SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

 • The term "sewage" pertains to any waste material, whether liquid or solid, associated
with human habitation, or containing or potentially containing human or animal excrement,
offal, or any feculent matter.
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 • "Sewage disposal" covers any septic tank, privy, structural vault, pit, or other sewage
disposal system. It also includes any drainage system or other sewage disposal system.
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The Sewage and its Disposal

 Among the most important issues relating to environmental health is the collection and proper
disposal of human waste. Recent statistics reports showed that places lacking a good and
scientific sewage disposal system are where the majority of waterborne infections, including
dysentery, typhoid, diarrhea, and other intestinal problems, are prevalent.
 About 80 grams of feces and 950 grams of urine are produced every day on average by each
person. The solid content is reduced to a very small amount, measured in milligrams per liter,
when sewage is created by diluting the substance with water at a rate of 30 to 100 gal L per
day.
 About 50% of the total sewage solids are organic and prone to rotting. When this happens, the
sewage solids become smelly and dark in color. Additionally, it includes pathogenic
organisms that cause infections whether it is fresh or stale.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Sewage disposal system has four types.
1. The Cesspool
2. The Privy
3. The Septic Tank
4.The Public Sewer Line

THE CESSPOOL
 A cesspool is a pit in the ground that is surrounded by bricks, hollow concrete blocks, stones,
or other materials placed in such a way as to permit the leaching of raw, contaminated
sewerage into the soil. The organic wastes build up and are eventually disposed of by
disintegration.
 An excavation into the ground that receives sewage or drainage from plumbing fixtures,
effluent from septic tanks, along with water utilized in carrying said sewage or drainage, but
does not have watertight walls or a bottom.
THE PRIVY
 For the purpose of collecting raw sewage, the Privy is a wooden shelter enclosed in a concrete
vault. Excrement is broken down in a similar way to how it is in a cesspool. It is inadmissible
due to the danger of polluting the water supply source.
 “Privy” is a structure used as a toilet under a part or all of which is a vault or pit intended or
used for the reception of human waste matter.
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THE SEPTIC TANK
 The Septic Tank is a tool or container used to expedite the decomposition of the substances
found in raw sewage waste. Water and a settleable solid substance known as organic
compounds make up raw sewage, which can quickly precipitate in a septic tank.
 The term "septic tank" refers to a watertight receptacle that receives the drainage system's
discharge and is built to contain solids, allow organic matter to break down through a period
of detention, and allow liquids to drain into the ground outside the container through a
subsurface drainage system or into a cesspool.
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 A septic tank is a container or vault used to collect organic waste from the house sewer. A
septic tank's primary function is to liquefy and precipitate solid waste while also purifying
odorous materials.
 The sewage that was discharged into the tank is retained, and during the retention period,
approximately 60% to 70% of its sediments form a semi-liquid substance known as sludge.
Sludge builds up at the bottom of the septic tank. Parts of the solids dissolve and form
floating scum. Anaerobic bacteria break down the scum and sludge, converting them into
liquids and gases. This is known as digestion. The solid matter is reduced in size and thus
changes in character. As a result, the septic tank combines two processes: sedimentation in
the tank's upper portion and anaerobic decomposition of the accumulated sludge at the
bottom.
Gasses that are Produced Inside the Septic Tank.
There are different gases produced inside the septic tank ranging from organic to non-organic gases.
These Are
1. Methane gas (CH) is a combination of hydrogen
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO) is a combination of carbon and oxygen. It is the simplest oxide of
carbon.
3. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a by-product of methane, classified as poisonous gas.
4. Hydrogen (H) evolves as a moist gas from organic waste.
5. Hydrogen Sulfide (HS) is a colorless gas with offensive odor.
6. Sulfur Dioxide (HO) is also a colorless gas having an irritating odor

Construction of the Septic Tank

Septic Tank is constructed from either of the following materials
1. Reinforced concrete
2. Plastered concrete hollow blocks
3. Prefabricated asbestos
4. Thin metal and plastic

The most popular and widely used material for construction of septic tank is plastered concrete hollow
blocks or concrete. Others have not gained acceptance due to cost and durability.

MINIMUM SIZE OF A SEPTIC TANK

These gases are discharged into the atmosphere through the ventilation pipe.
1. The minimum inside dimension of a septic tank is 90 centimeters wide by 150 centimeters
long. The concrete or masonry septic tank is usually constructed in a rectangular form. The
reason is to retard the even flow of the waste, that is necessary, to avoid disturbing the
decomposition processes inside the tank.
2. The minimum inside dimension of a septic tank is 90 centimeters wide by 150 centimeters
long.
3. For effective decomposition of the organic materials inside the septic tank, a 120 centimeters
depth of the liquid content is necessary. It is not impractical though, to construct a tank of
greater depth, provided, that the depth should not be deeper than the natural ground water
table
4. The inlet and outlet inverts of the septic tank shall be long turn sanitary tee. The inverts are
installed in the wall of the tank at least 120 centimeters from its bottom floor equally spaced
from both sides.
5. The invert is extended down the liquid of the tank not more than 30 centimeters. This is to
assure smooth delivery of the incoming sewage below the scum line. Scum refers to the
lighter organic materials that rises to the surface of the water.
6. The bottom of the digestion chamber should be sloped to one low point. The purpose is to
gather the settled organic materials into one mass to favor the propagation of the anaerobic
bacteria.
7. The septic tank, should be provided with a man hole, extended a few centimeters above the
surface of the soil to overcome infiltration of surface water. This manhole will serve the
purpose of cleaning, inspection and repair of the tank.
8. Septic tank for large plumbing installations are provided with suspended compartment
attached to the ceiling slab of the tank The baffle plate is ex tended down the bottom of the
 tank about 40 centimeters below the scum line. Each compartment of the tank separated by
baffle plate is provided with manhole.
9. The Septic tank, should be constructed near the surface of the ground, because the correction
of the waste depends upon the extent of oxidation and the existence of anaerobic bacteria.
Another kind of bacteria that split and digest the effluent is the aerobic bacteria. A kind of
bacteria that survive only in the subsoil not more than 150 centimeters below the surface.
Oxidation of the effluent deeper than 150 cm would become extremely difficult.

Size of the Septic Tank

So far, there is no mathematic formula ever formulated to arrive in determining a definite size of a
septic tank. However, sanitary authorities agreed in principles that:
1. For a family of 6 persons, the minimum tank capacity should be approximately 1.3 cubic
meters with a minimum size of 90 centimeters wide by 150 centimeters long and 120
centimeters depth.
2. A very large tank is not advisable, because the bacterial activities would be retarded. The size
of the tank is proportionally based on the number of per sons expected to be served. In other
words, the volume of the tank has a rational proportion with the volume of incoming waste
for bacterial activities to be in favorable condition.
3. For residential installation, the practice is to allow 5 to 6 cubic feet of tank volume per person.
Thus, a septic tank that will serve a family of 12 persons must have a liquid capacity of 6 x
1272 cubic feet or 538 gallons. (one cubic foot is 748 gallons)

Location of Septic Tank

Location of the septic tank shall observe the following considerations:

1. The septic tank may be located closer to the building it will serve, providing a minimum
distance of 2.00 meters from the outside wall.
2. As much as possible, the septic tank should not be located closer to the doors or windows.
3. Septic tank should be at least 15 meters away from any source of water supply The farther the
better

Requirements for a Satisfactory Disposal of Human Waste

1. There should be no contamination of ground sur face that may enter into the spring or wells.
2. There should be no contamination of surface water.
3. The surface soil should not be contaminated.
4. Excreta should not be accessible to animals, flies, cockroaches, vermin and the like 5. There
should be no odor and unsightly conditions.
5. The methods used should be simple and economical in terms of construction operation.

Safety Precautions
Most septic tanks are inadequately aerated or ventilated. It is deficient in free oxygen. An individual
entering a septic tank for repairs or cleaning may die almost instantly under these conditions.
A septic tank may contain hazardous gases. When doing repairs or cleaning, make sure the septic tank
is well ventilated by removing the manhole cover a few days ahead of time. Another precaution is to
provide fresh air inside the tank while working. Remember that the tank may contain flammable gases
that, if ignited, could cause a massive explosion. When working in the dark, an electric emergency
light with a properly insulated cord should be used.

Sewage Treatment
The septic tank's effluent that was removed is still considered to be impure material. Despite the
removal of these organic materials and the elimination of many unpleasant gases, the water still
contains a large number of dangerous anaerobic bacteria as well as objectionable chemical
compounds that must be disposed of.
There are numerous techniques and procedures that can be used to treat seam aging. The trickling or
sprinkling filter method and the activated sludge method are the two that are most frequently utilized.
Plumbing does not cover in-depth scientific analysis of sewage treatment in this context. But in
passing, it is important to note that the treatment of municipal sewage is a challenging issue that
involves scientific considerations unrelated to plumbing.
A modern sewage disposal plant's design and construction require engineering education in all
branches of natural science, including civil engineering for building the structure and mechanical
engineering for building the machinery, as well as extensive chemistry expertise. bacteriology and
physics.
THE PUBLIC SEWER LINE
 The Public Sewer Line is a public sewage system that the government owns, operates, and
maintains. It consists of a sewage treatment plant that transports untreated sewage from
homes and buildings to a disposal system.
 A sewer main that is owned and managed by the city and is located within a street or right-of-
way is referred to as a "public sewer."
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The Public Sewer Line is classified into three types according to the kind of waste it disposes.
1. The Combination Public Sewer
2. The Sanitary Sewer
3. The Storm Drain

THE COMBINATION PUBLIC SEWER

 The oldest type of public sewer is the combination public sewer, which transports both storm
water and sanitary waste. This type of public sewer is already out of date and is not permitted
by sanitary authorities.
THE SANITARY SEWER
 The Sanitary Sewer is a public sewer system that only transports sanitary waste. It comes to
an end at a modern sewage treatment plant. Rainwater is not permitted to enter this type of
public sewer.
 The Sanitary Sewer is classified into two types:
1.The Intercepting or Trunk Line Sewer
- The Intercepting Sewer is a sanitary sewer that transports sanitary waste to a waste disposal
facility. It is typically made of concrete pipe ranging in diameter from 0.60 to 3.00 meters.
The pipes are installed underground to a depth of approximately 3 meters, depending on the
natural contour of the ground.

2.The Tributary or Contributing Sewer

- The Tributary Sewer is a branch of an intercepting sewer system. The pipe is constructed of
vitrified clay or concrete pipe laid in an open trench. It is typically smaller in diameter,
installed no more than 3 meters below street level, and connects to the intercepting sewer.

THE STORM DRAIN

 Another type of public sewer line that transports storm water is the Storm Drain. It ends in a
natural drain. Canals, lakes, and rivers are examples.
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A manhole is a device of the main and storm sewer. It allows for inspection, cleaning, and repair by
humans. It is made of bricks, stone, adobe, or concrete and is spaced 75 to 150 meters apart. The
diameter of the manhole ranges from 90 to 120 centimeters, and it is equipped with iron rungs that
serve as a ladder for the maintenance crew to reach the bottom. It has a well-fitted cover on top that is
level with the road surface.
SEWAGE EJECTOR
The pump that will discharge waste in the sump and transfer it to the house drain is referred to as a
sewage ejector. When the public sewer line is installed at a depth of 2 to 4 meters below street level, a
sewage ejector is required. Large buildings with basements may have a deeper excavation, making
gravity-draining waste to the main sewer difficult.
The cesspool and privy are already obsolete among these four types of sewage disposal. The sanitary
authorities' preferred types are the public sewer line and the septic tank.