CE335

SEWAGE
DISPOSAL
SYSTEM
DISPOSAL PHASE
it is the final stage of the plumbing process; where used water and
water-carried wastes are brought to various disposal units.
 SEPTIC TANKS
A watertight covered receptacle designed and constructed
to receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer,
separate solids from the liquid, digest organic matter and
store the clarified liquids through a period of detention, and
allow the clarified liquids to discharge the final disposal.
 EFFLUENT
Liquid content of sewage

SLUDGE
Solid organic matter that are denser than water and settle
at the bottom of the septic tank

SCUM
Lighter organic material that rise to the surface of the water
BACTERIA IN SEPTIC TANK
TO ENCOURAGE DECOMPOSITION

AEROBIC BACTERIA
RELIES ON OXYGEN TO SURVIVE

ANAEROBIC BACTERIA
CAN SURVIVE IN PLACES WITHOUT OXYGEN
 MINIMUM
DIMENSIONS
L = 1500 MM
W = 900 MM
D = 1200 MM
DESIGN PHASE
PLANS
should show all dimensions, reinforcing, structural
calculations, and such other pertinent data as needed.

QUALITY OF DESIGN
shall be such as to produce a clarified effluent of acceptable
standards and shall provide adequate space for sludge and
scum accumulations.

MATERIALS
constructed of durable materials, not subjected to excessive
corrosion or decay, shall be watertight
made of cement (most common) or prefabricated cast iron
COMPARTMENTS
have a minimum of two compartments:
First compartment: not less than 2/3 capacity of the
total capacity of the tank; not less than 2 cu.m. liquid
capacity; shall be at least 0.9m width and 1.5m long;
liquid depth not less than 0.6m nor more than 1.8m
Second compartment: minimum of 1 cu.m. liquid
capacity
in septic tanks having over 6 cu.m. capacity, the secondary
compartment should not be less than 1.5m in length
maintain a slope of 1:10 at the bottom of the digestion
chamber to collect the sludge and make it easily accessible
from the manhole
MANHOLES
with at least two manholes, 508mm in minimum
dimension; one over inlet, other over outlet.
wherever first compartment exceeds 3.7m in length, an
additional manhole required over the baffle wall.
SIZE OF PIPE INLET AND OUTLET AND THEIR
VERTICAL LEGS
Inlet and Outlet Pipes - diameter size not less than the
sewer pipe
Vertical Legs of Inlet and Outlet Pipes - diameter size not
less than the sewer pipe nor less than 104.6mm

LENGTH AND LOCATION OF INLET AND OUTLET

shall extend 101.6mm above and at least 304.8mm below
the water surface
invert of the inlet pipe shall be at a level not less than
50.8mm above the invert of the outlet pipe

VENT DIAMETER
equal to the cross-sectional area of the house sewer
AIR SPACE
side walls shall extend 228.6mm above the liquid depth
cover of septic tank shall be at least 50.8mm above the back
vent openings

PARTITION (between compartments)

an inverted fitting equivalent in size to the tank inlet, but in
no case less than 104.6mm in diameter, shall be installed in
the inlet compartment side of the baffle with the bottom of
the fitting placed midway in the depth of the liquid.
wooden baffles are prohibited.

STRUCTURE
shall be capable of supporting an earth load of not less than
14.4 kPa
CAPACITY
the capacity of the septic tank is determined by the
number of bedrooms or apartment units in dwelling
occupancies; by the estimated waste/sewage design flow
rate for various building occupancies, whichever is greater.
the capacity of any one septic tank and its drainage system
shall also be limited by the soil structure calssification in its
drainage field

LOCATION
should not be located underneath the house
at least 15 meters from the water distribution system
THREE DEGREES/GRADES
OF WASTE WATER

GREY WATER (AREA WATER)

WASTEWATER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HUMAN WASTES
FROM LAUNDRIES, WASH BASINS, SINKS, TUBS, ETC.

BLACK WATER
WATER PLUS SOLID AND LIQUID HUMAN WASTES

STORM WATER
RAINWATER ONLY
CLASSIFICATIONS
OF SEWERS

COMBINATION PUBLIC SEWER

OLDEST VARIETY
CARRIES BOTH STORM AND SANITARY WASTES

STORM SEWER
DRAINS THAT CARRY SURFACE WATER RUN-OFF

SANITARY SEWER
CARRIES REGULAR SANITARY WASTES ONLY
TERMINATES IN A MODERN SEWAGE DISPOSAL PLANT FOR
TREATMENT
BUILT AT A DEPTH PF 3 METERS
TYPES OF SANITARY SEWER
TRIBUTARY SEWER
INTERCEPTING SEWER
TRIBUTARY SEWER
termination points of individual units or structures
usually round-shaped, with diameters between 0.6 to 1.2 m
made of vitrified clay or cement pipes; often installed by the
curb line, before the street
normally laid in the Northern or Eastern side of streets with
east-west or north-south orientations
INTERCEPTING SEWER
aka “collecting sewer”
termination points of tributary sewers
placed much lower in the ground, from 4 to 30 meters in
depth
varies in shape but have a diameter or effective opening
ranging from 0.6 to 3.0 meters
sloped at an angle of 1:50 or 2%
lifting stations are placed at certain intervals and pumps or
sewage ejectors are used to lift the waste; sewers terminate
at the disposal plant
REQUIREMENTS
SEWERS REQUIRED
Drainage pipes of all buildings shall be connected to the
public sewer. When not available, they shall be connected
to an approved private sewage disposal system.
Public sewer may be considered as not being available if it
is more than 61 meters from any proposed building or
exterior drainage facility.
Exception: Single family dwellings with an existing private
sewage disposal system may not be connected to a new
public sewer when no hazard, nuisance or unsanitary
condition is evident and when there is no sufficient grade or
fall existing to permit proper drainage flow by gravity to the
public sewer.
DAMAGE TO PUBLIC SEWER
OR PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
It is unlawful to discharge any ashes, cinders, solids, rags,
flammable, poisonous, explosive liquids or gases, oils,
grease, and other things whatsoever which would cause
damage to the public sewer or private disposal system.
No rain, surface or subsurface waters shall discharge into
any excreta drainage system.
No cesspool and septic tank effluents, seepage pit or under
drain system shall be connected to the excreta building
sewer leading to a public sewer main.
No commercial food waste grinder shall be connected to a
private or public sewage disposal system
SIZE OF SEWER
The minimum size of any building sewer shall be
determined on the basis of the total number of fixture units
drained by such sewer. No building sewer shall be smaller
than 150 mm diameter nor less in size than the building
drain.
INSTALLATION OF SEWER
Building sewers shall be run in practical alignment at a
uniform slope of not less than 2% or 21 mm/m toward the
point of disposal.
Exception: When impractical due to depth of street sewer,
structural features or to adverse arrangement of building,
to obtain a slope of 2%, sewers 102 mm and 152 mm in dia
may have a slope of not less than 1% (10.5 mm/m) and those
203 mm dia and larger may have a slope of not less than
0.5% (5.3 mm/m)
No building sewer shall be installed less than 0.6 M from the
outer face of any building foundation, nor less than 0.3 M
below the finish surface of the ground.
Location of building sewer in relation to other services is
shown below.
0.60 m from any building or structure
15.2 m from water supply wells
15.2 m from streams
0.30 m from domestic supply pipes
0.30 m from public water main
Building sewer or drainage pipe of clay or materials which
are not approved for use within a building shall not be laid
in the same trench as water pipes unless:
the bottom of the water pipe is 0.3m above the top of
the sewer pipe (NPC 1208.1.1),
the water pipe is placed on a solid shelf excavated at one
side of the common trench with a minimum horizontal
distance of at least 0.3 m from the sewer or drain pipe
(NPC 1208.1.2).
Water pipes crossing sewer or drainage pipe of clay or
materials which are not approved for use within a building
shall be laid a minimum of 0.3 m clear above the sewer or
drain pipe. Water pipe joint shall be installed not less than 3
meters away from sewer line in both directions.
 DISPOSAL FIELDS
Private sewage disposal system common in rural areas for
structures with large adjacent open fields
AREA
dependent on the required septic tank capacity or
estimated sewage flow rate, whichever is greater, and; the
type of soil found in the excavation

DISTANCE FROM WATER TABLE

No excavation for leach bed shall extend within 1.5 m of the
water table.

WITH SEEPAGE PIT

Filter material in the trenches shall terminate 1.5 m from pit
excavation and the pipe extending from such points to the
seepage pit shall be watertight
 SEEPAGE PITS

a loosely lined
excavation in
the ground,
which receives
the discharge of
a septic tank;
designed to
permit effluent
to seep through
pit bottom and
sides
CAPACITY
based on the quantity of liquid waste and on the character
and porosity of the surrounding soil

SIZE OF SEEPAGE PIT

Circular in shape with excavated diameter of not less than
2.2 m and to be lined with clay or concrete brick.

STRENGTH
Brick lining shall have a minimum compressive strength of
17225 kPa.
MULTIPLE SEEPAGE PITS
served through a distribution box or shall be connected in
series by means of a watertight connection. The outlet shall
have a vented leg fitting extending 304.8 mm below the
inlet fitting.
 CESSPOOLS

a non-watertight lined
excavation in the ground
which receives the
discharge of a sanitary
drainage system,
designed to retain the
organic matter but
permitting the liquid to
seep through the pit
bottom and sides
TEMPORARY PERMITS
Temporary expedient pending the construction of a public
sewer, so long as it is established that a public sewer will be
available in less than 2 years and the soil and ground water
conditions are favorable;
As an overflow facility when installed in conjunction with an
existing cesspool;
As a means of sewage disposal for limited, minor, or
temporary uses
 PRIVIES

Outside Privy- oldest

form of disposal of
organic waste. Consists of
a vault constructed of
concrete for the
collection of raw sewage
and a wooden shelter
COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL
SPECIAL LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL
REQUIREMENTS
When liquid wastes containing excessive amounts of
grease, garbage, flammable wastes, sand, or other
ingredients which may affect the operation of a private
sewage disposal system, an interceptor for such waste shall
be installed.

DISPOSAL
Waste from interceptors may be discharged to a septic tank
or other primary system or into a separate disposal system.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR
PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
LOCATION OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR
PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
LOCATION OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SOME FEATURES OF AN STP
An aeration system within the tank;
A submersible mixer to mix the waste;
A sludge waste pump that aids in clarifying;
A decanter;
Blowers;
A fully electronic control system, etc.
TWO MOST COMMON TYPES OF
MUNICIPAL SEWAGE TREATMENT
ACTIVE SLUDGE PROCESS
TRICKLING FILTER PROCESS
 ACTIVE SLUDGE PROCESS
Involves a series of stations where the raw sewage must
pass through
First Phase - gets rid of heavy materials with the use of
three different filter houses
Second Phase - clarifies the effluent
Third Phase - hardens the sludge and converts it to
fertilizers
Produces water with 99-99.5% purity
 TRICKLING FILTER PROCESS
a.k.a ‘Percolating or Sprinkling Filter System’
Requires less mechanical elements and less stages
Produces water with 95% purity
Requires a large ground area for its building