Contents:

Definition of sewer Types of sewers on the basis of working Types of sewers on the basis of material used

SEWERS:
A Sewer is an underground conduit or drain through which sewage is conveyed to the point of discharge or disposal. Separate sewers are those which carry the house hold and industrial wastes only. Storm water drains are those which carry rain water from the roofs and street surfaces. Combined sewers are those which carry both sewage and storm water. House sewer is a pipe carrying away the sewage from a building to a street sewer. Main sewer or trunk sewer is a sewer that receives sewage from many tributary branches and sewers, serving as an outlet for a large territory. Branch sewer or submain sewer is a sewer which collects sewage from a relatively small area, usually a few laterals, and discharge into a main sewer. Lateral sewer is a sewer which collects sewage direct from the houses.

Type of Sewers: Sanitary sewers

These sewers carry the house hold and industrial wastes only.

Storm sewers
These sewers carry rain water from roofs and street surfaces.

Lateral sewers
These sewers collect sewage direct from the houses. it indicates the first stage of sewage collection.

House sewers
These sewers are those pipes which carrying away the sewage from a building to a street sewer.

Branch sewer
It collects sewage from a relatively small area, usually a few laterals, and discharge into a main sewer

Main sewer
It receives sewage from many tributary branches and sewers, serving as an outlet for a large territory.

Outfall sewer
These sewers receive the sewage from the collective systems and conduct it to a point of final discharge or to a disposal plant.

Overflow sewer
It is built to carry the flow in axes of the capacity of existing water.

Materials used for sewer

Asbestos cement Plain or reinforced cement concrete Vitrified clay or stoneware Bricks Cast iron Steel Plastic

SELECTION OF MATERIAL Hydraulic Efficiency

The material selected should be such that value of mannings coefficient N is as low as possible so that a hydraulically efficient surface is available.

Resistance to Abrasion
The following sewage may contain a lot of solids such as grit and san particles. At a high velocity at the sewage invert, erosion of sewer material may take place due to abrasion. For a longer life, the sewer material must posses high degree of resistance to abrasion.

Resistance to Corrosion
The composition of sewage may be such that the sewer material may get corroded. For longer life, the sewer material should posses enough resistance to corrosion.

Strength
The sewers are generally laid underground and hence they are subjected to a number of external forces, including the weight of overburden and vehicular/live loads. The material should of strong enough to resist all such external forces.

Durability
The sewer material should be durable so that expenditure due to its frequent replacement is minimum.

Cost
The cost of the material should be less so that overall economy is achieved in its construction.

Weight
The material should be light in weight so that it can be easily handled and transportation costs are also less.

Imperviousness
The sewer material should be impervious and should not allow seepage of the sewage from the water.

Asbestos Cement Sewers:

These sewer pipes are made from a Mixture of asbestos fibre, cement and silica. The Asbestos fibre serves as a reinforcing material. The mixture of these constituents converts it into a dense homogeneous material under pressure. The pipes are available in various sizes ranging from 75mm to 500mm in diameter and 3 to 4 meters in Length. These pipes are used only as verticals.

 Advantages
These pipes possess considerable strength against internal pressure. They are light in weight, due to which they can be easily handled. They can be easily cut and easily joined. These pipes offer good Resistance to salts, and other corrosive materials normally present in the sewers. The inside surface is relatively smooth; hence they are hydraulically more efficient.

Disadvantages
They are Brittle. They are weak against impact forces. Hence careless handling may result in their breaking. They have less structural strength against heavy external forces. These are susceptible to sulphide corrosion. Due to these advantages they are used only as verticals.

P.C.C. & R.C.C. SEWERS:

Cement concrete pipes either can be plain (for small diameters) or reinforced. P.C.C. pipes diameter varying from 80 mm to 450 mm and their Thickness varying from 25 to 30 mm. For bigger diameters, R.C.C. pipes are used.

In order to achieve adequate strength and imperviousness, rich quality cement concrete should be used. The Usual mix is 1: 1.5: 3. The grading and mixing of aggregate should be proper, with the maximum size of aggregates limited to 6mm. the Water cement ratio Varies b/w 0.5 to 0.7 depending upon the thickness of the pipe and equipment used for placing and compacting the concrete.

Advantages:
These pipes are equally Strong, under internal pressure as well as external pressures. Thus, these pipes can withstand both tensile as well as compressive stresses. These can be made of any desired strength by proper design of mix, thickness and reinforcement. These can be easily manufactured even at the sight. They are economical for medium and large sized installations. Therefore, they are widely used for main sewers and branch sewers.

Disadvantages:
The biggest disadvantage of concrete sewers is that, they get easily corroded and pitted due to corrosive action of the contents of the sewage.

Vitrified clay or stoneware sewers:

These pipes are manufactured from clay and shales of special qualities and grades, using hot process. The Ingredients are taken in desired proportionate. Pipes are formed in pipe press, at a specified pressure at about 0.85 N/mm2 in desired diameters and lengths. The Vitrification achieved at 1200c. During which small quantity of NaCl added to place the surface of pipe.

Advantages:
They are highly resistant to sulphide corrosion. They posses high resistance to erosion due to grit and silt. Because of smooth interior, they are hydraulically efficient. They are highly impervious. They posses high compressive strength. They are cheap and easily available.

Disadvantages:
They are weak in tension. So, these cannot be used for locations where sewage flows under pressure. They are Brittle in nature, so that they can be damaged during transportation. They are quite bulky and heavy, so their handling, laying and transportation are difficult.

BRICK SEWERS:
Bricks are used for constructing sewers since olden days. For construction of such sewers, Purpose-made bricks are used instead of routine building bricks. They are still Preferred for large sized Combined sewers. Brick sewers should be Plastered from outside. They are also lined inside with stoneware or ceramic blocks. Such a lining makes the sewer smooth and hydraulically more efficient. And it also provide Resistance against sulphide corrosion.

CAST IRON SEWERS:

Cast Iron Sewers posses high strength. So, they are structurally stronger to withstand in tensile, compression as well as bending stresses. They should be properly Coated with paint or cement concrete. They are available in Diameter from 150 mm to 750 mm and length up to 3 to 3.5 m. they are relatively Costlier.

STEEL SEWERS
Steel sewers are Light in weight. They are perfectly impervious. Can absorb vibrations and shock loads. They are mostly used at those locations where high external and or internal pressures are encountered. They are used for mains outfall and trunk sewers having large diameters. They are made Corrosion resistant either due to heavy galvanization or bituminous coatings. The greatest advantage is that these sewers can be easily welded. But, they are Costlier comparison to C.I. sewers.

PLASTIC SEWERS
These types of sewers are Still in experimental stage. These pipes have High hydraulic efficiency. They are Corrosion resistant. They are available in longer lengths, can be jointed easily and permit cold negotiation of bends. Use of plastic sewer pipes is in Netherlands, Scandinavia, France etc. and In India, it is recently started in the form of domestic sewers.

REFRENCES: