BUILDING UTILITIES 1: PLUMBING 1

Private Sewage Disposal Systems

DISPOSAL PHASE- the final stage of the plumbing process; where used water and water-carried wastes
are brought to various disposal outlets

SEPTIC TANK
Definition:
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
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
EFFLUENT- liquid content of sewage
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= 1500mm
W=900mm
D=1200mm

DESIGN CRITERIA:
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 subject to excessive corrosion or decay, shall be
watertight.
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 Material: cement (most common) or pre-fabricated cast iron

COMPARTMENTS:
 have a minimum of 2 compartments:
 First compartment: not less than 2/3 capacity of the total capacity of tank; not less than 2 cum
liquid capacity; shall be at least 0.9 m width and 1.5 m long; Liquid depth not less than 0.6 m nor
more than 1.8 m.
 Secondary compartment: maximum capacity of 1/3 total capacity of tank; minimum of 1 cum
liquid capacity
 In septic tanks having over 6 cum capacity, the secondary compartment should be not less than
1.5 m 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 (2) manholes, 508 mm in min dimension; one over inlet, other over outlet.
Wherever first compartment exceeds 3.7 m in length, an additional manhole required over the
baffle wall.
SIZES OF PIPE INLET & OUTLET & 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
104.6 mm.
LENGTH AND LOCATION OF INLET & OUTLET:
 Shall extend 101.6 mm above and at least 304.8 mm below the water surface
 Invert of the inlet pipe shall be at a level not less than 50.8 mm 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 228.6 mm above liquid depth.
 Cover of septic tank shall be at least 50.8 mm above the back vent openings.
PARTITION (between compartments):
 An inverted fitting equivalent in size to the tank inlet, but in no case less than 104.6 mm 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 septic tanks 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; or by the number of fixture units of all plumbing fixtures; whichever is greater.
 The capacity of any one septic tank and its drainage system shall also be limited by the soil
structure classification in its drainage field.
LOCATION:
 Should not be located underneath the house
 At least 15 meters from the water distribution system
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3 degrees or grades of waste water:

Grey Water (or Area Water)
Waste water with the exception of human wastes

Black Water
Water plus solid and liquid human wastes
Storm Water
Rainwater only

CLASSIFICATION OF SEWERS:
Combination Public Sewers
Carries both storm & sanitary wastes
Storm Sewers
Sanitary Sewers
Carries regular sanitary wastes only
Terminates in a modern sewage disposal plant for treatment
Built at a depth of 3 meters (tributaries)

2 TYPES OF SANITARY SEWERS:

Tributary Sewers
Termination points of individual units or structures
Usually round shaped, with diameters between 0.60 to 1.2 meters
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 Sewers
a.k.a. ‘collecting sewers’
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 0.60 to 3 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.
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 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.
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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.
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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.

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

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.
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Sewage Treatment Plan (STP)

Some features of 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.

2 Most Common Types of Municipal Sewage Treatment

1. The Activated 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

2. The 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