CHAPTER 4

Intercepting Sewers
Definition of Intercepting Sewer

A large sewer that receives flow from a number of sewers and conveys the wastewater
to a treatment plant.

▪ Often called an interceptor.

▪ The term interceptor is sometimes used in small communities to describe a septic

tank or other holding tank that serves as a temporary wastewater storage reservoir
for a septic tank effluent pump (STEP) system.
Manhole
 1. Every change in direction
2. Every change in gradient
Locations of 3. Every change in size of sewer
Manhole
4. At intersections and junctions
5. “Blockage-prone location”
1. Individual Treatment System Classification
2. Communal Treatment System of Sewage
3. Centralized Treatment System Treatment
System
Individual Treatment System
 Communal
Treatment System

1. Common in Malaysia
2. Treats sewage from a
community. Eg.
housing estate
3. Requires regular
maintenance
(problem if too many
plants).
 Centralized
Treatment
System

1. Cover large area eg. city, district

2. Extensive sewerage system
3. Easy to operate and maintain
 Effluent quality meet regulations

Costs (capital, operation and maintenance)

Proximity to residential areas

Access to plants

Wind direction

Design Land availability for future expansion and upgrading

considerations
Topography

Soil characteristics, geological and hydrological conditions

Power supply

Access to receiving waters

Ultimate disposal of sludge

Safety of Sewage Treatment Plant

1. Protection of operator and public

2. Fencing
3. Handrails
4. Warning sign
5. First aid equipment
6. ‘No Smoking” sign
7. Protective clothing and
equipment
8. Portable lighting equipment
 1. The total quantity of sewage generated per day is
estimated as product of forecasted population at the end of
design period considering per capita sewage generation
Discharge and appropriate peak factor.
of Sanitary
Sewage 2. Per capita sewage generation = 75 - 80% of the per capita
water supplied per day.

3.  in population =  in per capita water demand =  in per

capita production of sewage.
 Evaluation of Sewage Discharge
1. Correct estimation of sewage discharge is necessary; otherwise sewers may
prove inadequate resulting in overflow or may prove too large in diameter, which may
make the system uneconomical and hydraulically inefficient.

2. Hence, before designing the sewerage system it is important to know the

discharge / quantity of the sewage, which will flow in it after completion of the
project and at the end of design period.

3. Apart from accounted water supplied by water authority that will be converted to
wastewater, following quantities are considered while estimating the sewage
quantity:
1. Addition due to unaccounted private water supplies
2. Addition due to infiltration
3. Subtraction due to water losses
4. Subtraction due to water not entering the sewerage system

Net quantity of sewage:

Accounted
quantity of Water not
Net quantity water Unaccounted
+ private water + Infiltration - Water losses - entering the
of sewage = supplied from sewerage
the water supplies
system
works
End of Chapter 4