SEWAGE DISPOSAL

SYSTEM
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
DISPOSAL PHASE- the final stage of the plumbing process;
where used water and water-carried wastes are brought to
various disposal outlets

Definition: SEPTIC TANKS

A watertight covered receptacle designed and constructed
to receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer,
separate solids from the liquid, digest organic matter and
store digested solids through a period of detention, and
allow the clarified liquids to discharge for final disposal
SLUDGE- solid organic matter that are denser than water
and settle at the bottom of the septic tank
SCUM- lighter organic material that rise to the surface of
the water
EFFLUENT- liquid content of sewage
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

Bacteria in septic tank

to encourage decomposition:
Aerobic bacteria- relies on oxygen to survive
Anaerobic bacteria- can survive in places without
oxygen
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

Minimum
dimensions-
L= 1500mm
W=900mm
D=1200mm
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
SINGLE CHAMBER SEPTIC TANK:
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
DESIGN CRITERIA:

PLANS:
should show all dimensions, reinforcing, structural
calculations, and such other pertinent data as needed.

QUALITY OF DESIGN:
shall be such as to produce a clarified effluent of acceptable
standards and shall provide adequate space for sludge and
scum accumulations.

MATERIALS:
constructed of durable materials, not subject to excessive
corrosion or decay, shall be watertight.
Material: cement (most common) or pre-fabricated cast iron
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
COMPARTMENTS:
have a minimum of 2 compartments:
First compartment: not less than 2/3 capacity of the total
capacity of tank; not less than 2 cum liquid capacity;
shall be at least 0.9 m width and 1.5 m long; Liquid
depth not less than 0.6 m nor more than 1.8 m.
Secondary compartment: maximum capacity of 1/3 total
capacity of tank; minimum of 1 cum liquid capacity
In septic tanks having over 6 cum capacity, the secondary
compartment should be not less than 1.5 m in length.
maintain a slope of 1:10 at the bottom of the digestion
chamber to collect the sludge and make it easily accessible
from the manhole
MANHOLES:
with at least two (2) manholes, 508 mm in min dimension;
one over inlet, other over outlet. Wherever first compartment
exceeds 3.7 m in length, an additional manhole required
over the baffle wall.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

SIZES OF PIPE INLET & OUTLET & THEIR

VERTICAL LEGS:
Inlet and Outlet pipes – diameter size not less than the
sewer pipe
Vertical legs of inlet and outlet pipes – diameter size not less
than the sewer pipe nor less than 104.6 mm.
LENGTH AND LOCATION OF INLET & OUTLET:
Shall extend 101.6 mm above and at least 304.8 mm below
the water surface
Invert of the inlet pipe shall be at a level not less than 50.8
mm above the invert of the outlet pipe.

VENT DIAMETER:
equal to the cross sectional area of the house sewer.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
AIR SPACE:
Side walls shall extend 228.6 mm above liquid depth.
Cover of septic tank shall be at least 50.8 mm above the
back vent openings.

PARTITION (between compartments):

An inverted fitting equivalent in size to the tank inlet, but in
no case less than 104.6 mm in diameter, shall be installed in
the inlet compartment side of the baffle with the bottom of
the fitting placed midway in the depth of the liquid. Wooden
baffles are prohibited.

STRUCTURE:

Shall be capable of supporting an earth load of not

less than 14.4 kPa
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

CAPACITY:
The capacity of septic tanks is determined by the number of
bedrooms or apartment units in dwelling occupancies; by
the estimated waste/sewage design flow rate for various
building occupancies; or by the number of fixture units of all
plumbing fixtures; whichever is greater.
The capacity of any one septic tank and its drainage system
shall also be limited by the soil structure classification in its
drainage field.

LOCATION:
Should not be located underneath the house
At least 15 meters from the water distribution system
 SEWERS
3 degrees or grades of
waste water:

Grey Water (or Area Water)

Waste water with the exception of human wastes
From laundries, wash basins, sinks, tubs, etc.

Black Water
Water plus solid and liquid human wastes

Storm Water
Rainwater only
 SEWERS
CLASSIFICATION OF SEWERS:
Combination Public Sewers
Oldest variety
Carries both storm & sanitary wastes

Storm Sewers

Sanitary Sewers
Carries regular sanitary wastes only
Terminates in a modern sewage disposal plant for
treatment
Built at a depth of 3 meters (tributaries)
 SEWERS

2 TYPES OF SANITARY SEWERS:

Tributary Sewers
Termination points of individual units or structures
Usually round shaped, with diameters between
0.60 to 1.2 meters
Made of vitrified clay or cement pipes; often
installed by the curb line, before the street
Normally laid in the Northern or Eastern side of
streets with east-west or north-south orientations
 SEWERS
Intercepting Sewers
a.k.a. ‘collecting sewers’
Termination points of tributary sewers
Placed much lower in the ground, from 4 to 30
meters in depth
Varies in shape but have a diameter or effective
opening ranging from 0.60 to 3 meters

Sloped at an angle of 1:50 or 2%

Lifting stations are placed at certain intervals and
pumps or sewage ejectors are used to lift the
waste; sewers terminate at the disposal plant
 SEWERS
REQUIREMENTS:
Sewers REQUIRED
Drainage pipes of all buildings shall be connected to the
public sewer. When not available, they shall be connected to
an approved private sewage disposal system.
Public sewer may be considered as not being available if it
is more than 61 meters from any proposed building or
exterior drainage facility.
Exception: Single family dwellings with an existing private
sewage disposal system may not be connected to a new
public sewer when no hazard, nuisance or unsanitary
condition is evident and when there is no sufficient grade or
fall existing to permit proper drainage flow by gravity to the
public sewer.
 SEWERS
DAMAGE TO PUBLIC SEWER OR
PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
SYSTEM
It is unlawful to discharge any ashes, cinders, solids, rags,
flammable, poisonous, explosive liquids or gases, oils,
grease, and other things whatsoever which would cause
damage to the public sewer or private disposal system.
No rain, surface or subsurface waters shall discharge into
any excreta drainage system.
No cesspool and septic tank effluents, seepage pit or under
drain system shall be connected to the excreta building
sewer leading to a public sewer main.

No commercial food waste grinder shall be connected to a

private or public sewage disposal system.
 SEWERS
SIZE OF SEWER:
The minimum size of any building sewer shall be
determined on the basis of the total number of fixture units
drained by such sewer. No building sewer shall be smaller
than 150 mm diameter nor less in size than the building
drain.
 SEWERS
INSTALLATION OF SEWER:

Building sewers shall be run in practical alignment at a

uniform slope of not less than 2% or 21 mm/m toward the
point of disposal.
Exception: When impractical due to depth of street sewer,
structural features or to adverse arrangement of building, to
obtain a slope of 2%, sewers 102 mm and 152 mm in dia
may have a slope of not less than 1% (10.5 mm/m) and
those 203 mm dia and larger may have a slope of not less
than 0.5% (5.3 mm/m)
 SEWERS

No building sewer shall be

installed less than 0.6 M
from the outer face of any
building foundation, nor
less than 0.3 M below the
finish surface of the ground.

Location of building sewer in relation to other services is

shown below.
0.60 m from any building or structure
15.2 m from water supply wells
15.2 m from streams
0.30 m from domestic supply pipes
0.30 m from public water main
 SEWERS
Building sewer or drainage pipe of clay or materials which
are not approved for use within a building shall not be laid in
the same trench as water pipes unless:

the bottom of the water pipe is 0.3M

above the top of the sewer pipe
(NPC 1208.1.1),

the water pipe is placed

on a solid shelf excavated
at one side of the common
trench with a minimum
horizontal distance of at
least 0.3 m from the sewer
or drain pipe
(NPC 1208.1.2).
 SEWERS

Water pipes crossing sewer or drainage pipe of clay or

materials which are not approved for use within a building
shall be laid a minimum of 0.3 m clear above the sewer or
drain pipe. Water pipe joint shall be installed not less than 3
meters away from sewer line in both directions.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

DISPOSAL FIELDS
Private sewage disposal system common in rural areas for
structures with large adjacent open fields
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

AREA:
dependent on the required septic tank capacity or estimated
sewage flow rate, whichever is greater, and;
the type of soil found in the excavation.

DISTANCE FROM WATER TABLE:

No excavation for leach bed shall extend within 1.5 m of the
water table.

WITH SEEPAGE PIT:

Filter material in the trenches shall terminate 1.5 m from pit
excavation and the pipe extending from such points to the
seepage pit shall be watertight.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

SEEPAGE PITS

a loosely lined excavation in the ground, which receives the

discharge of a septic tank; designed to permit effluent to
seep through pit bottom and sides

CAPACITY:
based on the quantity of liquid waste and on the character
and porosity of the surrounding soil.

SIZE OF SEEPAGE PIT:

Circular in shape with excavated diameter of not less than
2.2 m and to be lined with clay or concrete brick.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

STRENGTH:
Brick lining shall have a minimum
compressive strength of 17225 kPa.

MULTIPLE SEEPAGE PITS:

served through a distribution

box or shall be connected in
series by means of a watertight
connection. The outlet shall
have a vented leg fitting extending
304.8 mm below the inlet fitting.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

CESSPOOLS

a non-watertight lined
excavation in the ground
which receives the discharge
of a sanitary drainage system,
designed to retain the organic
matter but permitting the liquid
to seep through the pit bottom
and sides
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

TEMPORARY PERMITS:
Temporary expedient pending the construction of a public
sewer, so long as it is established that a public sewer will be
available in less than 2 years and the soil and ground water
conditions are favorable;
As an overflow facility when installed in conjunction with an
existing cesspool;
As a means of sewage disposal for limited, minor, or
temporary uses.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems

PRIVIES

Outside Privy- oldest form of disposal of

organic waste. Consists of a vault
constructed of concrete for the collection
of raw sewage and a wooden shelter
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL
SPECIAL LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL

REQUIREMENTS:
When liquid wastes containing excessive amounts of
grease, garbage, flammable wastes, sand, or other
ingredients which may affect the operation of a private
sewage disposal system, an interceptor for such waste shall
be installed.

DISPOSAL:
Waste from interceptors may be discharged to a septic tank
or other primary system or into a separate disposal system.
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
Location of Sewage Disposal System
MIN. HORIZONTAL DISPOSAL SEEPAGE
BLDG SEPTIC
DISTANCE IN CLEAR FIELD PIT OR
SEWER TANK
REQUIRED FROM CESSPOOL
1 Buildings or 0.6 m 1.5 m 2.4 m 2.4 m
structures*
2 Property line Clear** 1.5 m 1.5 m 2.4 m
Adjoining private
Property
3 Water supply 15.2 m 15.2 m 30.5 m 45.7 m
wells
4 Streams 15.2 m 15.2 m 15.2 m 30.5 m

5 Trees - 3m - 3m
 Private Sewage
Disposal Systems
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
Location of Sewage Disposal System
MIN. HORIZONTAL DISPOSAL SEEPAGE
BLDG SEPTIC
DISTANCE IN CLEAR FIELD PIT OR
SEWER TANK
REQUIRED FROM CESSPOOL
6 Seepage pits or - 1.5 m 1.5 m 3.7 m
Cesspools
7 Disposal field 1.5 m 1.2 m 1.5 m
8 On site domestic 0.3 m 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m
Water service line
9 Pressure public 3m 3m 3m 3m
Water main
 Sewage Treatment Plan (STP)
Some features of STP:
An aeration system within the tank;
A submersible mixer to mix the waste;
A sludge waste pump that aids in clarifying;
A decanter;
Blowers;
A fully electronic control system, etc.
 Water Recycling

2 Most Common Types of

Municipal Sewage Treatment

The Activated Sludge Process

Involves a series of stations where the raw sewage must
pass through
First Phase- gets rid of heavy materials with the use of three
different filter houses
Second Phase- clarifies the effluent
Third Phase- hardens the sludge and converts it to fertilizers
Produces water with 99-99.5% purity
 Water Recycling
Raw sewage inlet
The Activated Sludge Process

1. Grit Chamber 2. Coarse screen house

4. incinerator
3. Fine screen house

5. Activated sludge tank

6. Aerating
8. Power House 7. Clarifier outlet
basin

10. Liquid
11. Chemical
9. Drier house extractor
house
house
13. Vacuum
12. warehouse power
house
 Water Recycling

The Trickling Filter Process

a.k.a ‘Percolating or Sprinkling Filter System’
Requires less mechanical elements and less stages
Produces water with 95% purity
Requires a large ground area for its building