Sewerage System :

Sewerage system refers to the infrastructure which conveys sewage or surface runoff using sewers. Some
of the components of the sewerage system includes inlets, catch basins, clean outs, manholes, lampholes,
flushing tanks, grease and oil traps, inverted syphons and storm regulators.

Fig - Components of Sewerage System

What is Sewerage System?

A network of pipes, pumping stations, and other interconnected components constitute the
sewerage system, also known as sewage system, which is designed to transfer wastewater
including sewage and stormwater runoff. The infrastructure collects wastewater from various
sources such as homes, industries, and commercial areas, and moves it through sewers. The
system primarily utilizes gravity to facilitate the movement of wastewater and often employs
natural stormwater drainage as well.
Sewerage System Types
Depending upon the mode of collection of sewage the sewerage system can be classified into
following three categories:-

1.Combined Sewerage System

Storm run-off and domestic sewage are carried through the same sewerage system conduit in a
combined system. In a country such as India, where actual rainy days are sparse, this sewerage
system will have difficulty in maintaining the self-cleansing velocity of the sewers in the dry
season as the sewage discharge in the dry season would be far less than the design discharge
after including stormwater. Due to this problem, the sewers might get choked, which could
decrease the discharge-carrying capacity of the sewers.

Some of the advantages of combined sewerage system:-

 There is no need to flush sewers in areas where rainfall occurs throughout the year
because self-cleaning velocity will be developed due to increased quantity because of
stormwater addition.
 For house plumbing, only one set of pipes will be required.
 In congested areas, it is simple to lay only one pipe rather than the two required by other
systems.

Apart from the advantages, some disadvantages of combined sewerage system

are:-

 Not suitable for areas with a short period of rainfall per year, because dry weather flow
will be low, preventing self-cleaning velocity from developing in sewers and resulting in
silting.
 Large flows must be treated at sewage treatment plants before disposal, resulting in
higher capital and operating costs for the treatment plant.
 This system is uneconomical when pumping is required.

Sewer overflows will contaminate public hygiene during rainstorms.

Separate Sewerage System
Separate conduits are used in a separate system, one for sewage and the other for stormwater
run-off. Because stormwater is not as foul as sewage and no treatment is generally provided, it
can be discharged directly into the water body. To meet desired standards, sewage collected from
the city is adequately treated before it is discharged into a water body or used for irrigation. For
large cities, a separate system is advantageous and cost-effective.

The advantages of separate sewerage system are:-

 As sewage and stormwater flow in separate pipes, the amount of sewage to be treated at
the sewage treatment plant is small, resulting in treatment cost savings.
 Only sanitary sewage is transported in a closed conduit. This system may be less
expensive because stormwater can be collected and conveyed through open drains.
 Due to lower flow, this method is more cost-effective when pumping is required during
disposal.

The disadvantages of separate sewer system are:-

 In congested or low-space areas, laying separate pipes for sewage and stormwater might
be difficult.
 Flushing of sewers may be required at some locations if self-cleansing velocity is not
developed.
 Maintenance cost of this sewerage system is high because the authorities have to spend
more money on maintaining separate sewers.
Partially Separate Sewerage System:-
In this system, storm water, particularly collected from building roofs and paved courtyards, is
admitted into the same drain as sewage from residences and institutions, etc. Storm water from
other locations is collected separately via separate storm water conduits.

Some advantages of this sewerage system are:-

 Sewers of reasonable size and cost are required.

 As rainwater from roofs, sullage from bathrooms and kitchens, etc., are combined with
discharge from water closets, the work of house plumbing is reduced.
 Flushing sewers may not be necessary because a small amount of storm water can enter
sanitary sewage.

Some disadvantages of this sewerage system are:-

 In dry weather, self-cleansing velocity in sewers may not develop.

 The cost of pumping at the treatment plant increases when this sewerage system is
adopted as compared to the separate sewerage system.

Wastewater Types in Sewerage Systems:

Mixture of water and liquid waste generated due to different activities in the community is
termed as sewage. It includes the water from urinals, toilets, discharge from residential areas,
commercial areas, institutional buildings, and stormwater or groundwater entering the sewers. Its
decomposition produces a considerable amount of foul-smelling fumes, and it contains numerous
pathogenic or disease-causing germs, as well as a high concentration of organic materials and
suspended particles.

The wastewater or the sewage can be classified on the basis of its origin and composition. Some
of the types of wastewater are:-
Domestic Sewage
If the sewage is generated due to various domestic activities such as washing, bathing etc. from
residential buildings, restaurants, public buildings etc. and carries lots of waterborne wastes, then
this type of sewage is termed as domestic sewage. Domestic sewage is free from the wastes
generated from the industrial effluents. Domestic sewage can also be referred to as sanitary
sewage.

Industrial Sewage
Industrial sewage refers to the wastewater generated from various industrial activities in the form
of effluents. Its decomposition produces a considerable amount of foul-smelling fumes, and it
contains numerous pathogenic or disease-causing germs, as well as a high concentration of
organic materials and suspended particles.

Storm water Sewage

Storm water is sewage runoff from the atmosphere that collects as water particles in open
channels. Rain, drizzle, snow, and other types of precipitation are examples of this.

Some Other Important Terms in Sewerage System

Night Soil- Human and animal excreta can be described by a term called the Night Soil.

Subsoil Water- When the groundwater enters the sewers through any leakages then it is termed
as subsoil water.

Sullage- When waste from the bathroom and kitchen are taken together then it is termed as
sullage. It includes the wastewater generated from bathrooms, kitchens, washing places and wash
basins, etc. The sullage contains less organic matter and requires a lesser degree of treatment.

Sewage Treatment Plant-

 A sewage treatment plant is a facility that receives waste from residential,
commercial, and industrial sources and removes contaminants that harm
water quality and endanger public health and safety when discharged into
receiving systems or on land. It is a collection of unit operations and unit
procedures designed to treat sewage to desirable standards in accordance
with regulating authority effluent requirements.
 Low-cost treatment devices such as oxidation ditches, aerated lagoons, and waste
stabilization ponds can be used to replace the activated sludge or trickling filter
processes. Some unit operations and processes, such as primary sedimentation and
anaerobic digestion, are eliminated by such treatment devices.
Sewers in Sewerage System
Sewer is an underground tube or drain that transports sewage to a site of discharge or disposal.

Sewers can be classified on the following two basis:-

1. Classification of sewers on the basis of the material they are made of.

2. Classification of sewers on the basis of their shape.

Sewerage System Types on the Basis of Material

The sewers can be made up of different materials according to the requirements and their life.
Some of the types of sewers on the basis of their material properties are as follows:-

Asbestos Cement Sewers- Asbestos Cement Sewer refers to a sewer constructed of asbestos
fibre, silica, and cement. This type is appropriate for home sewage utilised for vertical
transmissions to the collector, such as a kitchen sink or a bathroom.

 The interiors are smooth.

 Simple to cut, connect, fit, and drill.
 It is lightweight and simple to use.
 It is not appropriate for high-velocity sewage.
 It is not appropriate for underground use.
 It is available in internal diameters ranging from 10 to 100 cm and lengths up to 4 metres.
 It is sulphate resistant but vulnerable to acid attacks which can reduce its strength and
durability.
Brick Sewers- As the name implies, it is made of a specific form of a brick. These sewers
carry stormwater drains.

 They serve as a combined sewer, collecting rainwater, runoff, and sewage.

 Plastering is required to smooth out the interior and make it corrosion-resistant.
 It can be built in any shape or size that is required.
Cast Iron Sewers- Pig Iron, an intermediate material manufactured in the industry, is used
to make Cast Iron pipes. It is highly abrasion resistant.

o It is appropriate for inverted syphons.

o It can tolerate strong internal and external pressures.
o It is expensive due to the manufacturing process.
o It is appropriate for high-velocity flow and heavy loads.
o Because of its construction, cast iron sewers are extremely sturdy and long-lasting.
o The cast iron sewers are tough to repair.
o It is appropriate for high-density load regions such as beneath highways and railways.

Plastic Sewers- Nowadays, plastic sewers are fairly widespread.

 They are extremely long-lasting and corrosion-resistant.
 Its internal surface is quite smooth.
 It is appropriate for domestic drainage tasks.
 It is lightweight and simple to use.
 They are simple to lay, cut, join, and fit.
Steel Sewers- The steel sewers are susceptible to corrosion and are costly. They are made up
of ductile iron and then galvanised.

 Steel pipes are resistant to high pressure, vibration, and shock.

 Steel pipes are prone to corrosion, so they require a galvanised coating to be protected.
 It is inappropriate for partial flow sewers because it exposes the conduit to corrosion.

Cement Concrete Sewers- The Cement Sewer is constructed of reinforced cement

concrete.

 It is extremely abrasion resistant.

 It is extremely durable and strong.
 It is hefty and difficult to transport.
 It has a diameter ranging from 150 mm to 900 mm.
 It can tolerate high-velocity flows that exert enormous loads.
Stoneware Sewers- Stoneware sewers resemble brick sewers. They are formed of clay or shale
that has been pulverised into particles and combined with water to form a pipe shape. The clay
will then be placed in a kiln and baked at 150°C for several hours.

 It can survive considerable backfilling and traffic if properly burned and set.
 It is hefty and tough to move.
 It is extremely long-lasting and corrosion-resistant.
 It is appropriate for domestic drainage.
 It is cheaper in comparison to other varieties.
Sewerage System Types on the Basis of Shape
The types of sewers according to their shapes are as follows:-

Circular Shaped Sewers- Circular sewers are the most commonly utilised sewers and are
preferred for all sorts of sewage. This sewer shape is simple to build, takes fewer resources, and
is cost-effective.

Semi-circular Shaped Sewers- It is appropriate for locations where a large sewer is

required. The sewer's upper arch is semi-circular in shape. It has a huge part and is utilised for
dumping large amounts of sewage. However, it is old and out of date. As a result, it is not
preferred at this time.

Parabolic-Shaped Sewer- A parabolic-shaped sewer is utilised for smaller amounts of

sewage discharge. The sewer is modest in size, and the upper border is shaped like a parabola.
This sewer's inverted section could be parabolic or elliptical in shape. It is also cost-effective.

Horseshoe-Shaped Sewer- As the name implies, its shape resembles a horseshoe. A

horseshoe-shaped sewer is a big size sewer that is commonly used in locations where substantial
discharge is necessary. The invert can be round, parabolic, or flat. The height of such sewers is
greater than its width. Maintenance of these types of sewers is simple because of their great size.

Standard Egg-Shaped Sewer- These types of sewers are appropriate for low flow
conditions as these types of sewers give higher flow velocities as compared to circular sewers.
These types of sewers are preferred for combined sewerage systems. The construction of these
types of sewers is cumbersome and costly as it requires large amounts of construction materials.

New or Modified Egg-Shaped Sewers- These types of sewers are modified versions of
standard egg-shaped sewers. These types of sewers are also preferred for combined sewerage
systems.

Semi-Elliptical Shaped Sewer- These types of sewers are adopted for carrying large
amounts of sewage. The upper arch of these types of sewers is elliptical in shape and the invert
may be elliptical or parabolic.

Rectangular-Shaped Sewer- A rectangular-shaped sewer is used for discharging

stormwater and large quantities of sewage. The construction and maintenance of these types of
sewers are quite cheaper.
U-shaped Sewer- Its shape is identical to the English capital letter "U". The U-shaped sewer
is utilised for high-volume sewage outflow. Because of its size, it is also used to transport
stormwater. The inverted component of such sewers has a semi-circular form. It also serves as a
combined sewer. Its upkeep or maintenance work is simple due to its enormous size.

Basket Handle-Shaped Sewer- For small amounts of sewage outflow, a Basket Handle-
Shaped sewer is employed. Its upper portion is shaped like the handle of a basket, while its lower
portion is shaped like a narrow channel. However, its exterior surface is circular. It is also an old
sewer.