The Sewage Disposal System

By: Abcede, Enrico

Agbing, John
Ayuson, Erielle
Benitez, Theresa
4-1. The Sewage and its Disposal
• Critical problems of environmental health
• Dysentery, typhoid, diarrhea, etc.
• Waterflow, air transmission, and vermin served as vectors for disease
• Daily average human waste/excreta per capita is at 80g of fecal
matter and 950g of urine
• Diluted, results to 30 to 100 gallons of sewage.
• Of the solid waste, half of which is organic and subjected to rotting
Types of Sewage Disposal System
• Cesspool
• Privy
• Septic Tank
• Public Sewer Line
The Cesspool
• A hole in the ground curbed with stones, bricks, concrete hollow
block, or other materials laid in such a manner as to allow raw
contaminates sewage to leech in to the soil.
• Organic wastes accumulate and finally disposed of by disintegration
process
The Privy
• A concrete sealed vault with a wooden shelter constructed for the
collection of raw sewage.
• Disintegration of waste is the same with a cesspool
• Objectionable due to the dangers of contaminating the local water
supply
The Septic Tank
• A device or receptacle used expedite (hasten) the decomposition of
elements in raw sewage waste
• Raw sewage- water, settleable solids such as organic material that can be
precipitated in a septic tank in a short amount of time.
The Public Sewer Line
• Public Sewage System
• Owned and operated, and maintained by the government
• Consists of a sewage treatment plant that draws waste from buildings
and houses to a disposal system
• Of the four types of sewage disposal, the cesspool and the privy are
obsolete.

• Prevailing sewage disposal systems recommended by authorities are

the Public Sewer Line and the Septic Tank
4-2. Public Sewer Line
Classified into three types according to the kind of waste it disposes
1. The Combination Public Sewer
2. The Sanitary Sewer
3. The Storm Drain
The Combination Public Sewer
• Oldest type of public sewer.
• Conveys both storm water and sanitary wastes.
• Obselete and no longer deemed sanitary by authorities
The Sanitary Sewer
• A public sewer facility that carries regular sanitary wastes only.
• Terminates modern sewage dispersal plant
• No rainwater permitted to enter into this type of public sewer
• Classified into two types:
1. The intercepting or Trunk Line Sewer
2. The Tributary or Contributing Sewer
The Intercepting Sewer
• Conveys sanitary waste to a dispersal plant
• Commonly made of concrete pipes that varies in sizes from 0.60 to
3.00 meters in diameter, laid underground to a minimum depth of 3
meters
The Tributary Sewer
• Classified as an intercepting sewer branch
• Pipes are made of vitrified clay or concrete pipe laid in an open trench
• Generally smaller in diameter
• Not installed more than 3 meters below the surface
The Storm Drain
• Another kind of public sewer line that carries storm water
• Terminates in a natural drain such as canals, lakes or rivers
The Manhole
• Classified as a device of the main and storm sewer.
• Serves as man’s access for inspection, cleaning and repair.
• Made of bricks, stone, adobe or concrete at an interval distance of
75m to 150m with a diameter of 0.9 to 1.2 meters provided with iron
rungs to serve as ladder for the maintenance crew to reach the
bottom
Sewage Ejector
• A pump that will discharge waste in the sump and transfer it to the
house drain installed overhead.
• Necessary when public sewer lines are 2-4 meters below street level
Materials estimation on public sewer lines
• On the plan of the public sewer line, obtain net distance between
manholes to be laid with concrete pipes.
• Net distance = total distance – space are occupied by manhole
• The net distance found divided by the length of one pipe at 1.00
meter long regardless of diameter
• # of pipes = net distance / 1m per pipe
• Decrease by 3-4% from the obtained number of pipes to get exact
number required
• # of pipes * 0.97 or 0.96 = exact number of pipes
Comments.
• To estimate the amount of pipes, the total net length of piping
between two stations is divided by the length of one pipe.
• Then an addition of 3%-5% to make room for contingencies
Comments.
• 3%-5% addition is allotted for small gaps when joining the pipes,
especially during deep excavation to make well fitted joints.
• This may be corrected by means of cement grout or plaster
4-3. The Septic Tank
• It is a vault used to collect organic waste discharged from the sewer.

• It is an underground tank where waste matters are

made harmless using bacteria.
• Sewage discharged into the tank is retained.

• 60%-70% of suspended solid of the sewage is removed mostly by

sedimentation.

• Sludge – a semi-liquid substance formed be sedimentation

• Scum – a layer of dirt or froth on the surface of a liquid.

• Digestion – the process which the sludge and scum are being
separated from the wastewater by anaerobic bacteria and
transforming it into liquid and gases.

• The septic tank combines two processes:

- Sedimentation (for the upper portion of the tank)
- Anaerobic Decomposition (for the sludge)
• Decomposition of organic matter is a bacteriological process caused
by:
-Aerobic Bacteria (aerobes)
-Anaerobic Bacteria (anaerobes)
-Facultative Bacteria

• These bacteria have no relation to diseases.

• They thrive naturally in sewage, and will function when conditions are
favorable in terms of:
-Food Supply
-Temperature
-Moisture
• The process of decomposition is regarded as stabilization.

• Putrefaction – decomposition caused by anaerobic bacteria is

accompanied by unpleasant odors

• On the other hand, aerobic decomposition does not carry unpleasant

odors. It is accomplished with no specific time.

• Septic – a sewage that turns dark and smell unpleasant due to

anaerobic decomposition
Gases that are Produced Inside the Septic
Tank
• Methane Gas (CH4)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Hydrogen (H2)
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
• Sulfur Dioxide (HO2)
4-4. Construction of the Septic Tank
• Materials commonly used:
- Reinforced Concrete

- Plastered Concrete Hollow Blocks

- Prefabricated Asbestos

- Thin Metal and Plastic

 General Conditions in Constructing a Septic
Tank
1. The concrete or masonry septic tank is usually constructed in a
rectangular form.
2. 90 cm x 150 cm – minimum inside dimension
3. A 120-centimeter depth of the liquid content is necessary.
4. The inlet and outlet inverts of the septic tank shall be long turn
sanitary tee.
5. The invert is extended down the liquid of the tank not more than 30
centimeters.
6. The bottom of the digestion chamber should be sloped to one low
point.
7. The septic tank should be provided with a manhole extended a few
centimeters above the surface of the solid to overcome infiltration
of the surface water.
8. Septic tank (large plumbing installation) are provided with
suspended compartment attached to the ceiling slab of the tank.
9. Septic tank should be constructed near the surface of the ground,
because the correction of the waste depends upon the extent of
oxidation and the existence of anaerobic bacteria.
4-5. Size of the Septic Tank
Principles in determining the size of the Septic Tank
1. For a family of 6 persons, the minimum tank capacity should be
approximately 1.3 cubic meters with a minimum size of 90 cm wide
by 150 cm long and 120 cm depth

2. A very large tank is not advisable, because the bacterial activities

would be retarded. The size of the tank is proportionally based on
the number of persons expected to be served. In other words, the
volume of the tank has a rational proportion with the volume of
incoming waste for bacterial activities to be in favorable condition.
3. For residential installation, the practice is to allow 5 to 6 cubic feet of
tank volume per person. Thus, a septic tank that will serve a family of
12 persons must have a liquid capacity of 6 * 12 = 72 cubic feet or
538 gallons (1 cubic foot = 748 gallons)
Technical Data in Determining Volume of Septic Tank
Minimum width 90 cm
Minimum length 150 cm
Minimum depth 120 cm

For residential buildings to serve large number

of people, allocate of liquid per person ……………………….. 0.14 to 0.17 cu.m.

For small residential house to serve up to 12 persons, the

chamber should have a liquid content of not more than ………. 2.0 cu.m.

For school, commercial, and industrial establishments,

the volume of the tank should not be less than ……………. .057 cu. m. nor
more than ………………………………………………………………....... .086 cu. m./person
Sample Problem 1
Determine the size of a septic tank to serve 200 persons in a
commercial establishment.
SOLUTION
1. Find the volume of the septic tank using the Technical Data of
Information. For the commercial establishment, use .057 cubic
meters/person.

200 persons x .057 cubic meters/person = 11.4 cubic meters

2. To find the width, you can assume any width that will meet the minimum
size needed in the septic tank. For example, assume 1.2 meter width of the
tank for 200 persons. Multiply.

200 x 1.2 meters = 2.40 meters width

3. The maximum depth of a septic tank liquid is 1.50 meters. Find the length
of the septic tank

VOLUME = Length x Width x Depth

 𝑉𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑀𝐸
L=
𝑊𝐼𝐷𝑇𝐻 𝑥 𝐷𝐸𝑃𝑇𝐻

11.4
L=
2.40 𝑥 1.50

L = 3.20 meters
This value of L is just for the length of the digestion chamber.
4. In order to get the full length of the septic tank, divide the value of L
by 2 to include the leaching well.

𝐿 3.20
+L= +3.20
2 2

Total Length = 4.80 meters

THEREFORE, the size of the septic tank to serve 200 persons is 2.40
meters wide by 4.80 meters.
Cross-sectional View of the Septic Tank
Sample Problem 2
A motel with toilet and bath, and kitchen facilities will serve a maximum of
100 persons. Determine the capacity and dimensions of the septic tank.
SOLUTION
1. Refer to the table 4-2 in book. Under hotel without private bath, the
waste per person per day is 50 gallons. Multiplied by 100 is 5,000 gallons
a day.

2. Using the formula: V = 1.125 + 0.75Q

where: V = Liquid volume of the tank in gallons
Q = The daily sewage flow in gallons
*1.125 and 0.75 are constants
3. Substitute, V = 1.125 + (0.75 x 5,000 gallons)
V = 3,751 gallons

4. NOTE: There are 264 gallons in one cubic meter. Find the volume of
the septic tank in cubic meter.

3,751
= 14.2 cubic meters capacity of the septic tank
264
5. To find the dimensions of the septic tank if the maximum depths is
1.50 m and the width is assumed to be 3.00 meters, divide:

14.2 𝑐𝑢.𝑚.
L= = 3.50 meters
3.00 𝑥 1.50 𝑚
4-6. Location of Septic Tank
Location of the septic tank shall observe the following considerations:
1. The septic tank may be located closer to the building it will serve,
providing a minimum distance of 2.00 meters from the outside wall.
2. As much as possible, the septic tank should not be located closer to
the doors or windows.
3. Septic tank should be at least 15 meters away from any source of
water supply. The farther the better.
 Requirements for a Satisfactory Disposal of
Human Waste
1. There should be no contamination of ground surface that may enter
into the spring or wells.
2. There should be no contamination of surface water.
3. The surface soil should not be contaminated.
4. Excreta should not be accessible to animals, flies, cockroaches,
vermin and the like.
5. There should be no odor and unsightly conditions.
6. The methods used should be simple and economical in terms of
construction operation.
4-7. Safety Precautions
Before cleaning or repair, septic tanks must NOT
• Be poorly aerated or ventilated
• Lack free oxygen
• Contain harmful and dangerous gases
Under these conditions, If one enters a septic tank for repairs or cleaning
purposes, he or she may meet almost instant death

To avoid such situation

• Remove the manhole cover few days in advance of the work, and
• Supply fresh air inside the tank while work is being done
• Septic tanks may also contain INFLAMMABLE gases that might result
to an explosion

So as a precaution, when working in the dark provide

• An electric emergency light with properly insulated cord, or
• A flashlight powered by dry cell
Do not ignite flames near the septic tank
Be alert to shock and electrical wire hazards
4-8. Sewage Treatment
Even after removing the effluent in the septic tank, countless of
harmful anaerobic bacteria still needs to be disposed.
• Effluent - liquid waste or sewage discharge
• Anaerobic bacteria - organism that does not require oxygen for
growth

Which is why there are several methods or processes used in sewage

treatment.
Methods in Sewage Treatment

• Activated Sludge Process

A type of wastewater
treatment process for treating
sewage or industrial wastewaters
using aeration and a biological floc
composed of bacteria and protozoa.
• Trickling or Sprinkling Filter Processes
It consists of a fixed bed of rocks,
lava, coke, gravel, slag, foam, sphagnum
peat moss, ceramic, or plastic media
over which sewage or other wastewater
flows downward and causes a layer of
microbial slime (biofilm) to grow,
covering the bed of media.
Design and Construction of a modern sewage disposal requires
engineering training in all the phases of natural science like
• Civil works for the design and construction of the structure
• Mechanical for the construction of equipment
Plus engineers must have an extended knowledge of chemistry, physics
and bacteriology