GLOSSARY

Collector Sewer
A conduit that receives sewage and/or stormwater from two or more lateral sewers or other
branch conduits. A collector sewer has a minimum inside design diameter of 8”.

Combination Sewer
A sewer system that transports both stormwater and sewage.

Curb
A ledge formed along the edge of a street or other paved areas used to convey surface water to
an inlet.

Diversion Manhole
A combined sewer manhole constructed with a regulating device to allow a desired quantity
of wastewater to pass to the treatment plant. The excess flow is diverted into another conduit.

Drop Connection
(Drop Manhole) A vertical connection that is constructed with or added to a manhole to
provide a controlled means of passing flow from a shallow sewer to a deeper sewer.

Force Main
(Pressure Line) The discharge pipe from a lift station or pumping stations which transports
wastewater or stormwater under pressure. A force main may be used to transport sewage up
hills or under waterways and other depressions where gravity flow is not possible or
practicable.

Groundwater
Water beneath the surface of the ground contained in a saturated zone of a geologic stratum.
Groundwater usually applies only to water below the water table and originates from
infiltration. Service laterals are generally publicly owned and maintained to the curb line of
improved public streets or the proposed standard location of the curb line in unimproved
public streets and privately owned and maintained from the curb line to the structure.

Inlet
(catch basin, catch inlet) Box-like underground concrete structure with openings to collect
stormwater runoff. Often an inlet is constructed as part of a curb and gutter system for
passing stormwater runoff to a drain or sewer, and for separating debris and sediments from
the stormwater.
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Intercepting Sewer
(interceptor) A sewer that receives sewage from a number of collector and truck sewers and
specific, limited quantities of wastewater from combination sewers through diversion
structures and conveys that wastewater to a point for treatment or disposal.

Lateral Sewer
(Service Lateral) A conduit that receives sewage or stormwater from a residential,
commercial, or industrial structures and discharges into a public collector sewer.

Lift Station
A facility that pumps wastewater or stormwater from a deep sewer to a shallow sewer in order
that it may continue to be transported by gravity flow. A lift station has a very short force
main.

Manhole
A structure that provides access for maintenance and inspection of sewers or other
underground utilities.

Outfall Sewer
A sewer, storm drain, or other conduit that extends to the point, location, or structure where
wastewater or drainage discharges.

Pollution Reduction Facility

(PRF) A facility specifically designed and constructed to remove pollutants from stormwater
runoff. Common pollutants include sediment, heavy metals, and plant nutrients. These
facilities generally include native vegetation and wetland plants and provide passive treatment
with natural processes.

Pumping Station
A lift station with a relatively long force main.

Relief Sewer
A sewer designed and constructed to provide additional capacity to an existing sewer (relieve)
that does not have adequate capacity to meet peak flow demands.

Runoff
That portion of precipitation that flows away (discharged) from an area.

Sanitary Sewer
(separate) A sewer that carries liquid and waterborne wastes from residences, commercial
buildings, industrial complexes, and institutions. Surface water, stormwater, and groundwater
are not intentionally admitted.
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Sedimentation Manhole
Manhole structure that functions as a small settling basin to settle out incoming sediments that
are transported with runoff before discharging to a sump, pollution reduction facility, or other
point.

Sewer
(drain) A subterranean pipe or conduit that carries wastewater, stormwater, and/or
groundwater.

Storm Sewer
(storm drain) A conduit intended to carry stormwater, surface runoff, street drainage, and
groundwater. Sewage is not intentionally admitted. Culverts are short lengths of storm
sewer, open on both ends, used with surface or open channel drainage systems.

Stormwater
The water resulting from rain and snow.

Sump
(drywall) A manhole structure with perforated sidewalls, when configured with a
sedimentation manhole, functions as an infiltration device for the disposal of stormwater
runoff.

Trunk Sewer
(main) A principal sewer which collects the flow from two or more collector sewers, and
generally has a minimum inside diameter of 10 inches.

Underflow Conduit
The pipe that carries limited flow from a diversion structure of a combination sewer to a trunk
sewer and transported for treatment.

Wastewater
(sewage) The contaminated water of a community. Wastewater contains domestic wastes,
household wastes, industrial wastes and other contaminated water.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

A facility designed and operated to remove contaminates and pollutants form wastewater
before discharging into the environment.