INTERCEPTOR TRAPS

To prevent blockages, devices called interceptors are installed

just after the sanitary appliance or at the waste water inlet to

trap solid object or substances from entering the rest of the
waste water pipe.
They include gratings at the waste water inlet to trap hair or

solids.
Interceptor traps also traps grease & food remains.

Sewerage System
3.1 Main components of
sewerage system
3.2 Sewerage pipe
materials
3.3 Sewerage manhole
3.4 Wastewater
treatment

3.0 Sewerage System

Sewerage system is used to convey the waste water from

the building in a catchment area to a sewerage treatment
plant.

The treatment plant will then filters and detoxicfy the waste
water before discharge into the river.

3.1 Main components of sewerage

system
Sewerage
pipe: A series of underground sewer pipe
connected together to form a network piping to convey the
waste water from the building to the sewerage treatment
plant.

Sewerage manhole: A chamber to allow access to the

underground sewerage pipe for servicing purpose.

Sewerage treatment plant (STP)/ Septic tank (small system):

A system to treat wastewater to become cleaner and safer
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before it is disposed to river.

3.2

Sewerage pipe materials

Common sewerage pipe materials are:

Cast Iron (CI)
Vitrified Clay (VC)
Reinforced Concrete (RC)
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (UPVC)

Vitrified Clay is immune to attack by sulphuric acid &

resistant to all chemicals found in sewage. If properly laid &
joined & undisturbed by external forces, it will remain in
service indefinitely. Breakable with load.

Steel Pipe will corrode if partially filled with waste water

due to presence of H2S in the presence of air. If the pipe is
fully filled, there is little or no corrosion.

Cast Iron last longer than steel because the pipe wall is
thicker. If pipe is partially filled, corrosion may be severe.
Resilient to high load.
5

Concrete Pipe will also corrode because of attack by H2S. For large
trunk sewers, the corrosion rates are lower because the slope which
influence the rate of release of H2S is lower.

Absestos Cement is susceptible to attack by sulphuric acid & is

therefore not safe for use for sewers unless sulphide concentrations
are very low.

Plastics Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (UPVC), High Density

Polyethylene (HDPE) & Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) are
all resistant to sulphuric acid attack & have been used for sewers both
inside & outside of buildings.

3.3

Sewerage manhole

A brick or concrete chamber on a drain or sewer to allow

man - entry for cleaning, rodding, inspection & removal of
debris from the system.

3.3

Sewerage manhole

A brick or concrete chamber on a drain or sewer to allow

man - entry for cleaning, rodding, inspection & removal of
debris from the system.

Sewerage Manhole Covers in Malaysia are circular &

are marked JPP or IWK

An inspection chamber is a smaller version of a manhole

intended for inspection & service but are usually shallower
(less than 1m) without the need for human access.
8

Plan of Manhole / Inspection Chamber

To
Main
sewer

From
hous
e

From
house

PLAN

Typical Section of Manhole / Inspection Chamber

10

New types - Manhole

PVC, HDPE, GRP

11

New types - Manhole

12
R.C. (PRECAST or CAST IN SITU) for depths greater
than 2 M

Dangers In Sewer Chambers

Suffocation due to lack of oxygen

Poisoning caused by inhalation of toxic gases

Some examples of confined spaces are sewers, manholes,

chambers, wet & dry wells, sewage & sludge tanks, septic
tanks.
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3.4 Wastewater treatment tut ques 10

The aim of waste water (or sewage)
treatment is to:
1. take the waste safely away from
the buildings,
2. convert it to materials that are
not harmful &
3. dispose of those materials safely.
Sewage treatment consists of 3
stages:
1) Primary solid matter is blocked
off.
2) Secondary bacteria eats up
protein & carbohydrates.
3) Tertiary harmful bacteria are
destroyed.

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3.4 Wastewater treatment

15

Sewage treatment using bacteria consists of either one of the

following processes:
1)
2)

aerobic: reaction that requires oxygen (open).

anaerobic: reaction that does not requires oxygen (enclosed).

Sewage treatment methods used in Malaysia includes:

Anaerobic (does not require oxygen)
1. Septic Tank
2. Cesspool
3. Imhoff tank
Aerobic (requires oxygen)
4. Oxidation Pond
5. Aerated Lagoon
6. Rotating Biological Contactor
7. Trickling Filter
8. Activated Sludge Process.

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The Septic Tank / tut ques 11

Septic tanks are often used in outlying areas which for

reasons of economy cannot be connected to the citys main
sewer system.

A septic tank is a buried, watertight holding tank to treat

waste, often buried near the house. It is made from brick,
concrete, polyethylene or fiberglass.

Solids settle to the bottom of the tank & form a layer of

Liquid
waste exits near
sludge.

the top of the tank &

flows through distribution
pipe to the drain.

The purpose of the septic

tank is to separate liquid
from solids & to provide
some breakdown of
organic matter in the
wastewater.
PLAN
17

The Septic Tank

PLAN
18

Septic tank can

have 2 chambers
as shown to allow
longer detention
time

PLAN

If desludging is NOTdone

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If desludging
is done

Advantages & Disadvantages of Septic Tank

Advantages

Disadvantages

Treats low volume sewage

Not suited for high volume sewage

Requires low construction &

maintenance costs

Low efficiency in sewage

treatment

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