ARCHITECTURAL SCIENCE
(PLUMBING)
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Different types of Sewage Disposal System:
a. CESSPOOL – A lined and covered excavation in
the ground which receives the discharge of
domestic sewage or other organic wastes from a
drainage system, so designed as to retain the
organic matter and solids, but permitting the
liquids to seep through the bottom and sides.
b. PRIVY – An outhouse which serves as a toilet; It
is a concrete vault constructed for the collection
of raw sewage sealed with wooden shelter.
c. SEPTIC TANK – 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 digested solids
through a period of detention, and allow the clarified
liquids to discharge for final disposal.
d. PUBLIC SEWER LINE – A public sewage disposal system
consisting of a sewage treatment unit which conveys
the raw sewage to disposal system.
1. Combination Public Sewer – it conveys storm water
and sanitary waste.
2. Sanitary Sewer – only carries sanitary waste to a
modern sewage disposal plant, rainwater is
prohibited.
3. Storm Sewer – this carries storm water and
terminates into a natural drainage such as lakes and
rivers.
SEPTIC TANK
- Serves as a device to decompose the elements
contained in a raw sewage waste. The septic tank
combines two process; sedimentation in the
upper portion of the tank, and anaerobic
decomposition of the accumulated sludge in the
bottom.
Decomposition of Organic Waste. Organic waste is
a mixture of carbohydrates, fats protein and
soap. The decomposition of the organic waste is
due to the presence of anaerobic bacteria that
purifies and digest most of the suspended
materials and convert them into gases and
chemical compounds of common derivatives.
Gases produced in septic tank:
a. Methane b. Carbon Dioxide
b. Carbon Monoxide d. Hydrogen
c. Hydrogen Sulphide f. Sulphur Dioxide
The main function of the septic tank is to liquefy
and precipitate solid putrefying or odorous
materials. To discharge large volume of water
and waste containing oil and grease into
septic tank will greatly affect and disturb the
bacterial action. This may then destroy the
purpose for which tank was constructed.
Location of Septic Tank:
Septic tank is constructed either of reinforced concrete or hollow
blocks plastered in order to be watertight.
a. S.T. should be located not less than 15 meters away from potable
water to prevent contamination.
b. No S.T. shall be installed within or under a house.
c. The inlets and outlets are submerged and arranged so as not to
disturb the sludge or scum.
d. S.T. is provided with inlet and outlet inverts of a long turn sanitary
tee casted in the concrete wall. These are placed to at least 1.20
meters from the bottom of the tank to receive the incoming waste
or effluent from the house sewer.
e. For roper reduction of the organic materials, the water content of
the tank should at least be 1.20 meters deep for satisfactory result.
f. The bottom of the tank should slope (1:10) min. towards the
manhole in the center to facilitate cleaning and.
g. The top cover and manhole are usually extended 15 cm. above the
surface of the soil to overcome surface water infiltration.
Size Residential Commercial
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-75 76-100
Width .90 1.10 1.20 1.50 1.30 1.50 1.50 2.00 2.00
Length including
1.50 2.00 2.70 3.00 2.10 2.50 3.00 3.30 3.60
leaching chamber
Depth of liquid 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.30 1.30 1.50
Inside clear
1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.60 1.60 1.80
height of tank
• Technical data in determining the
volume of Septic Tank
a. Minimum Width = 0.90m.
b. Minimum Length = 1.5m.
c. Depth of Liquid = 1.2 min., 1.5 max.
d. For S.T. to serve 12 persons, the chamber should have
a liquid content of not more than 2 cubic meter.
e. For residential to serve larger number of people
allocate 0.14 to .17 cubic meter of liquid per person.
f. For school, commercial and industrial establishment
the volume of the tank should not be less than 0.057
cubic meter but not more than 0.086 cubic meter per
person.
