SEWERAGE SYSTEM

Sanitation is the hygienic measures of isolating the hazards of wastes from

human contact to promote health. Wastes generated by human beings
could be excreta, urine, wastewater, solid wastes, industrial wastes, and
agricultural wastes. These wastes may contain hazards, such as microbial
pathogens and hazardous chemicals, which will be detrimental to human
health if left uncontrolled.
 Wastewater elements considered are excreta, urine, sewage, sullage,
storm water and other liquid wastes generated from domestic,
commercial, agricultural and industrial activities. Solid wastes and medical
wastes maybe covered by some regulations if being disposed
indiscriminately in land surfaces, drainage or bodies of water that will
eventually affect the volume and quality of wastewater.
 Sanitation and wastewater is not only the concern of modern man.
Ancient civilizations, such as the Roman Empire, were very particular with
these systems. Aqueducts had been built to transport water from the
mountains to the city to meet their water supply demand. To dispose
wastewater, sewer lines and drainage were constructed.
 In the Philippines, disposal of wastewater is turning to be an enormous
challenge. This is the concern of NEDA Board Resolution No. 5, series of
1994 which stated the national policy for urban sewerage and sanitation.
The country's rapid population increase coupled with industrialization
efforts produced pressures to the capacity of the environment to absorb
generated wastes. Untreated wastes are hazards to health and
environment.
 Wastewater, if not properly handled, will further reduce the remaining
limited quantity of good water to the detriment of all. Being aware of
these, the Philippine government has formulated policies and guidelines
that will ensure proper management of the country's wastewater.
SEWER PIPES
PVC sanitary sewer installation. Sanitary sewers are sized to carry the amount of
sewage generated by the collection area. Sanitary sewers are much smaller than
combined sewers designed to also carry surface runoff.
 A sanitary sewer or "foul sewer" is an underground carriage system
specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial
buildings through pipes to treatment facilities or disposal. Sanitary
sewers are part of an overall system called a sewage system
or sewerage.
 Sewage may be treated to control water pollution before discharge
to surface waters. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also
carry industrial wastewater.
Separate sanitary sewer systems are designed to transport sewage
alone.
 In municipalities served by sanitary sewers, separate storm
drains may convey surface runoff directly to surface waters.
Sanitary sewers are distinguished from combined sewers, which
combine sewage with stormwater runoff in one pipe. Sanitary sewer
systems are beneficial because they avoid combined sewer
overflows.
 Sewage treatment is less effective when sanitary waste is diluted
with stormwater, and combined sewer overflows occur when runoff
from heavy rainfall or snowmelt exceeds the hydraulic capacity
of sewage treatment plants. To overcome these disadvantages, some
cities built separate sanitary sewers to collect only municipal
wastewater and exclude stormwater runoff collected in separate
storm drains.
 The decision between a combined sewer system or two separate
systems is mainly based on need for sewage treatment and cost of
providing treatment during heavy rain events. Many cities with
combined sewer systems built prior to installing sewage treatment
have not replaced those sewer systems.
GASES IN SEWERS
 Aside from the unpleasant odor youll encounter when sewer gases
begin to leak into your home, the dangers involved are too great to
ignore. Youll encounter difficulty breathing and risk chemical
poisoning if gases coming from the sewer go unchecked.
Because these gases come through your homes drain pipes,
plumbers and sewer experts should be called in immediately. Here
are ways to detect and limit the damage any sewer gas can have on
your familys well-being.
 Gases that originate in your homes sewer system can lead to
explosions in the house as well as asphyxiation and even death for
anyone inside. According to the International Association of Certified
Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), you and your family risk hydrogen
sulfide poisoning when this gas starts seeping from a homes
sewers. High concentrations of this gas can be fatal for humans and
animals.
 Methane, another gas that comes from sewers, can cause
explosions and affect your ability to breath. When methane replaces
the oxygen content of air in the home, you are likely to feel dizzy
and nauseated, and you may even lose consciousness. Smaller
proportions of methane or ammonia may lead to irritation of the
eyes and mucous membranes in addition to general breathing
problems.
 Sewer gas also contains carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and
nitrous oxides. In addition, chlorine bleaches, industrial solvents,
and gasoline are frequently present in municipal and privately owned
sewage treatment systems.