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| A guy in a sewer. Image by Getty. |
A sewage system is an important infrastructure in a community of people. Sewer line installation is critical in keeping a community safe and clean. An establishment without a sewer installation poses health risks to a community since human waste will not be segregated.
In the modern developing world, the common sewage system has a separate sanitary sewer line for effective waste management and recycling of water.
The sanitary sewer system
A sanitary sewer is separated from the usual sewer lines. Most sanitary sewer lines only collect municipal wastewater and exclude stormwater since sewage treatment is less effective when water is diluted with stormwater due to the fact that stormwater and ice melts exceed the hydraulic capacity of sewage treatment plants. Some sewer drains go into a sanitary sewer where they are carried into a wastewater facility to be filtered, treated, and discharged for another sewage system use. A sanitary sewer is separated from solids that come along with the water flow so nothing can hinder the filtering process. The solid waste, like human and animal feces, will flow into different chambers to be treated in sewage treatment plants.
But before sewage systems and sanitary sewer system are constructed. Everyone must have an idea on the process of constructing and connecting pipes to avoid complications in the future.
Sewer line installation is not an easy task and requires people with the right skills. To avoid mistakes and disasters, taking things into consideration is important and vital to a sewage system.
Here are the things that should be taken into account before considering any sewer line installation:
Mapping for Elevations
Using GPS or any traditional surveying equipment, a surveyor determines how far the pipes will go to be connected to other existing pipes in the area. Mapping for elevations will also help developers choose which pipes to use to connect from an establishment down to the main line.
Cooperating with Mother Nature
This is what makes a sewer line installation more challenging. Aside from mapping for elevations, the environment plays a critical role in determining if an area is cleared for installation. It is very much important to avoid sewer installation near trees since their roots can find ways to get into pipes in search of water. Another thing developers should take note of is ground movement, if an establishment is near a fault line, sewer installation must be discouraged because, in case of natural disasters like Earthquake, sewer pipes can easily break like a toothpick. Also, an acidic soil is a no-no if you have a plan to place pipes, it is proven that acidic soil speeds up the deterioration of your pipes.
Measuring slopes
To have a reliable sewage system, all wastewater must not have a problem going down from the midway sewer to the trunk sewer. This is where a sewer pipe slope and a sewer line slope comes into play. Plumbers and developers should note that a sewer pipe slope must meet the minimum standard of ¼-inch per foot and a maximum of three inches per foot or vertical. A sewer line slope with less than the minimum standard will cause constant drain clogs while a slope of more than three inches will allow the water to drain without the solids. So it is very much important to follow this sewer line grade to be able to get a clearance.
Excavation and bedding with correct materials
Excavating for a trench is a way of placing your pipes underground to its desired destination. This is a dangerous task so developers must follow all safety measures to protect workers under and above the trench. Pipes should be placed above a smooth trench, so removing all loose dirt is also a priority to prevent complications. Also, to prevent pipes from sinking, a bedding material can be placed to support sewer pipes. Placing a bedding may depend on the trench, but the best bedding material is a sand or a gravel since it is not sharp that could potentially punctuate pipes.
Laying and connecting the pipes
Once the trench is ready, it is time to lay the pipes, it is advisable that covering the pipes should start at the lower end up the higher elevation. To reduce the possibility of leakage, pipes with a ball end must be placed on the uphill side of the pipe run. When it comes to connecting the pipes, a purple PVC primer must be applied before the glue since the primer will be responsible for the cleaning of the PVC surface for the glue to act properly. After that, insert the male end of the pipe into the female end and twist a little bit. Also, installing a string along the pipe run can make sure that the pitch is being followed correctly. A string measurement of one foot over the finished level of the pipe is recommended and the string must be at the same slope with the pipe along the entire run.
Last but not the least..
After the pipes are connected from the source to its connection point, making sure that everything is properly connected is highly advisable. Checking for broken and disconnected pipes should be looked into before the pipes can be used. Also, to avoid accidents, a warning tape must be placed over the layer of compacted soil so others will be aware that a pipe is located underneath.
Now that we know some important basics of before setting up sewer pipe installation, let’s go over to its more materials, functionality, and maintenance of sewer pipes.
But first, what makes an effective and reliable sewage system?
A sewer line from an establishment is discharged, along with all other sewer lines, to a trunk sewer where human waste is carried along in an Aqueduct far from communities. Each community has a sewer map accessible by property owners and developers to guide them which infrastructure is for the sewage system, drainage, and drinking water.
An effective sewage system uses air pressure and gravity to push down wastewater to a trunk sewer. A pressure test must be done before a property can be erected in a certain area. Air pressure must not drop more than 1 PSI in 5 minutes to be able to meet the passing grade. This method helps an establishment conserve more water, thus, making it convenient and eco-friendly. After a clearance is made, your sewer connection is now added to the existing sewer map.
It is not only establishments that require a standard sewer line grade but so do sewers that connect them. A sewer invert assures that everything must go downhill freely within the midway sewer with the help of gravity. Without a sewer invert, wastewater would not even reach the trunk sewer, resulting in clogs that cause more floods in urban communities. When the diameter of the pipe and the thickness of the pipe wall level is subtracted from the elevation at the crown, or top, of the pipe, the result is the invert level.
Why are there different sewer type sizes?
From your homes to the designated place where sewage flows, there are different sewer type sizes recommended for each use. For example, the standard for sewer pipes leading away from a toilet is 3 inches in diameter. Sewer drains from laundry sinks are 2 inches in diameter and those from sinks in the kitchen, bathroom or powder room generally use a 1.5-inch pipe. The main sewer pipe leading to the septic tank or public sewer is usually 4 inches. All of these standard measurements for sewer type sizes are embedded in the plumbing code.
The importance of sewers in water recycling
Not all of the sewer drains go directly into rivers and oceans that could result in dirty and foul-smelling waters. Sewage systems have introduced us to water recycling to conserve more water and meet eco-friendly standards.
Maintenance of sewer pipes and the importance of manholes
Maintenance is critical and should be done regularly. This also promotes good health among sewer pipes that clog or deteriorate over time. In sewage systems, several manholes are installed across the sewer lines so a person responsible for maintaining the pipes have easy access to the sewer chambers. The manholes are protected by a cover to prevent accidents and can be opened by an authorized person. In case of floods, manholes tend to overflow and can be easily drained with draining tubes powered by a hydraulic machine to prevent waste spillage.
Everyone is included in the maintenance of sewer pipes
All adults in the household have a role in keeping an eye for signs of a potential sewer line clog or leak. If your toilet bowl talks back, it could be that trapped air is traveling back up through your sewer line and escaping from the toilet bowl. Another sign of a clog is a slow drain, if too much hair or blocking agents got into the drain, it can interfere with the flow of water and will result in slow drains. The smell of a drain also means that a buildup of food and other waste are blocking your pipes so cleaning them from the inside should be taken into account. Calling a professional plumber or anyone from the household with knowledge in cleaning the pipes should be done immediately.
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