Different Types of Sewage Systems

Practically all municipalities with populations of morerequired to handle.
than 2,500 maintain systems of sewage disposalCombination public sewers are the oldest variety of
consisting of a sewage treatment unit of eitherthe three types of sewers and they are required to
activated sludge or filter type and a system ofcarry storm and sanitary wastes to some safe
sewers installed below the streets by which the rawterminal. These sewers are obsolete, but still make
sewage is conveyed to the disposal plant or unit.up a large part of public sewage systems. Rain water
In recent years health authorities have realized moreshould be carried to some terminal not associated
than ever before, that the source of drinking waterwith the disposal plant, because large quantities of
must be protected against contamination caused bywater affect operation and necessitate an
the discharge of large volumes of domestic andexceptionally large installation to handle it.
industrial sewage into it. With the aid, in someWater from your bathroom, from either the toilet or
instances, of federal grants, this phase of sanitationthe bathtub can go here. Bathtub paint tends to
has progressed rapidly within the last ten years.cause some problems with drains so make sure you
The installation of public steam enclosures doesn'tkeep up with glazing.
necessarily involve a plumber. Residential steamSanitary sewers are those which are required to
showers and steam rooms, however, are a new fieldcarry domestic sanitary wastes only. All rain water
into which he may easily be fitted. As far as themust be excluded from them. The terminal of these
installation of public sewers and disposal units issewers is a modern sewage disposal plant.
concerned he does not play a very active part.Combination and sanitary sewers generally are placed
The work, especially that of constructing concreteabout ten feet under the street grade and usually
and vitrified clay sewers, usually is done byare found below the center line of the street.
semi-skilled labor or by workers trained in this field.Storm sewers are a comparatively new installation,
The plumber does, however, use the public installationmade necessary because of sewage treatment.
as a terminal for private plumbing systems, and it isThese sewers are made to carry only storm water
quite necessary that he should be familiar with theand may terminate at any natural drainage area.
public system, at least to the extent of beingAlthough these are meant for large quantities of
well-informed.water, you cannot dump water from your swim spa
It is quite essential, too, that he know the variousor hot tub, because the hot tub chemicals need to
types of sewers and the principles involved inbe disposed of properly. This type of system drains
construction and operation of a modern disposal plant.into natural reservoirs and any water that did not
There are three types of public sewers, eachcome from the sky is contaminated.
classified according to the kind of wastes it is