Course Code: CE 441

Course Title: Environmental Engineering

Lecture – 15

Dr. Md. Niamul Bari

Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering
RUET
Cycle -10, Day-B
29-09-2018
 Small Bore Sewerage System

What is it?
Small bore sewerage system is an alternative low-
cost sewerage system of high cost traditional
waterborne sewerage system by introducing septic
tank in between sanitation facilities and sewage
collection and transportation system.
This is a recent sanitation technology that offers all
the advantages of the conventional waterborne
sewerage systems but at a much low cost than the
conventional ones.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
The SBS system collects wastewater discharges from all
the fixtures in households or other premises in a similar
way to the conventional sewerage system.
The basic difference between the two systems is the
incorporation of septic tanks within the individual
premises as part of the SBS system.
The wastewater collected in the septic tank is then
transported under gravity through a network of
reticulation sewers to a treatment plant comprising a
series of stabilization lagoons.
 Small Bore Sewerage System

Elements of SBS System

There are three basic elements to a small bore
sewerage system. These are:
Septic tank
Small bore sewer network
Treatment plant
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Septic Tanks
Septic tanks or interceptors are requireed to be installed within
individual premises to receive wastewater from toilets, baths, laundry
and kitchens. These are designed with a view to achieve the following
fundamental functions:
Sedimentation of undissolved, settleable solids in the wastewater
thus requiring sufficient retention time.
Storage of sludge and scum for at least three to five years or more,
thus requiring sufficient volume.
Reduction of BOD of the wastewater through anaerobic
decomposition of the organic matter contained in the wastewater.
 Substantial attenuation of peak flows, which is a function of the
liquid surface area of the tank.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Septic Tanks
 In septic tank, suspended solids are reduced
gravitationally and microbial action by about 18 to 70% and
the BOD is reduced by about 46 to 60% depending on the
design and performance of the septic tanks.
 The wastewater flows which reach the small bore sewers
are markedly attenuated in the septic/interceptor tank from
the rate at which they are discharged by the users.
The peak discharges are attenuated by about 64% in
septic tanks.
The maximum discharge from the septic tanks can be
about 25% of the peak input.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
SBS Sewer Reticulation
The important parameters that bring significant changes
in the design criteria of the SBS collection system, due
to the presence of septic tanks in individual premises,
are the design flow, sewer sizes, minimum velocity
sewer grades and manholes.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Design flows
The design flow to be considered feasible in the range of 40
to 80 lpcd for yard tap supplies and 80 to 200 lpcd for
multiple tap in-house supplies.
In addition to wastewater flows, estimates of groundwater
infiltration and surface water inflow are also considered in
the design of conventional sewer system.
It is, however, intended that in the SBS system infiltration be
eliminated by using solvent jointed UPVC as sewer
materials.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Sewer Diameter
In the SBS system sewer sizes are smaller because of
low average flow and because of attenuation of peak
flow in the septic tank.
Since most of the settleable solids are retained in the
septic tank, the possibility of solids deposition and
blockage in the sewer is minimized.
Estimation of storm water infiltration will also reduce
the required sewer capacity.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Sewer Diameter
The minimum size of sewer most commonly used in the
conventional system is 150 mm, while the SBS system can employ
a minimum sewer size of as low as 50 mm.
The Australian practice uses a minimum size of 100 mm sewer.
As soon as design flows indicate that the sewer will flow more
than 60% of full capacity at full development then the next higher
size should be adopted.
In developing countries however, where the special equipment
for cleaning smaller diameter sewers is not generally available, a
minimum diameter of 100 mm may be recommended.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Sewer Gradients
In the SBS system, since the settleable solids in the
wastewater are retained and the suspended solids are
reduced significantly in the septic tank, it is not
necessary to maintain a self-cleaning velocity in the
sewer reticulation system.
As a result the grade can be substantially reduced
thereby reducing the volume of excavation to a great
extent.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Manholes and Flushing Points
The SBS system requires less maintenance due to minimal
solid content of the wastewater. Therefore, few numbers of
manholes are installed.
Flushing points are used in the system at locations where
the manholes would otherwise exist. These points consist of
a 100 mm PVC riser with a removable screw-cap under
concrete cover at the surface to provide access for flushing.
Flushing points are preferable to manholes because they are
less costly and can be more tightly sealed to eliminate most
infiltration and grit which commonly enter through the lids.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Wastewater Treatment
In the SBS system, treatment of wastewater is
performed in two stages, firstly, on-site treatment in the
septic tanks and secondly, off-site secondary treatment
in a series of stabilization lagoons.
In the septic tanks the large particles and the settleable
solids are retained, and the BOD and the suspended
solids are significantly reduced.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Technical Advantages
The small bore sewerage system has specific technical advantages over the
conventional sewerage system as listed below:
 Sewer size can be reduced because each septic tank tends to act as a
balancing tank, largely eliminating surge.
 Since the wastewater contains minimum solids, self-cleansing velocities are
not necessary and hence sewer grades can be substantially reduced.
 Sewer blockages are minimal as septic tanks retain most of the solids
content.
 Volume of excavation is considerably reduced because of smaller sewers and
lower sewer grades.
 Solid handling at the secondary treatment site is minimum.
 Rapid construction is possible because of lesser volume of excavation and
fewer number of manholes to be constructed.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Economic Considerations
 Although the basic principles of both the SBS system and the
conventional sewerage system are similar, there will be
differences in the initial capital costs and the annual
maintenance costs between the two systems. This is because
of changes in the design criteria brought about by the
presence of the septic tank in the SBS system.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Economic Considerations
The differences in the initial capital costs between the systems are a
result of the following factors.
A reduction in the capital costs in the SBS system due to:
 Reduction in the sewer sizes;
 Reduction in minimum grades, thereby reducing the volume of
excavation;
 Reducing in the number of manholes;
 Reduction in hydraulic and organic loading of wastewater due to
the existence of the septic tank, thereby reducing the treatment
plant area;
 Less costly pumps with minimum solids handling required.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Economic Considerations
An increase in the capital costs in the SBS system due to:
 Installation of septic tanks (however, if use is made of existing
septic tanks then it will be an added cost advantage for the
SBS system);
 Installation of flushing points.
 Small Bore Sewerage System
Economic Considerations
The differences in the annual maintenance costs between the two
systems are a result of the following factors.
A reduction in the maintenance costs in the SBS system due to:
 Fewer manholes;
 Less frequent cleaning of the sewers because the possibility of
blockage due to solids deposition is minimum;
 No sludge handling is required at the treatment site.
An increase in the maintenance costs in the SBS system due to:
 Desludging of septic tanks 3 to 5 times per year;
 Regular flushing of sewers.
Course Code: CE 441
Course Title: Environmental Engineering

Lecture – 16

Dr. Md. Niamul Bari

Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering
RUET
Cycle -12, Day-B
23-12-2017
Simplified Sewerage
System
 Simplified Sewerage System
What is it?
 Simplified sewerage, also called shallow sewerage, is
low-cost sanitation technology particularly suited to
high-density, low-income urban areas in developing
countries.
 It is designed to receive all household wastewater
without settling in solid interseptor tanks or septic tanks
as is done in the case of SBS systems.
 It is essentially similar to conventional sewerage, but
without any of the later’s conservative design features.
 Small diameter sewers used to convey the sewage are
laid at shallow gradients.
 Simplified Sewerage System

What is it?
 These sewers are often laid inside housing block, where
the system is known as condominial sewerage.
 They may also be laid outside the housing block, usually
under sidewalk rather than in the middle of the road, as
is the case with conventional sewerage.
 Simplified Sewerage System
Invention?
 The system is outcome of critical review of the
justification for conventional sewerage design standard.
 The change has been made in design standards for
minimum diameter, minimum slopes, minimum depths,
and the spacing and location of manholes.
 The changes were based on findings of research in
development of lower-cost sewerage system with
smaller, flatter and shallower sewers with fewer and
simpler manholes.
 In addition, the system makes use of design periods that
are considerably shorter than those used in
conventional sewerage.
Simplified Sewerage System
 Simplified Sewerage System

Design Principles?
 Sewer design must be such that deposition of organics
and other materials is minimized to avoid blockage of
the sewer line. As such, sewers are graded to attain self-
cleansing velocity to avoid deposition.
 The usual practice for the hydraulic design of circular
sewers is to maintain velocity for achieving the self-
cleansing action.
 In general a velocity of 0.6 m/sec when flowing full is
considered adequate for sanitary sewers.
 Simplified Sewerage System

Design Principles?
 A recent trend is to apply a critical shear stress (tractive
tension) approach instead of minimum velocity theory
in the hydraulic design of sewer.
 The critical shear stress of sediment particles is
considered as the minimum shear stress necessary for
the initiation of motion of the particle.
 Its magnitude depends on a number of factors including
the densities of the particle and the fluid, the size of the
particle and the viscosity of the fluid.
 Simplified Sewerage System
Design Principles?
 The recent minimum tractive tension approach of hydraulic
design is to ensure self-cleansing of sewers by attaining
sufficient shear stress on the critical area of the wetted
perimeter.
 The average shear stress over the critical area of the wetted
perimeter must be equal to or greater than 1.47 N/m2.
 The critical shear stress approach has resulted in the
flattening of the grades at which smaller size sewers (up to
300 mm) are laid.
 Although larger size sewers are required to be graded more
steeply.
 The flattening of smaller size sewers has resulted in
substantial reduction in overall costs.
 Simplified Sewerage System
Design Principles?
 The design of simplified sewerage is based on a minimum
tractive tension of 1 N/m2 and a minimum flow depth of 0.2
relative to the sewer diameter.
 The design slope is thus determined by: Imin = 0.0056Qi-6/13
Where, Imin = minimum sewer slope, m/m
Qi = initial wastewater flow, litres/sec.
 Based on this minimum sewer grade, the diameter of the
sewer is determined using the projected final flow and
limiting the ratio of depth of flow to sewer diameter, d/D≤0.8.
 In simplified sewerage, the usual limits for d/D is
0.2<d/D<0.8.
 Simplified Sewerage System

Design Principles?
 A hydraulic design chart for simplified sewers
based on Manning’s equation, simplifies the
determination of sewer diameter by relating d/D to
Qf /Imin0.5 and V/Imin0.5, where Qf is the final flow in
m3.
 The exact or a nearer value of Qf /Imin0.5 is located
in this design chart where d/D does not exceed 0.8.
 The final velocity Vf is computed from the
corresponding V/Imin0.5 value in the chart.
Simplified Sewerage System
 Simplified Sewerage System
Operation and Maintenance
 Simplified sewerage system have been widely adopted
in Brazil and Bolivia, Colombia and Cuba.
 Information on operational problems, however, is not
yet readily available.
 Experience shows that obstructions in sewer is
insignificant and this supports the policy of reducing
the number of manholes for maintenance purposes.
 Manholes are smaller because there is no need for
maintenance personnel to enter the manholes due to
shallower depths and the availability of modern
cleaning equipment.
 Simplified Sewerage System

Cost
 Simplified sewerage system have proven to be
substantially cheaper than conventional sewer
system.
 Cost saving ranging from 20 to 50%.
 The cost of simplified sewerage, however, varies
from place to place depending on the varying
design standards and criteria.
 Simplified Sewerage System
Suitability
 Simplified sewerage system offer a new cost saving
approach primarily based on rational changes in long-
standing traditional conservative sewer design
standard.
 Simplified sewerage could be a viable lower-cost
alternative to conventional sewerage systems
particularly for the developing countries.
 Design modifications in simplified sewerage are based
on sound engineering principles without jeopardizing
the level of service.
 Cost could be 30 to 50% less than conventional
sewerage, thus service coverage could be expanded.
Thank You All