Credit Hours System – Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University

PBWN 201 – Spring 2023

Water & Wastewater Engineering

Part Two: Wastewater Engineering
Introduction to Wastewater Engineering
Prof. Dr. Mona M. Galal
Professor of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering, Cairo University
Dr. Safwat Mahmoud, PMP®
Associate Professor of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering, Cairo University
Dr. Nagwan Gamal
Associate Professor of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering, Cairo University
 Wastewater Engineering
 Wastewater Collection System
 Types of Collection Systems
 Preliminary Studies for Design
 Design Period Selection
 Factors affecting WW Discharges

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Wastewater Engineering

• Wastewater is the water supply of the community

after it has been used in a variety of applications and
which contains constituents that prevent its using
without treatment.

• Wastewater engineering is that branch of

environmental engineering in which the basic
principles of science and engineering are applied to
the problems of water pollution control.

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Wastewater (WW) Works

• Collection Works (Sewage Network)

• Transmission Works (Pump stations and pipelines)
• Treatment Works (Wastewater treatment plants)
• Final Disposal Works ( of treated WW and sludge)

Collection Transmission Treatment Disposal

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Wastewater Collection System

• Sewage: The Liquid waste from a community is called sewage. Sewage is

classified into domestic and non-domestic sewage. The non-domestic
sewage is classified into industrial, commercial, institutional and any other
sewage that is not domestic.

• Sewer: Sewers are underground pipes or conduits which carry sewage to

points of disposal.

• Sewerage: The entire system used for collection, treatment and disposal
of liquid waste. This includes pipes, manholes, and all structures used for
the above-mentioned purposes.

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• Infiltration & Inflow (I/I):
Infiltration: It is the water which enters
the sewers from groundwater through
leaks from loose joints or cracks.
Inflow: It is the water which enters the
sewers from the manholes during
rainfall events.

• Rainwater (Storm water):

Runoff resulting from rainfall.

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Type of Wastewater from household

• Greywater: Washing water from the

kitchen, bathroom, laundry (without
faeces and urine)

• Blackwater: Water from flush toilet

(faeces and urine with flush water)

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Types of Collection Systems
• Separate system
 Sanitary system
 Storm system

• Combined system
Both sanitary & storm water

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Types of Collection Systems

Combined sewer system

• A single pipe network that carries a mixture of WW and rain water and
conveys it to the WWTP
• Combined sewers are used where the rain intensity is low

• Advantage: the low cost due to construction of one network.

• Main disadvantage: is the increased WW discharge to the WWTP with rain
water flow that doesn’t require treatment

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Types of Collection Systems

Separate sewer system

Two separate networks : one intended to carry WW while the other is for
rain water.
Rain water is disposed off in a nearby water body(usually the sea in coastal
areas).
Used in cities where rain intensity is high.

Advantage: to avoid increasing the amount of WW to be treated at the

WWTP.
Main disadvantage : the high cost due to construction of two networks.

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Preliminary studies needed for the design of
sewage collection systems
1. Contour maps.
2. Geotechnical investigation (type of
soil & water table).
3. Meteorological data (rain,….).
4. Detailed map of the area showing
streets, buildings, levels of buildings
entrance … etc
5. Detailed cross section for the streets
showing the underground services
(water pipes, electricity cables, gas
pipes, telephone,…..).
6. Water supply and consumption study.
7. Identification of industrial,
commercial institutional and domestic
areas.
8. Identification of collection points of
sewage and possible locations of
pumping stations and point of final
collection.
9. Population forecast studies.
10. Expected Development of the area
(Master planning).
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Design Period Selection

Initial Year
is the year when the construction of the project is completed and the
initial operation begins.

Design or planning year

is the year when the facility is excepted to reach its full design
capacity and further expansion may become necessary.

Design Period
is the length of time it is estimated that the facility will be able to meet
the demand.

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Design Period Selection

• Selection of the design period isn't simple.

• The following factors affect the selection process :
1. Useful lifetime of the project’s units and components, taking into
account development in WWT technology.
2. Convenience of future expansion.
3. Anticipated changes in the WW characteristics.
4. Growth pattern of the service area.
5. Availability of funds, and cost of present and future construction.
6. Operation and Maintenance (O&M).

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Typical Design Periods for Wastewater Treatment
Facilities:
Type of facility Design Period, years
Collection Systems 20 - 40
Pump stations
Structures 20 - 40
Pumping equipment 10 – 20

Treatment Plants
Process structures 20 – 40
Process equipment 10 – 20
Hydraulic conduits 20 - 40

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Factors affecting Domestic WW Discharges

• Community size
• Standard of living and population’s
activities
• Climate conditions
• Quality of water
• Metered services
• Price of water

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Factors Affecting Industrial WW Discharges

• Type of industry and the resulting organic loads.

• Working hours.
• Water consumption rates.

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Factors affecting Infiltration Water Discharge

• Sewers' diameters.
• Sewers’ pipe material.
• Sewers’ depth.
• Sewers’ length below GWT.
• Type of connections.

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 Thank you
Any Questions?

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