UNIT - 4

SEWER
 INTRODUCTION : SEWAGE AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM
DEFINITIONS AND SOME COMMON TERMS

REFUSE: This is the most general term to indicate the

wastes which include all the rejects left as worthless,
sewage, sullage etc.

GARBAGE: It is a dry refuse which includes, waste papers,

sweepings from streets and markets, vegetable peelings
etc. The quantity of garbage per head per day amounts to
be about 0.14 to 0.24 kg for Indian conditions. Garbage
contains large amount of organic and putrefying matter
and therefore should be removed as quickly as possible.
RUBBISH: It consists of sundry solid wastes from the
residencies, offices and other buildings. Broken
furniture, paper, rags etc. are included in this term. It is
generally dry and combustible.

SEWAGE: It is a dilute mixture of the wastes of various

types from the residential, public and industrial places. It
includes waste water and foul discharge from the water
closets, urinals, hospitals, stables, etc.

SANITARY SEWAGE : It is the sewage obtained from the

residential buildings & industrial effluents
establishments.
 DOMESTIC SEWAGE
It is the sewage obtained from the lavatory basins,
urinals & water closets of houses, offices & institutions. It
is highly foul on account of night soil and urine contained
in it. Night soil starts putrefying & gives offensive smell. It
may contain large amount of bacteria due to the
excremental wastes of patients. This sewage requires
great handling &disposal.

INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE
It consists of spent water from industries and commercial
areas. The degree of foulness depends on the nature of
the industry concerned and processes involved.
STORM WATER: It is the surface runoff obtained
during and after the rainfall which enters sewers
through inlet. Storm water is not foul as sewage
and hence it can be carried in the open drains and
can be disposed off in the natural rivers without any
difficulty.

SULLAGE: It is the discharge from the bath rooms,

kitchens, wash basins etc., it does not include
discharge from the lavatories , hospitals , operation
theaters , slaughter houses which has a high organic
matter .
SEWERS:
Sewers are underground pipes which carry the
sewage to a point of disposal.
SEWERAGE:
The entire system of collecting, carrying
&disposal of sewage through sewers is known as
sewerage.
DRY WEATHER FLOW (DWF):
Domestic sewage and industrial sewage
collectively, is called as DWF. It does not contain
storm water. It indicates the normal flow during
dry season
 SEWERAGE SYSTEM
SEPARATE SYSTEM OF SEWAGE
In this system two sets of sewers are laid .The sanitary
sewage is carried through sanitary sewers while the storm
sewage is carried through storm sewers.
2) COMBINED SYSTEM OF SEWAGE
When only one set of sewers are used to carry both
sanitary sewage and surface water. This system is called
combined system
3) PARTIALLY COMINED OR PARTIALLY SEPARATE SYSTEM
A portion of storm water during rain is allowed to enter
sanitary sewer to treatment plants while the remaining
storm water is carried through open drains to the point of
disposal.
Separate system Combined system
The quantity of sewage to As the treatments of
be treated is less, because both are done, the
no treatment of storm treatment is costly.
water is done.
In the cities of more rainfall In the cities of less
this system is more rainfall this system is
suitable. suitable.
This system is cheaper
because sewage is carried Overall construction
in underground sewers and cost is higher than
storm separate system
In narrow streets, it is
difficult to use this system It is more suitable in
narrow streets
 Advantages and disadvantages of separate system
Advantages
As sewage flows in separate pipe, hence the quantity to be treated
at sewage treatment plant is small, resulting in economy of
treatment.
This system may be less costly as only sanitary sewage is
transported in closed conduit and storm water can be collected and
conveyed through open drains.
When pumping is required during disposal, this system is
economical due to less flow.
Disadvantages
Self cleansing velocity may not developed at certain locations in
sewers and hence flushing of sewers may be required.
This system requires laying two sets of pipe, which may be difficult
in congested area.
This system will require maintenance of two sets of pipelines and
hence maintenance cost is more.
 Advantages and disadvantages of combined system
Advantages
In an area where rainfall is spread throughout a year, there is no need
of flushing of sewers, as self cleansing velocity will be developed due
to more quantity because of addition of storm water.
Only one set of pipe will be required for house plumbing.
In congested areas it is easy to lay only one pipe rather than two
pipes as required in other systems.
Disadvantages
Not suitable for the area with small period of rainfall in a year,
because dry weather flow will be small due to which self cleansing
velocity may not develop in sewers, resulting in silting.
Large flow is required to be treated at sewage treatment plant before
disposal, hence resulting in higher capital and operating cost of the
treatment plant.
When pumping is required this system is uneconomical.
During rains overflowing of sewers will spoil public hygiene
Advantages and disadvantages of partially separate
system
Advantages
Economical and reasonable size sewers are required.
Work of house plumbing is reduced as rain water from
roofs, sullage from bathrooms and kitchen, etc. are
combined with discharge from water closets.
Flushing of sewers may not be required as small portion of
storm water is allowed to enter in sanitary sewage.
Disadvantages
Increased cost of pumping as compared to separate system
at treatment plants and intermediate pumping station
wherever required.
In dry weather self-cleansing velocity may not develop in
the sewers.
 Shapes of Sewer Pipes
Sewers are generally circular pipes laid below ground
level, slopping continuously towards the outfall. These are
designed to flow under gravity. Shapes other than circular
are also used. Other shapes used for sewers are-

Standard Egg-shaped sewer

New egg-shaped sewer
Horse shoe shaped sewer
Parabolic shaped sewer
Semi-elliptical section
Rectangular shape section
U-shaped section
Semi-circular shaped sewer
Basket handled shape sewer
Standard egg-shaped sewers, also called as ovoid shaped
sewer, and new or modified egg-shaped sewers are used in
combined sewers. These sewers can generate self
cleansing velocity during dry weather flow.
Horse shoe shaped sewers and semi-circular sections are
used for large sewers with heavy discharge such as trunk
and outfall sewers.

Rectangular or trapezoidal section is used for conveying

storm water.
U-shaped section is used for larger sewers and especially in
open
cuts.
Minimum Velocity
The flow velocity in the sewers should be such that
the suspended materials in sewage do not get
silted up; i.e. the velocity should be such as to
cause automatic self-cleansing effect.

The generation of such a minimum self cleansing

velocity in the sewer, at least once a day, is
important, because if certain deposition takes
place and is not removed, it will obstruct free flow,
causing further deposition and finally leading to
the complete blocking of the sewer.
Hence, for removing the impurities present in
sewage i.e., sand up to 1 mm diameter with
specific gravity 2.65 and organic particles up to 5
mm diameter with specific gravity of 1.2, it is
necessary that a minimum velocity of about 0.45
m/sec and an average velocity of about 0.9 m/sec
should be developed in sewers.

while finalizing the sizes and gradients of the

sewers, they must be checked for the minimum
velocity that would be generated at minimum
discharge, i.e., about 1/3 of the average discharge
Maximum Velocity
The smooth interior surface of a sewer
pipe gets scoured due to continuous
abrasion caused by the suspended solids
present in sewage. It is, therefore,
necessary to limit the maximum velocity
in the sewer pipe. This limiting or non-
scouring velocity will mainly depend
upon the material of the sewer.
Sewer Material Limiting velocity,
m/sec
Vitrified tiles 4.5 – 5.5
Cast iron sewer 3.5 – 4.5
Cement concrete 2.5 – 3.0
Stone ware sewer 3.0 – 4.5
Brick lined sewer 1.5 – 2.5
 Sewer Pipes
It carries contaminated water containing organic
or inorganic solids which may settle in the pipe.
To avoid deposition of solids in the pipes self-
cleansing velocity is necessary at all possible
discharge.
It carries sewage under gravity. Therefore it is
required to be laid at a continuous falling gradient
in the downward direction towards outfall point.
Sewers are design to run partial full at maximum
discharge. This extra space ensures non-pressure
gravity flow. This will minimize the leakage from
sewer, from the faulty joints or crack, if any.
Sewer Appurtenances

(1) Manholes
(2) Drop manholes
(3) Lamp holes
(4) Clean-outs
(5) Catch basins
(6) Inverted Siphons
(7) Storm Regulators.
 Manholes
The manhole is masonry or R.C.C. chamber constructed at
suitable intervals along the sewer lines, for providing access
into them.
The manhole helps in inspection, cleaning and maintenance
of sewer. These are provided at every bend, junction, change
of gradient or
change of diameter of the sewer..
The spacing of manhole is recommended in IS = 30 m - 300 m
Depending upon the depth the manholes can be classified as:
Shallow Manholes ( 0.7-0.9m)
(b) Normal Manholes (1-1.5m)
Deep Manholes(d> 1.5)
 Drop Manholes

When a sewer connects with another sewer,

where the difference in level between invert
level of branch sewer and water line in the
main sewer at maximum discharge is greater
than 0.6m.

Manhole may be built either with vertical or

nearly vertical drop pipe from higher sewer
to the lower one .
LAMP HOLE
It is an opening or hole constructed in a sewer for
purpose of lowering a lamp inside it.
It consists of stoneware or concrete pipe, which is
connected to sewer line through a T-junction
 CLEAN-OUTS
It is a pipe which is connected to the underground sewer.
The other end of the clean-out pipe is brought up to
ground level and a cover is placed at ground level.
A clean-out is generally provided at the upper end of
lateral sewers in place of manholes. During blockage of
pipe, the cover is taken out and water is forced through
the clean-out pipe to lateral sewers to remove obstacles
in the sewer line.
 CATCH BASINS
Catch basins are provided to stop the entry of heavy debris present
in the storm water into the sewers. However, their use is
discouraged because of the nuisance due to mosquito breeding
apart from posing substantial maintenance problems. At the bottom
of the basin space is provided for the accumulation of impurities.
Perforated cover is provided at the top of the basin to admit rain
water into the basin. A hood is provided to prevent escape of sewer
gas.
 STORMWATER INLETS
Storm water inlets are provided to admit the surface runoff to the
sewers.

Curb Inlet: These are vertical opening in the road curbs through
which storm water flow enters the storm water drains. These are
preferred where heavy traffic is anticipated

Gutter Inlets: These are horizontal openings in the gutter which is

covered by one or more grating through which storm water is
admitted

Combined Inlets: In this, the curb and gutter inlet both are provided
to act as a single unit . The gutter inlet is normally placed right in
front of the curb inlets.
REGULATOR OR OVERFLOW DEVICE
These are used for preventing overloading of sewers, pumping
stations, treatment plants or disposal arrangement, by diverting the
excess flow to relief sewer.

FLAP GATES AND FLOOD GATES

Flap gates or backwater gates are installed at or near sewer outlets
to prevent back flow of water during high tide, or at high stages in
the receiving stream.

SEWER VENTILATORS
Ventilation to the sewer is necessary to make provision for the
escape of air to take care of the exigencies of full flow and to keep
the sewage as fresh as possible. In case of storm water,
this can be done by providing ventilating manhole covers.
INVERTED SIPHONS

An inverted siphon or depressed sewer is a sewer that

runs full under gravity flow at a pressure above
atmosphere in the sewer. Inverted siphons are used to
pass under obstacles such as buried pipes, subways.