consider doing so if there was evidence that the lack of mains drainage posed a serious public health problem. After discussion between the environmental health department of the local council and the department of public health medicine of the health authority, it was decided to conduct a cohort study to determine whether the cesspool drainage of household sewage is associated with increased consultations with general practitioners for gastrointestinal and other symptoms.