Sanitary Sewer and Septic Tank Quiz

Week 4-6 Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)

• Sewage disposal system knowledge of parts and functions is expected.
• Storm drainage system knowledge of parts and functions is expected.
• Plumbing fixtures, appurtenances, appliances, and accessories must be distinguished.
• Plumbing materials, tools, and fittings must be recognized.

Sewage Disposal System

• A system for collecting, transporting, treating, and disposing of sewage.
• Sewage includes liquid waste with animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution; may also include chemicals in solution.
• Sewers are pipes or conduits for carrying sewage and wastewater.
• Public sanitary sewers allow all abutters to connect.
• Public toilets are facilities in public markets, bus stations, buildings, etc.

Drainage Systems

• Piping within a public or private premise that carries sewage, rainwater, and other liquid wastes to a disposal point.
• Drainage systems don't include public or private sewage treatment or disposal plants' mains.

Individual and Communal Excreta Disposal Systems

• Individual system serves a dwelling unit.
• Communal system serves a group of dwelling units.

Leaching Tile Systems

• Distribution lines from the distribution box to the drain field.
• Distribution boxes are concrete receptacles between a septic tank and the drain field.
• Domestic sewage consists of human excrement and liquid household wastes.

Sanitary Drainage and Vent Piping Systems

• Plumbing fixtures and appliances are connected by the plumber to remove waste.
• Plumbing circulation of air within the drainage piping is provided by these systems.
• Stack is the general term for vertical lines of soil, waste, or vent piping.

Soil and Waste Pipes

• Soil pipes carry waste from water closets, urinals, etc.
• Waste pipes carry liquid waste without fecal matter.
• Soil and waste stacks are pipes that convey waste from associated fixtures.

Building Drain/House Drain

• Horizontal plumbing within a building to convey waste to the building sewer.

Building Sewer/House Sewer

• Part of a drainage system, conveying waste from building drains to the public sewer, private sewer, or individual sewage disposal system.

Drain

• Pipe that carries water and waste in a building drainage system.

Air Break

• Physical separation between a waste pipe and an indirect waste receptor or device.

Backflow

• Reverse water or wastewater flow in pipes.

Back Pressure

• Pressure greater than atmospheric pressure within a sanitary drainage system.

Back Siphonage

• Contaminated water flowing from a fixture into a potable water system via negative pressure.

Branch Interval

• Vertical length of a soil or waste pipe stack, typically 8 feet.

Indirect Waste Pipe

• Waste pipe that discharges into a plumbing fixture or receptacle.

Insanitary

• Conditions contrary to sanitary principles or that are dangerous to health.

Main

• Principal pipe that branches are connected to.

Privy

• Outhouse or structure used for waste disposal.

Public Sewer

• Sewer that allows all abutting property owners to connect. Controlled by public authority.

Septic Tank

• Watertight receptacle where sewage is digested.

Sludge

• Solid organic matter at the bottom of a septic tank.

Scum

• Lighter organic matter that settles on top of water (septic tank).

Effluent

• Liquid content of sewage.

Manhole

• Opening large enough for access to a plumbing system.

Siphonage

• Suction created by flow in pipes; lower than the atmospheric pressure.

Sump

• Tank pit receiving waste from lower levels; mechanically pumped.

Ventilation

• Process of supplying and removing air from a space, by natural or artificial means.

Vent

• Pipe that permits air circulation in a plumbing system and prevents traps from siphoning.

Vent System

• System of pipes and openings for air circulation, in a plumbing system.

Vent Pipe

• Part of the system that leads outside air to a drainage pipe near traps; connected.

Vent Stack/Main Vent

• Vertical vent pipe for providing air circulation to the building's drainage system.

Stack Vent/Soil and Waste Vent

• Extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest branch drain/fixture.

Individual or Back Vent

• Vent system that connects to a single fixture.

Unit/Common/Dual/Duplex Vent

• Vent pipe connected to a double fixture trap.

Circuit Vent/Branch Vent

• Vent arrangement for a group of fixtures; connects to a vent stack.

Looped Vent

• Vent system for fixtures in a room away from a wall.

Yoke Vent

• Vent pipe connecting an upward soil or waste stack to a vent stack.

Wet Vent

• Vent pipe that doubles as a fixture branch (waste).

Fixture Vent

• Vent pipe that connects a drainage pipe to another vent or to the atmosphere.

Branch Vent

• Vent connecting individual vents to a vent stack.

Local Vent/Local Ventilating Pipe/Vapor Vent

• Pipe used to draw vapor or foul air from a room.

Ejector Vent

• Pipe that prevents pressure buildup in a sump pit.

Trap

• Fitting that creates a liquid seal to prevent sewer gas emission.

Trap Seal

• Vertical distance between trap dip and crown weir; water.

Dip

• Lowest portion of a trap's inside channel.

Crown Weir

• Highest point of a trap's bottom channel.

Sanitary Drainage System Subsystems

• Waste collection and ventilation systems.

General Rules in Designing the Sanitary System

• Pipes should take the shortest possible route to sewage systems or termination points.
• Control components, like clean-outs, traps, and vents, should be placed strategically for efficient flow.
• Horizontal piping should be supported and anchored in intervals no more than 3 meters.
• Vertical piping needs secure support and alignment.
• Each fixture trap needs a vent pipe.
• Cleanouts are required for piping inspection.
• Minimum sloped piping (2%) for sanitary drainage lines is needed; exceptions apply.

Septic Tanks

• Watertight receptacles to receive sewage and retain solids; process organic matter.
• Sludge accumulates at the bottom, and scum floats.
• Digestion occurs via anaerobic bacteria.

Septic Tank Sizing

• Smaller tanks are not practical due to needing room for accumulated sludge.
• Larger tanks are inefficient (slow down bacterial activity).
• Codes/standards provide standard tank sizes for a given number of persons served.

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

• Aeration system in STP.
• Sludge disposal via water pump.
• Clarification/separation occurs.
• Usually includes blowers and electronic controls.

Sewage Piping Sizes

• Pipe sizes depend on waste amounts.
• Fixture Units (FU) rate plumbing fixtures based on trap size requirements.
• Discharge capacities are calculated.

Trap Requirements

• Each fixture needs a separate, approved trap with a water seal.
• No more than one trap per trap arm.
• One trap can serve 3 fixtures within .75 meters of each other.

Trap Classifications

• Permissible traps include P-traps, S-traps, and goosenecks.
• Drum traps are designed for bathtubs (contain a large water volume).

Running Trap/House Trap

• Prevents air circulation between building drains and building sewers.

Grease Trap/Interceptor

• Designed for separating and retaining grease from 1 to 4 fixtures; must have 3m³ capacity.

Mechanical Sealed Traps

• Grease traps that are remotely located.

Internal Partition Traps/Light Metal Traps

• Traps based on a metal partition.

Trap Sizes

• Trap sizes match the size of the trap arm.
• Minimum trap sizes for common plumbing fixtures are listed.
• Vertical and horizontal trap distances are specified (not to exceed 0.6 meters or 1.8 meters).

Cleanout Requirements

• Cleanouts must be accessible in horizontal sewer or drainage lines.
• Must be spaced 15 meters apart (every 50 ft).
• Offset angles exceed 135° need more cleanouts.

Cleanout Sizes

• Cleanout size equals the pipe served.
• Sizes are standardized for plumbing codes.
• Cleanout installation is in the flow direction or at a right angle (except for wye branches).

Vent Requirements

• Each trap needs a separate, approved vent.
• Each plumbing branch needs a vent.

Vent Classification

• Main soil/waste vent (acts as a backbone for the sanitary system).
• Main vent (acts as a collecting line for branches).
• Individual vent/back vent.
• Unit vent/Common vent/Dual vent (serves multiple traps).
• Circuit or loop vent (serves several fixtures).
• Relief Vent (provides air circulation between drainage and vent systems).
• Yoke vent (A type of Vent that serves as an auxiliary vent, especially for large buildings where it's used for connection between the soil and vent stacks).
• Wet Vent (A vent pipe through which wastewater flows)..
• Looped Vent (A vertical vent connection to a horizontal vent.)

Local Vent

• A pipe that conveys foul air from a fixture or a space to the outer air.

Utility Vent

• Used for basement or underground public restrooms, where vent stacks are not possible.
• The sizes are determined based on the total fixture units.
• The diameter of an individual vent must be at least half the size of the drain.

Vent Stack and Relief Vents

• Soil or waste stack extending ten (10) or more stories above a building drain must be supported by multiple vents.

Trapseal Loss

• Direct effect of Minus and Plus pressure.
• Siphonage - direct and momentum.
• Evaporarion
• Wind Effects
• Retardations of Flow (gravity, atmospheric pressure)
• Deterioration of Materials.

Sample Illustrations/Layouts of Sanitary Systems

• DWV system includes traps and wastes lines.
• Illustrations of the system's components (vent, waste, and soil stacks) are provided
• Diagrams of the system's layout, using different pipe types and fixtures, are included.
• Additional illustrations will be available via the LMS.

Question and Answer

• Questions about the topics are welcome; use the BlackBoard LMS forum.

Test your knowledge on the regulations and requirements for septic tanks and sanitary sewers. This quiz covers essential topics such as minimum height standards, materials used, and sizing for sewer systems. Perfect for environmental studies and civil engineering students.