Define the terms used in drainage systems

1. Waste water is from showers, basins, kitchen sinks, washing machines, and the
like. This is also called grey water. Normally a minimum of 75 mm dia. pipes are
used for drainage of waste water
2. Soil water or sewage is from WCs and urinals. This is also called black water.
Minimum of 100 mm diameter pipes are used for waste water
Discharge pipework systems include:
 One pipe system- The main feature of the two-pipe system is the completely
separate disposal of the discharges from soil fittings and waste fittings
requiring two independent above-ground pipework installations, both
eventually discharging into the same underground drainage system. Only soil
fittings are allowed to discharge directly into the drain; waste fittings must
terminate over a gulley, preferably one of the back inlet type. In this system of
plumbing the waste connections from sinks, baths, washbasins, and the soil
pipe which is connected directly to the drainage system. Gully traps and waste
pipes are completely dispensed with. But all the traps of WCs, basins, etc are
completely ventilated to preserve the water seal by a separate vent pipe.
Precautions
a) All the joints off waste pipes should be air-tight.
b) Each waste pipe should be connected to common stack directly.
c) Vent pipe diameter should not be less than 50 mm.
d) The waste pipe should join the stack, above the soil branch at each floor.
e) All traps should be provided with a deep water seal of not less than 7.5cm
 Two pipe system-W.Cs and urinals are connected to vertical soil pipe baths,
kitchens, basins, etc are connected to another separate vertical waste pipe.
Soil pipes and waste pipes are provided with separate vent pipes. This system
thus requires four pipes and hence proves very costly. The soil pipe is
connected to the drain directly but the waste pipe should be connected
through a trapped gully.
Note:
The main difference between the one- and two-pipe system is that with the
former both soil and waste fittings are discharged into a common stack with
the addition of some trap-ventilating pipes.
Although this was a big advantage economically, it was not accepted by all
local authorities for many years. The course of time has proved it to be an
effective system and it was used successfully for multi-storey buildings such as
blocks of flats in the immediate post-war period. It was seldom used for small
buildings.
 Single stack- The outstanding feature of this system is the complete absence of
any trap-ventilating pipe, except in very special circumstances. In this system,
only one vertical soil pipe is used. The wastes from all the sanitary and soil
appliances are discharged in the same pipe. The traps of WCs, sink basins, etc
are directly connected to the single stack pipe. In this system, there is no
separate pipe for ventilation purposes. This system proves economical as only
one pipe is to be provided. The effectiveness of this system depends entirely
on the depth of the water seal. No water seal should be less than 75 mm in
depth.
Types of systems
 Combined-this uses a single drain to convey both foul water from sanitary
appliances and rainwater from roofs and other surfaces to a shared sewer. The
system is economical to install, but the processing costs at the sewage
treatment plant are high.
 Partially separate-most of the rainwater is conveyed by the surface water
drain into the surface water sewer. For convenience and to reduce site costs,
the local water authority may permit an isolated rainwater inlet to be
connected to the foul water drain. This is shown with the rainwater inlet at A
connected to the foul water inspection chamber. Also, a rodding point is shown
at B. These are often used at the head of a drain, as an alternative to a more
costly inspection chamber
 Separate-this has foul water from the sanitary appliances conveyed in a foul
water drain to a foul water sewer. The rainwater from roofs and other surfaces
is conveyed in a surface water drain into a surface water sewer or a soakaway.
This system is relatively expensive to install, particularly if the ground has poor
drainage qualities and soakaways cannot be used. However, the benefit is
reduced volume and treatment costs at the processing plant.
Disposal systems
 Cess pools-A cesspool is an acceptable method of foul water containment
where main drainage is not available. It is an impervious chamber requiring
 periodic emptying, sited below ground level. Traditional cesspools were
constructed of brickwork rendered inside with waterproof cement mortar.
Precast concrete rings supported on a concrete base have also been used, but
factory manufactured glass reinforced plastic units are now preferred

 Septic tank-Where main drainage is not available a septic tank is preferable to

a cesspool. A septic tank is self-cleansing and will only require annual
desludging. It is in effect a private sewage disposal plant, which is quite
common for buildings in rural areas. The tank is a watertight chamber in which
the sewage is liquefied by anaerobic bacterial activity. This type of bacteria
lives in the absence of oxygen which is ensured by a sealed cover and the
natural occurrence of a surface scum or crust.
 Soak pits-Where a surface water sewer is not available, it may be possible to
dispose of rainwater into a soakaway. A soakaway will only be effective in
porous soils and above the water table. Water must not be allowed to flow
under a building and soakaways should be positioned at least 3 m away (most
local authorities require 5 m). A filled soakaway is inexpensive to construct,
but it will have limited capacity. Unfilled or hollow soakaways can be built of
precast concrete or masonry
Materials and tools
Rain water goods
 Gutter
Eaves gutters
The eaves may be defined as the lower edges of a pitched roof.
Gutters around the eaves of the building provide the means of conveying rainwater
which falls on the roof to the underground drainage system or, in some cases,
soakaways
The cross-sectional shape of these gutters varies considerably depending to some
extent on the type of material used. Sections are illustrated in Fig. 12.1, the most
commonly used being half round, square and ogee.
Materials for Eaves Gutters
1. PVC-This is probably the most commonly used material for smaller premises
and domestic work and has much to commend it. It is light, cheap and flexible,
requiring no maintenance such as painting. It is currently made in white,
brown, black and various shades of grey as these colours offer the greatest
resistance to fading in strong sunlight.
2. Cast iron and aluminium Gutters-These are mainly produced to cater for a
specialist market. Examples include high-quality commercial and public
buildings where both a long service life and an aesthetic appearance are more
important than initial cost. They are also used extensively for renovating and
adding to listed buildings where the owners are bound by covenant not to alter
the original materials used for their construction or appearance.
3. Aluminium BS 2997 (1980) Half-round gutters are fixed using cast aluminium
brackets normally screwed to the facia board with No. 12 galvanised round
head screws 30 to 40 mm in length.
4. Cast iron BS 460 (1964) Prior to the introduction of PVC rainwater systems cast
iron was the principal material used. Its main disadvantage is that, being a
ferrous metal, it is prone to corrosion and must be maintained by regular
painting.
5. Sheet zinc gutters This material has been superseded by PVC but it is still
manufactured, although the skills necessary are now carried out by specialists.
 It is used extensively in many European countries and has the advantage that
any non-standard angles and outlets can be easily fabricated
6. Purpose-made gutters These are made from sheet metal by specialist sheet
metal companies which manufacture both gutters and fittings from copper,
aluminium, zinc and LCS sheet, the last being galvanised as protection from
corrosion. Such gutters are obviously expensive and careful ordering is
necessary to ensure that no waste occurs
Inspection of gutters
Visual checks are necessary to ensure their compliance with design, e.g. sufficient
brackets and outlets. To check for obstruction in large pipes, if they are straight
lengths with means of access, the use of mirrors can be employed using the same
method as for underground drains. An alternative is to draw a suitable profile through
the pipe.
Testing
Fill the gutters to the level of the lowest point and check for leaks by sealing the
outlets. When the water is released the gutter should empty leaving no pools of water
(referred to as ponding). Internal rainwater pipes must be tested for soundness to
whatever pressure is likely to be exerted in the pipe should a blockage occur. New
work should be tested to 38 mm WG for 3 minutes. Scottish regulations require 50 mm
WG for 5 minutes.
Maintenance
Gutters must be cleared of any debris, simultaneously inspecting outlets and
rainwater pipe gratings for blockages on an annual basis. If there are trees in close
proximity more frequent maintenance may benecessary. Leaf guards, see Fig. 12.24,
should be cleaned and examined for damage. Where ladders are used do not rest
them against the gutter; PVC gutters become very brittle in cold weather and will
fracture. The ladder stand-off shown in Fig. 12.4 should be used, and always ensure
ladders are tied or ‘footed’ on slippery surfaces
Valley Gutters
Tapering valley gutters are those formed between the junction of the eaves of two
roofs, and are of the open type being wide enough to allow a person to walk along
them if necessary to effect repairs. Smaller gutters, simply called valleys, occur when
a gable intersects with a pitched roof.
 Down pipes and fittings
 It is essential, for the sake of appearance, that rainwater pipes or, indeed,
any vertical pipe fixed externally should be perfectly upright.
 It is possible to check each length with an upright level before fixing, but it
is usually much quicker to strike a chalk line on the face of the wall,
especially if several lengths are to be fixed. The method used is similar to
marking out sheet lead with a chalk line, but in this case a plumb bob is
used.
 Rainwater pipes are made of the same material as the gutter and normally
require no special jointing, the spigot simply entering the socket. Details of
joints and fixings are shown in Fig. 12.16. When working with PVC rainwater
pipes, be sure to leave a gap of about 6–8 mm for each 2 m length of pipe
between the spigot end of the pipe and the bottom of the socket to allow
for expansion
 Rainwater pipes terminate in a variety of ways depending on the method of
disposal. The traditional method is to use a rainwater shoe discharging over
a gulley as often found in older properties. Two such shoes are shown in Fig.
12.17
 It should be noted that the anti-splash type is only made in the cast iron
range of rainwater goods. If the rainwater pipe is connected to a foul water
drain a back inlet gulley must be used (see Fig. 12.18(a)). Permission to do
this must be obtained from the local authority. If a surface water drain is
available, no gulley is normally necessary and the rainwater pipe may be
connected directly to the underground drain as shown in Fig. 12.18(b).
 Figures 12.19(a) and (b) illustrate this method. The two adaptors show how
direct connections may be made between all types of surface water drain
and rainwater pipes. Special offsets called ‘plinth pieces’ shown in Fig.
12.20 are available to overcome difficulty when fixing rainwater pipes to
walls which are built with a projection at some point.
 Brackets
With the aid of a sketch, explain the features of a manhole
Define a manhole
Sketch and label a section through a manhole 3m deep
Sketch and label a section through a filled soakaway pit citing at least two
situations
With the aid of a sketch explain the working principles of a single stack drainage
system
Explain three factors that distinguish a “cesspool” from a septic tank
Differentiate between “rainwater gutter” and “rainwater shoe”