Sewage Systems

This article discusses sewage systems. Sewage systems are used to collect and transport wastewater. Sometimes, they are also used to treat wastewater.

The Sewage system is a complex network of pipes and tunnels that carries waste away from buildings and towns and transports it to a sewage treatment plant. Sewage systems are used to collect and transport human and other waste away from where it is produced and keep it from polluting the environment. Sewage systems are vital for protecting the environment and ensuring a healthy society. Today, most Sewage systems are designed and built using the sanitary sewer system model.

The Sewage system has been in place for a long time, with the first sewers being built in Ancient Rome. It has evolved greatly over the years, with the current sewer systems being a complex network of pipes, pumps and treatment plants. Modern sewers are mostly underground, with the pipes being mainly used to transfer sewage to the treatment plants, where the sewage is treated and then released into the rivers and oceans. The sewers also carry rainwater, which is piped to the treatment plants, where the water is then used for irrigation purposes or to keep the plants cool.

Uses of Sewage System:

  1. Sewage systems transport wastewater from houses and businesses to wastewater treatment plants. They are the main ways wastewater is treated and reused rather than released into the environment. Most Sewage systems are owned and operated by municipalities. In some areas, private companies operate and manage sewer systems for the benefit of the community.
  2. The sewage and stormwater that we flush toilets and wash our cars with goes through a Sewage system on its way to a treatment plant, which processes it and then discharges the treated wastewater into rivers, lakes, ponds, or the ocean. 
  3. They also provide a physical barrier to ensure that pollutants do not enter waterways.
  4. They are used to provide water to gardens, cool buildings, generate power and even create roadways.
  5. Sewage systems are used to transport and dispose of waste and other fluids that would otherwise cause health and sanitation issues.
  6. They are used to prevent sewage from being released into the environment. Sewage systems can be used to help reduce the impact of floods on buildings and provide clean drinking water.
  7. Sewers are used for a variety of purposes, including water and waste collection, stormwater management, and flood protection.

Designing of Sewage Systems:

Sewage systems are used to carry away human waste. They are designed to carry away the waste in a sanitary manner so that it doesn’t pollute the environment or cause disease. In cities, sewers are designed to carry away rainwater as well as waste so that it doesn’t flood the streets. Sewer systems are built under the streets and roads so that they don’t impinge on the land’s surface.

Working of Sewage Systems:

Sewage systems include both wastewater and stormwater collection and treatment systems. Wastewater is water that is collected from sinks, baths, showers, and other indoor fixtures and carried through pipes to a treatment plant. Stormwater is water that is collected from areas outside of a building, such as gutters and parking lots, and carried through pipes to a treatment plant. Both wastewater and stormwater are referred to as “Sewage” in this article.

Types of Sewage Systems on the basis of their usage:

Sewage systems transport wastewater, which is also known as “sewer” or “stormwater”, from homes, businesses, and industry to wastewater treatment plants. Sewage systems may be divided into removal systems, which collect and transport wastewater, and conveyance systems, which convey wastewater to a treatment plant. Removal systems include individual pipes that carry wastewater to a treatment plant and combined sewer systems, which carry both wastewater and stormwater to a treatment plant. Conveyance systems include sewers that carry wastewater to other sewers or to treatment plants or waterways.

Types of Sewage Systems based on the network of pipes:

There are three types of Sewage systems: primary, secondary and tertiary. The first one is the most common and involves the Sewage department collecting sewage and wastewater in a primary Sewage network which is made up of a network of pipes and tunnels under the ground. The second type of Sewage system is called a secondary Sewage system. This also involves a network of pipes and tunnels under the ground, but it also involves a network of pipes and tunnels above the ground, which bring wastewater to the sewage treatment plant.

Partially separate Sewage systems:

A partially separate sewage system is one that has an independent network of pipes that transports wastewater to a treatment plant but which also has connecting pipes that transport wastewater to the house for toilet use and other small loads. This is the most common type of sewage system in India and other tropical countries, where the Sewage network is very small, and houses are often built very close to the street. Separate systems also help protect groundwater from contamination and also keep mosquitoes out of the treated wastewater that is then used for irrigation. In some cities, however, separate systems have been replaced by sewers combined with municipal sewage systems because of the high cost of extending the sewer system to all houses.

Conclusion:

The sewers in our cities and towns are one of the most vital systems in our infrastructure, carrying wastewater from our homes and businesses to wastewater treatment facilities. If a wastewater treatment system is not maintained, wastewater can back up into homes, places of business, and communities, causing serious health risks, such as the risk of sewage-related diseases and even death. The systems that collect wastewater and transport it to wastewater treatment facilities are called sewers. Sewers are designed to carry wastewater as efficiently as possible, transporting it to wastewater treatment facilities without allowing it to back up into our homes and communities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What are Sewage Systems?

Ans : The Sewage system is a complex network of pipes, sewers, and othe...Read full

What are the three kinds of sewer systems?

Ans : Sewage systems collect wastewater and treat it to make it safe fo...Read full

Why are Sewage Systems in some areas not up to date? What type of Sewage Systems are the best?

Ans : Sewage systems in many parts of the world are slow, clunky and ex...Read full

What is the Sewage and Drainage System (S&DS)?

Ans : The S&DS is a system of pipes and structures that carry wastewater and stormwater runoff, respectively, to...Read full