Sewerage systems are a fairly off-putting topic, but it's important to learn about them since they're the safest way to handle human waste.
This brief guide will cover the different kinds of sewage systems.
What Are the Different Types of Sewer Systems?
Sewage systems are all built for transporting human waste, and it's always a good idea to learn about the systems under your feet.
Every sewer system consists of underground pipes that eventually lead to your neighborhood's main sewer line or larger bodies of water.
These small plumbing pipes will lead to larger pipes until they reach a wastewater treatment plant. This section will cover the storm sewer system along with other forms of sewage systems.
Vacuum Sewer Systems
A vacuum sewer system is a complex sewer that's cheaper and faster to install than other sewer systems.
It creates a vacuum and maintains this air pressure to move sewage between its pipes. Vacuum sewers use less water but require more maintenance than other systems.
Storm Sewer Systems
Storm sewers are a vital part of stormwater management and help direct irrigation runoff from storm drains and parking lots into larger waterways and other bodies of water.
A storm sewer system is a direct pipeline from the storm drain to the environment, so the wastewater doesn't go through a treatment plant first.
Remember to keep hazardous wastes away from your storm drain, as a storm sewer will take any waste straight to the environment.
Sanitary Sewer Systems
A sanitary sewer system is meant to transport easily degradable manufactured solids like toilet paper and human waste from your home to a wastewater treatment plant.
Sanitary sewage systems work with the help of manholes and plumbing clean-outs for easier access.
Sanitary sewers are managed and maintained by the city. A sanitary sewer is often made of miles worth of pipes.
Gravity Sewer Systems
A gravity sewer system relies on gravity to move wastewater through its underground pipes, but some gravity sewers have pumping stations to aid this flow.
They're expensive to install, expand and maintain. Most sewers, like storm sewer systems, begin as gravity sewers but are modified according to the community's needs.
Effluent Sewer Systems
An effluent sewer system is an on-lot septic system combined with a sanitary sewer system. Every home will have a watertight septic tank on-site.
After a few days, the combined wastes from each home will be filtered into a treatment plant. An effluent sewer system can be quickly expanded at little cost.
Combined Sewer Systems
As the name suggests, a combined sewer system mixes sanitary sewers and storm sewers. Combined sewers work by adding human waste and untreated runoff water to the same pipe.
Combined sewer systems are prone to overflowing because of the volume of wastewater and sewage that flows into them.
Because of this flaw, combined sewers aren't used as often to prevent health problems from the sewage backing up and overflowing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Learn more about your local waste system here.
The biggest difference between a sewage system and a septic system is the question of who handles your raw sewage.
A septic system is installed on your property and is usually made of a septic tank and a drain field. They're more common in rural or smaller neighborhoods, and the homeowner is in charge of the wastewater treatment.
Meanwhile, a sewer system is connected to the main sewer line of your municipality and is built for heavier use. Routine maintenance is funded through taxes.
Untreated wastewater can't be released back into larger waterways because they contain dangerous pathogens that could harm the population. So they're sent to a sewage treatment plant first.
At the treatment plant, wastewater goes through Primary and Secondary treatment.
- Primary Treatment - Larger objects in the sewage are separated using a screen and sedimentation tanks. More complex treatment plants also use pumps.
- Secondary Treatment - At this stage, the wastewater either enters a trickling field with bacteria or is exposed to activated sludge with bacteria. The bacteria break down the organic matter in the wastewater; then, it's further disinfected with chlorine.
Conclusion
Accumulated wastewater is a serious threat to public health and safety, which is why it's important to understand your sewer system.
In case you need to do sewer repair, it's best to contact a professional. This collection of underground pipes is vital to keeping the city clean.
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