SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

Sewage System Terminology and Definitions

Absorption Field - A subsurface leaching area within the soil that
receives the liquid effluent from the distribution laterals and
distributes it over a specified area where it is allowed to seep into
the soil.
Aerobic Bacteria - Odorless, highly efficient strains of sewage
digesting bacteria that live only in the presence of oxygen.
Anaerobic Bacteria - Less efficient strains of sewage digesting
bacteria that live only in the absence of oxygen.
Biomat - Black, slimy growth and by-product of anaerobic bacteria
that grows at the interface of the distribution component and the
surrounding soil. If neglected, the biomat becomes impermeable
and can cause septic system backups and failure.
Effluent - Wastewater which flows out of a septic tank.
Influent - Raw, untreated sewage and wastewater which flows into
a septic tank.
Septic - Putrefactive, rotten, to make rotten. Lacking oxygen.

DWV SYSTEM SEGMENTS

MAJOR SEGMENTS
House sewer
House drain
Waste stack
Stack vent
Vent stack

MINOR SEGMENTS
Fixture drain
Fixture branch
Horizontal branch
Individual vent
Branch vent
Relief vent
Circuit vent
Loop vent
Wet vent

PLUMBING FIXTURE
an exchangeable device which can be connected
to an existing plumbing system to deliver and
drain away water but which is also configured to
enable a particular use.

WATER CLOSET TYPES

According to FLUSH ACTION
The siphon jet design is the most common
type, both in residential and commercial
use. It uses a small jet of water injected
directly into the siphon to set the siphon
water in motion, while the majority of the
flush water enters the bowl through the
rim and washes down - with the bowl
contents through the siphon. It is an
efficient, sanitary and very quiet design.
With elevated water tanks, it uses less
than 4gals. of water. In the close-coupled
toilet design (tank rests on the bowl), the
reduction in pressure requires a large
increase in the water quantity. It uses as
much as 7gals. depending on the design.

 Siphon vortex water closets are

specifically designed for the low
pressure and water velocity of closecoupled tanks. The water enters the
bowl off-center, creating a vortex
action in the siphon. They are
extremely quiet, making them ideal
for toilets adjoining sleeping areas.
They are also highly sanitary due to
the waters scouring action. Most
designs use up to 8gals. of water.

 Wash-down or blowout water

closets are highly efficient due to a
high velocity water design, but, as a
result, are very noisy. They find
wide application with flush valves
in public and institutional toilets
where self-cleansing and low
maintenance plus low water usage
far outweigh any noise
considerations. They are not used
with tank flushing. Blowout closets
with flushometers require a
minimum pressure of 20psi for floormounted units and 25psi for wallmounted units.

 Reverse trap water closets are used

where front-to-back space is at a
premium. Water is introduced into
the fixture only through the rim that
fills the rear trapway completely,
creating a siphon action and
resulting in quick withdrawal of
water from the bowl. A water jet is
located at the inlet of the trapway.
Most of he bowl surface is covered
with water. This action is low cost
and used mostly for residential
projects.

Sewage Disposal System

A system for the treatment and disposal of
domestic sewage
by means of a structure or mechanical treatment,
all designed to serve a single establishment,
development or building.

Purpose of Sewage Disposal

To produce an environmentally safe fluid waste
stream (or treated effluent) and a solid waste or
sludge suitable for discharge or reuse back into
the environment.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS

the septic tank
a drainfield
the soil beneath the drainfield

Septic Tank - Soil Absorption Systems

SEPTIC TANK-SOIL ABSORPTION SYSTEMS

Advantages
Simplicity, reliability and low
cost
Low maintenance
requirements
Nutrients in waste are
returned to soil
Properly designed, wellmaintained system can last
for more than twenty years

Disadvantages
Siting limitations for septic
systems include natural soil type
and permeability, bedrock and
groundwater elevations, and site
topography
Regulations pertaining to setbacks from water supply, lot
lines, and drainage lines must be
taken into account
Restrictions on the character of
influent wastewater must be
included in project planning
Improperly functioning systems
can introduce nitrogen,
phosphorus, organic matter, and
bacterial and viral pathogens
into the surrounding area and
groundwater

Types of Sewage Disposal System

Cesspool a hole in the ground lined with stones, bricks,
or concrete hollow blocks laid in a manner as to allow raw
contaminated sewage to leach into the soil; the organic
wastes are disposed of by disintegration process.
Privy a sealed concrete vault also constructed for the
collection of raw sewage; the organic wastes are also
disposed of by disintegration process.
Septic tank a receptacle used to expedite the
decomposition of the elements in a raw sewage waste; raw
sewage is composed of water and settleable solid called
organic materials that can be liquified and precipitated in a
short time.
Public sewer line a system operated and maintained by
the government; the system consists of a sewage treatment
plant that conveys raw sewage from buildings to a disposal
system

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF SEPTIC TANK

to create a holding space where some of the solids can
be separated from the liquids
to break down solids through a biochemical process
involving the bacteria
to store the settled solids until pumping occurs.
Therefore, the septic tank is designed to accomplish two
tasks:
1. Clarification-a function of the detention time and the
water extraction method
2. Treatment-consists of biological treatment by
anaerobic digestion

SEPTIC TANK
A process called digestion occurs in a septic tank.
As the influent enters into an anaerobic septic tank, it
separates into three distinct layers:
-

the sludge layer

the clear zone
the scum layer.

About 60-70% of the suspended solid of the sewage is

removed by sedimentation to form a substance called
sludge; this accumulates at the bottom of the septic tank.
Because there is no oxygen at the bottom of the septic
tank, the sludge layer supports anaerobic bacteria only.
The anaerobic bacteria breakdown and digest the
biodegradable solids of the sludge. During this process,
the solids become lighter and migrate upwards to the
middle of the tank or the clear zone.

SEPTIC TANK
The clear zone in an anaerobic septic tank is mostly
grayish or brown, murky water containing fine and
microscopic biodegradable and non-biodegradable
materials in suspension. This layer contains mostly
anaerobic bacteria, although there are some aerobic
bacteria.
As the clear zone discharges to the drainfield, it can carry
some of the anaerobic bacteria with it. It is the anaerobic
bacteria that discharge with the effluent that causes the
build up of biomat in the drain field.
Parts of the solids remain on top and form into floating
scum; both the scum and the sludge are processed by
anaerobic bacteria and transform them into liquids and
gases..

SEPTIC TANK
The scum layer at the top of the septic tank contains
greases, oils, soap films, and any other materials that are
lighter than water. Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
live in the scum layer, however, the anaerobic bacteria
are dominant. As the bacteria digest the scum at the top
of the septic tank, the digested waste of the bacteria
becomes heavier than water and sinks to the bottom
where it becomes sludge and is further treated.
It, therefore, combines 2 processes: sedimentation and
decomposition caused by bacteriological processes, called
stabilization.

DECOMPOSITION of ORGANIC MATTER

Aerobes (aerobic bacteria) function in the presence of
material oxygen; decomposition by the bacteria is not
accompanied by unpleasant odors and has no definite time
and could be within a matter of hours
Anaerobes (anaerobic bacteria) thrives in the absence of
free oxygen; decomposition by these bacteria, called
putrefaction, is accompanied by bad odors; sewage that
turns dark and smelly due to anaerobic decomposition is
called septic.
Facultative bacteria function with or without free oxygen.

GASES PRODUCED DURING DECOMPOSITION

Methane gas hydrogen + carbon, a principal component
of natural gas
Carbon dioxide carbon + oxygen; simplest oxide of carbon
Carbon monoxide by-product of methane gas; classified
as poisonous gas
Hydrogen evolves as a moist gas from organic waste
Hydrogen sulfide
Sulfur dioxide

Table of Required Septic Tank Size for Daily Water Usage

Volume in Gallons
Average Sewage Wastewater
Flow - Gallons Per Day

Minimum Septic Tank Size in

Gallons of Effective Capacity
Needed (1)

0-500

900

601-700

1200

801-900

1500

1001-1240

1900

2001-2500

3200

4501-5000

5800

Septic Tank in Gallons Size Based on Number of

Bedrooms

0-2 bedrooms

750 gal. (2)

3 bedrooms

1000 gal.

4 bedrooms

1200 gal.

5-6 bedrooms

1500 gal.

How septic tank works

A septic tank is a tank and maybe made of steel, fiberglass

and concrete where sanitary waste coming from the toilet
are being stored.
Most residential houses use tank made of reinforced
concrete.
Another term for a septic tank is septic vault. Houses in the
urban area make use of the installed sanitary sewer lines that
can be found along the main and secondary roads.
Water coming from the use of toilet lavatory and kitchen sink
is not allowed to go to the septic tank.
They go directly to open or closed canal and after
discharge in the storm drainage.

How septic tank works

Septic tank is meant just for the storage of sanitary

waste.

The standard and common septic tank has three (3)

compartments namely main tank, digestive chamber and the
leaching chamber.

Sanitary waste coming from the use of water closet

goes to the main tank including the water that goes with
it. Solids remain in the main tank. When the main tank
is already full and the water reaches the level of outlet
pipe excess water will go to the digestive chamber.
This water contains small particles that will be left
behind at the digestive chamber. From the digestive
chamber the water will go the leaching chamber where
water are further filtered while passing to a pile of small
diameter gravel.

How septic tank works

Finally the clean water goes out of the septic tank and
directly goes to the road gutter down to the storm
drainage.
The main tank has one inlet pipe and one outlet pipe.
The outlet pipe goes to the digestive chamber. There is
one outlet in the digestive chamber and this goes to the
leaching chamber. Leaching chamber has one outlet
pipe that goes to the road gutter.