How Sewer System Works!!

How sewer system works!!
Each time you flush the toilet or you wash something down
the sink’s drain, you create sewage (also known in polite
society as wastewater). One question which can arise is “Why
not simply dump this sewage some nearby place/stream?” But
there are three main reasons why this is avoided: -
1. It stinks. If you dump it in open it stinks very badly.
2. It contains harmful bacteria. Human waste naturally

contains Coliform Bacteria and other bacteria that can cause
disease. Water gets infected by its contact.
3. It contains suspended solids and chemicals that
affect the environment. For example,
· Wastewater contains nitrogen and phosphates

that, being fertilizers, encourage the growth of
algae. Excessive algae growth can block sunlight
and foul the water.
· It also contains organic material that will start

decomposing in presence of bacteria. Bacteria
consuming oxygen in water renders it in lack of it
killing many fishes.
· Suspended solids make the water look murky

and can affect the ability of many fish to breathe
and see.
Working of sewer systems:-

Septic Tank: - A septic tank is simply a big concrete or steel
tank that is buried in the yard. The tank might hold 1,000
gallons (4,000 litres) of water. Wastewater flows into the tank
at one end and leaves the tank at the other.
In this picture, you can see three layers: -
· Layer that floats to the top is known as scum layer.
· Layer that is heavier and sinks down forms

sludge layer.
· In the middle is an almost clear water level,

containing bacteria and chemicals like nitrogen and
phosphorus that’s act as fertilizers, but it is largely free of
solids.
A septic tank naturally gases (caused by bacteria breaking
down the organic material in the wastewater), and these
gases don’t smell good. To eradicate this issue, sinks have
loops of pipe called P-Traps that hold water in the lower loop
and block the gases from flowing back in the house. The
gases flow up a vent pipe instead.
As new water enters the tank, it displaces the existing water

which then drains out of the septic tank and into the drain
field. A drain field is made of perforated pipes buried in
trenches filled with gravel. The following diagram shows an
overhead view of a house, septic tank, distribution box and
drain field:
A typical drain field pipe is 4 inches (10 centimetres) in
diameter and is buried in a trench that is 4 to 6 feet (about
1.5 m) deep and 2 feet (0.6 m) wide. The gravels fill the
bottom 2 to 3 feet of the trench and dirt covers the gravel.
The water is slowly absorbed and filtered by the ground in the

drain field. The size of the drain field is determined by the
absorption power of the ground. In places of hard clay that
has poor absorption, the drain field is much bigger.
A septic system is normally powered by nothing but gravity.
Water flows down from the house to the tank, and down from
the tank to the drain field. It is completely passive system.
This is done because wastewater has a lot of solids in it, which
makes it rather hard to pump. Wastewater also has a lot of
bacteria and chemicals, and when we push it through
turbulent environments like pumps, it can create dangerous
and deadly gasses like hydrogen sulphide.
In an ideal sewer system, pipes from each house or building

flow into a sewer main that usually runs alongside a road or
underneath it. The sewer main in a large area is usually 3 to
5 feet in diameter, with the pipes from each house being
about 6 to 12 inches in diameter on average. Periodically, a
vertical pipe will run up from the main to the surface, where
it is covered by a manhole cover. Manholes allow access to
the main for maintenance purposes. The sewer mains flow
into progressively larger pipes until they reach the wastewater
treatment plant. In order to help gravity, do its job, the
wastewater treatment plant is usually located in a low-lying
area, and sewer mains will often follow creek beds and
streambeds (which flow naturally downhill) to the plant.
Normally, the lay of the land will not completely cooperate,

and gravity cannot do all the work. In these cases, the sewer
system will include a grinder-pump or a lift station to move
the wastewater up over a hill.
Then finally the wastewater is treated in three stages of
treatment: -
1.Primary: -It involves a screen followed by a set of pools or

ponds that let the water sit so that the solids can settle out.
2. Secondary: -Removes organic materials and nutrients. This

is done with the help of bacteria -- the water flows to large,
aerated tanks where bacteria consume everything they can.
3. Tertiary: -Use chemicals to remove phosphorous and

nitrogen from the water, but may also include filter beds and
other types of treatment. Chlorine added to the water kills any
remaining bacteria, and the water is discharged.
Need for updation of sewer system with
growing population (glimpses of sewer
system functioning in USA): -
With the need for a revamped approach to sewerage having
become evidently urgent, the Metropolitan Board of Works
celebrated chief engineer Joseph Bazalgette was given the go-
ahead to create a brand new and much more effective
system, which revolutionised the way we disposed of waste in
the UK. It was quickly adopted throughout the country, and
remains in use in London even to this day.
The modern sewer system owes much to Bazalgette’s

pioneering work, and uses sophisticated methods to ensure
that wastewater is transported and treated correctly.
Here’s how it works:
● Wastewater disposed of via toilets, sinks, showers or

baths are channelled into underground foul water drains
and sewers. Separate drains and sewers are used for
collecting surface water – including rainwater and
melted ice – and transporting it back into the rivers and
seas
● The foul water is taken to water treatment stations,
where it goes through a screening process. Debris, such
as rubbish and grit, is removed from the water, which is
held until the solids have separated from the liquids.
These solids are then collected and often used as
fertiliser
● Waste-eating bacteria is used to break down any
remaining waste into harmless matter. To do this, the
water is either held in large tanks, or passed over
stones like granite that are inhabited by these types
of bacteria
● The water is passed through a special tank to get rid
of any remaining waste particles. Depending on its
composition, the water may instead be treated with
chlorine to kill off any remaining bacteria
● After the water has been treated, it is usually returned
to rivers and streams, or discharged into the sea. The
thoroughness of the purification process helps to keep
these bodies of water as healthy as possible.

How Sewer System Works!!

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How Sewer System Works!!

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

How Sewer System Works!!

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How sewer system works!!

1. It stinks. If you dump it in open it stinks very badly.

2. It contains harmful bacteria. Human waste naturally

· Wastewater contains nitrogen and phosphates

· It also contains organic material that will start

· Suspended solids make the water look murky

Working of sewer systems:-

· Layer that floats to the top is known as scum layer.

· Layer that is heavier and sinks down forms

· In the middle is an almost clear water level,

As new water enters the tank, it displaces the existing water

The water is slowly absorbed and filtered by the ground in the

In an ideal sewer system, pipes from each house or building

Normally, the lay of the land will not completely cooperate,

1.Primary: -It involves a screen followed by a set of pools or

2. Secondary: -Removes organic materials and nutrients. This

3. Tertiary: -Use chemicals to remove phosphorous and

The modern sewer system owes much to Bazalgette’s

Here’s how it works:

● Wastewater disposed of via toilets, sinks, showers or

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.