Basic guide to calculating falls

and gradients for drainage

Pipe Gradients
All above ground and below ground horizontal drainage pipes should be laid to
an adequate gradient.
Gradients from 1 in 40 to 1 in 110 will normally give adequate flow velocities.
A gradient of 1 in 80 is suitable for commencing calculations for pipe schemes.
If a gradient is too steep i.e. steeper than 1 in 40, the liquid may run faster than the
solids in the sloping foul water pipe thus leaving the solids stranded, which could
then block the pipe.
If the gradient is not steep enough, i.e. less than 1 in 110, then the pipe could still
block if the solids slow down and become stranded.The fall in a pipe may be
defined as the vertical amount by which the pipe drops over a distance. The
distance can be between sections of pipe or between manholes. The diagram
below show pipe fall and distance.

A
gradient may be defined as fall divided by distance.
GRADIENT = FALL / DISTANCE
For example is a 24 metre section of drainage pipe has a fall of 0.30 metres,
calculate the gradient.
Gradient = 0.30 / 24
Gradient = 0.0125
This can be converted into a gradient written as a ratio or 1: some number.
Gradient = 1 / 0.0125 = 80
Gradient = 1 in 80
The above formula may be rearranged for Fall if the gradient is known:
FALL = GRADIENT X DISTANCE
For example, calculate the fall in a 50 metre section of foul water pipework if the
gradient is to be 1 in 80.
A gradient of 1 in 80 is converted to a number instead of a ratio.
1 / 80 = 0.0125
Fall = Gradient x Distance
Fall = 0.0125 x 50
Fall = 0.625 metres or 625mm.
The previous diagram may be completed by adding a pipe gradient.

Invert Levels
The Invert Level of a pipe is the level taken from the bottom of the inside of the pipe
as shown below.

The level at the crown of the pipe is

the Invert level plus the internal diameter of the pipe plus the pipe wall thickness. It
may be necessary to use this in calculations when level measurements are taken
from the crown of a pipe.

Manholes
A manhole or access chamber is required to gain access to a drainage system for
un-blocking, cleaning, rodding or inspection. A typical manhole is shown below.
Manholes may be manufactured from masonry or precast concrete. Sometimes
several precast concrete rings are used to form a manhole which speeds up the
on-site construction process. Normally deep manholes below1.0 metre in
depth require step irons to assist access for a workman.
Manholes and access chambers are also manufactured in PVC. An access
chamber is not usually large enough to admit a person but is suitable for access
by cleaning rods or hose and they are used for domestic applications, a common
size of plastic access chamber is 450mm diameter. For the domestic market
plastic, fibreglass or galvanised steel lids may be used but cast iron lids are
required where traffic crosses.
A back drop manhole is used in areas where the surface level slopes as shown
below.
If the undergroung sewer pipe is to stay below ground it must follow the average
gradient of the slope. This invariably means that the pipe gradient becomes too steep,
resulting in the solids being left stranded in the pipe therefore causing a
blockage.
To overcome this problem the back drop manhole was developed, as shown
below.
An easier way to construct a back drop manhole is to use an internal vertical
section of pipe as shown below.
For additional information and guidance please see the following document.

What is an Invert Level?

An invert level is the measurement or depth of the drainage pipe from ground
level to the base of the pipe as it enters the inlet.

It is important that the sewage enters the tank through the drainage pipe via
gravity. A deeper invert may be needed to allow for this.

The invert level is different on every site, and the

Bio-Pure can be adapted to meet any individual
requirement.
The invert level will help to determine the available hydraulic gradient for
moving the waste within the pipe.

Gradients

The correct gradient must be established to ensure

the sewage is flushed efficiently through the pipe
with no build up of solids.

The recommended gradient level is between 1 in 40

(2.5%) and 1 in 110 (0.90%). This means that for
every 40 feet horizontally there will be a 1 foot
vertical drop (or rise). A gradient of this level will
provide sufficient flow velocity.

The gradient level considered ideal is 1 in 80 (1.25%).

Having too steep a gradient will separate the liquids from the solids as the
sewage is flowing at a much quicker rate. This will then cause a build up of
solids, leading to a blockage within the pipe.
However having a gradient that is not steep enough can also cause similar
problems.

If you cannot discharge via gravity or if the outlet pipe is above the inlet, then
a pumped outlet will be required to pump the effluent over the gradient and
into a watercourse or soakaway.

How to measure a gradient

The easiest way to measure a gradient is to divide the vertical rise (or drop) by
the horizontal distance.

For example, if you have a 2 feet drop or rise on a horizontal distance of 105
feet you divide the 2 together and multiply by 100 to get the percentage
gradient of the slope.

2 / 105 = 0.01904761904762 then multiply that by 100 which would give you
a 1.9% gradient.

How to find the the Invert level?? I have 2 manholes the one has IV level 1.5m , the pipe
size is 200mm and the distance between 2 manholes is 20mtr.. slope 1:100. how to find
Invert level of the 2nd manhole?? thanks!! the slope of 1:100 is correct??

Pipe diameter will have no influence in the outcome since the invert is the "inside surface of
the bottom of the pipe".

1:100 across 20m gives 0.2m fall from one manhole to the next. Thus relative to the
original manhole the next one will be 200mm lower.

However, you will need to adjust for the soil surface "slope" or contour condition unless you
can survey back to the same datum.

By the way, check the calculations. It may be different if the 20m is from (centre to centre)
or (edge to edge) and where in the manholes the invert levels were taken.

How do u calculate invert levels of pipe to get the gradient

or slope of pipe?
How deep do you want to set your pipe ie what are you connecting to. If this is theoretical, you dont need
to worry too much about this, local codes will indicate how deep you should be generally in practice.

You will then have the invert level in your second chamber - you then go 8 metres back from that.

You can convert your gradient to a ratio by dividing it into 1 - much more understandable. 1/0.025 = 1 in
40 - this is the usual fall (or rise) for a 4 inch pipe.

Your fall is 1 in 40 - so for every 40 mm you drop 1 mm. So for your 8m length of pipe you will drop
200mm. If you are starting at your sewer connection, you will be rising, of course to get the level of the
first invert.