Design Discussion of Wastewater Plumbing

Wastewater is simply used water. It includes substances such as human waste, food
scraps, oils, soaps, and chemicals. In homes, this includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs,
toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers. Businesses and industries also contribute their share
of used water that must be cleaned (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2018). The designers will
discuss the design of plumbing for wastewater at the University of the East SFC building
following the codes and standards for wastewater treatment.   

Black water

Black water is the wastewater from bathrooms and toilets that contains fecal matter and
urine. Water from kitchens and dishwashers are also considered black water due to the
contamination by pathogens and grease (Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
2013, Your Home, Australian Government, Canberra). It is also referred to as sewage or brown
water and can carry disease and bacteria, both of which could be harmful.

Black Water Treatment

Biological or chemical treatment and disinfection are required for treating black water.
There are several accredited treatment systems available for outdoor use.  

The common wastewater treatment and reuse system in some residential area is the aerated
system – which involves the following steps:

 wastewater solids settle;

 effluent is aerated to assist bacterial breakdown of organic matter, and;

 disinfection by chlorine pellets.

Pipe Design

Drainage piping must use Shedule 40 ABS DWV or 40 PVC DWV (PMEC Laws and
Codes 1502.1.2, 2012). It’s often the choice of plumbers for use in drain, waste, and vent piping
systems. You’ll also find that ABS pipe is frequently used in sewer systems for drainage and as
electrical insulation. DWV parts look very similar to standard white schedule 40 PVC pipe and
fittings. The only real difference is that DWV PVC is not made to handle pressurized uses like
schedule 40 parts are. Instead, DWV pipe and fittings are made to handle a different class of uses
– Drain, Waste, and Vent (PVCFittingsOnline, 2023).

Typical Black Water Drainage Piping System

 ABS and PVC vertical installations are not allowed for high buildings more than ten
stories. All vertical drainage shall be of cast iron (PMEC Laws and Codes, 2012). The SFC
building has four floors that enables the designers to use ABS and PVC materials.

FITTINGS

1502.2 Drainage fittings shall be of cast iron, malleable iron, ABS, PVC, and shall not
be installed underground and shall be kept at least 6 inches (152mm) above ground, and all
fittings shall be compatible with the type of pipe used.

1502.2.2 Threads of drainage fittings shall be tapped to allow one quarter (1/4) inch per
foot (20.9 mm/m) grade.

1502.2.3 drainage fittings shall be of the drainage type and shall have smooth interior
waterway, and manufactured to allow one fourth (1/4) inch per foot (20.9 mm/m) grade.

FIXTURES

1503.1 Fixture unit equivalent of plumbing fixtures shall be based on the size of the trap
required. Maximum trap loadings for sizes up to four inches (102mm) are as follows:

Table xx Fixture unit equivalent

 1504.1 Proposed fixture connections shall be provided with approved inlet fittings and
correctly located according to the size and type of fixture.

Table xx Drainage Fixture Unit Values (DFU)

CLEANOUTS

1519.1 Cleanouts shall be installed inside the building near the connection between the
building drain and the building sewer or shall be installed outside the building downstream of the
building drain

1519.4 All cleanouts shall be installed to allow cleaning in the direction of flow of the
soil or waste or at right angles except in the case of wye branch and end of line cleanouts, it shall
be installed vertically above the flow line of the pipe.

1519.5 Cleanouts installed under concrete or asphalt paving shall be accessible through
yard boxes.

Table xx Cleanout Sizing