Collection Systems

Wastewater Collection Systems

A properly constructed and maintained wastewater collection system is necessary to protect public health. Wastewater collection systems gather the used water from our homes, businesses and industries and convey it to a centralized wastewater treatment plant. The collected wastewater is conveyed to the treatment plant by an underground piping system. The piping system may employ gravity, pressure, vacuum, or a combination of the first two. This type of system is also called a sanitary sewer.

Gravity Flow Systems

a. General. Gravity flow systems consist of a network of underground sewer pipes sloping continually downhill to the wastewater treatment facility. Gravity systems must incorporate lift stations in order to avoid deep excavation that would be required in a flat or undulating terrain. It is desirable that piping systems be designed to avoid the formation of septic conditions, i.e., the velocity of wastewater through the piping system must be maintained to avoid the formation of septic conditions. The result of septic conditions is the formation of hydrogen sulfide, which causes odor and may cause damage to the piping materials. Therefore, maintaining a minimum flow of fresh wastewater is an important consideration when formulating a piping collection system.

Force Main Systems

a. General.

(1) Recreational areas may require pumping of wastewater from the point of generation to the point of treatment or disposal. Pumping is necessary when gravity flow is not practical due to topography and/or economic considerations, when there is insufficient head for gravity flow through a treatment system, or when the plant effluent must be lifted into the receiving stream or body of water.

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