Design and Construction of

Sewers
Sanitary Engineering
Syllabus
3.1 Design criteria of sewers
3.1.1 Specific gravity of wastewater
3.1 .2 Design period
3.1.3 Minimum and Maximum velocities, Self-cleansing velocity
3.1.4 Sewer size range
3.1.5 Sewer gradient
3.1.6 Hydraulic formulae for design - Manning's, Chezy's and Hazen Williams formulae
3.1 .7 Hydraulic elements of sewers for partial flow condition
3.1.8 Partial flow diagrams
Syllabus
3.2 Shapes of sewers - Circular and non-circular sections with merits and demerits

3.3 Sewer Materials

3.3.1 Requirements of sewer materials

3.3.2 Types of sewer materials - salt glazed stoneware, cement concrete, cast iron

3.4 Design of sewers of separate and combined systems

3.5 Numerical on design of sewers

Syllabus
3.6 Construction of sewers

3.6.1 Setting out

3.6.2 Alignment and gradient

3.6.3 Excavation of trench

3.6.4 Timbering of trench

3.6.5 Dewatering of trench

3.6.6 Laying and jointing

3.6.7 Testing of sewer - Straightness, Obstruction, Water and Air tests

3.6.8 Backfilling of trench

Introduction

● Sewage contains only 0.1% solids

● Design of sewers similar to design of water mains
● Solids contained maybe minerals, organic matter, sediments
● Two fundamental differences between design of sewers and
water mains
Difference 1
Presence of solid matter

● These solids settle at bottom and are dragged during sewage transport
● For sewers not to be clogged, they are laid at slope
● Slope chosen such that self cleansing velocity is obtained for all value of
discharges
● Inner surface of sewer must be resistant to abrasion
Difference 1
Pressure

● Water in water mains flow under pressure

● Hence, water can be carried easily to upper slopes
● Hydraulic gradient line is above the pipe surface
● But sewers have HGL coincides with the surface of flowing liquid
● Hence sewers need continuous downward gradient
Hydraulic Gradient Line
Design Criteria 1: Design Period
Maximum Velocity
Maximum Velocity
Minimum Velocity
Self Cleansing Velocity
Camp Shield Formula
Design Criterias
Specific gravity of sewage

Contains only 0.1% solids

So specific gravity is slightly greater than 1

Minimum Sewer Size

● Public sewers, minimum size is 15 cm

● Recommended size is 20 cm
● In hills, where slopes are good, 10 cm can be used
● Sewer standard pipe sizes: 20, 30, 35, 40 cm and up to 2m diameter
Sewer Grades
Hydraulic formula
Hydraulic Formulae
Sewers running full
R = D/4

Then find v using mannings formula, where n is manning’s roughness coefficient

Find Q as well.

What is the final formula for Q???

Partially full sewers
Velocity
Partial Flow Diagram
● Flow fluctuation occurs time to time and so most sewers are designed for
partial flow
● But calculations are tedious and time consuming
● Crimp and Berges developed a diagram to make this easy
● Helps in calculating hydraulic elements of sewers
● Shows variation of ratios of various hydraulic elements with d/D
Shapes of Sewer
Sewer Materials
Requirements
● Hydraulic efficiency: manning’s coefficient should be low as much as possible
● Abrasion resistance: caused by silt, sand, etc.
● Corrosion and chemical resistance: caused by acids, alkali, gases
● Structural strength: to resist compressive and tensile stress
● Light in weight
● Impervious
● Durable
● Easy to repair and maintain
● Cost effectiveness
● Impact resistance
● Environmental protection
Sewer Materials
Brick Sewer

● Used in old days

● Used for large sizes
● Now, replaced by concrete
● Externally plastered
● Internally lined
Cement Concrete Sewer (Hume Pipe)
● PCC: for low structural strength
● RCC: large diameter
● Moderate cost
● Easy to manufacture
● Easily available
● High str. Strength
● Durable (60 yrs)
● Low thermal expansion
● If sewage contain H2S, H2SO4 made and causes corrosion
● Its very heavy, so hard to transport and lay
Cast Iron pipe (CI pipe)
● Made of cast iron
● High str strength
● Dia 150 mm to 750 mm
● Length 3-3.5 m
● Long life

Disadvantages

● Brittle, so heavy
● Expensive, and reacts with acids
Other materials
1. Stoneware or Verified clay pipe
2. Asbestos cement pipe
3. Plastic pipe

Class divided to three groups and each group writes about them as homework.

Enlist pros and cons.

And ‘bout the materials as well.

Construction of Sewer
Setting out
● This is transferring points from drawing to the actual field
● Also positions of manholes, lamp hole, catch basin also transferred
● Center line is marked on ground by driving pegs at interval of 30m for straight
portion and 7-10m for curved portions of the alignment
● Two methods
Method 1
● Line parallel to the center line is marked on the ground which is called offset
line
● Marked at distance of 2-3 m or half the trench width + 0.6m
● Marked using driving pegs

Method 2

● 2 vertical posts driven into ground at nearly equal distance from center line
● A horizontal wood board is fixed between the posts at a convenient height
from ground
● This is useful for levelling the sewer line
Alignment and Gradient
● Dumpy level used
● First alignment is set
● Elevation of sewer bed level, of existing ground, trench, etc are marked
Excavation of trench
Laying and jointing of sewers
Testing of Sewers
Water Test
● Provide sufficient time to set joints before test
● Plug lower end of pipe, and fill water
● Read initial level of water
● Find water required to restore original level after some time
● Limit : 1 litre/ hr/ m of length
Air test
Straightness test
● Place a mirror at one end of sewer and lmp in the other
● If pipe is straight, fill circle of light can be observed
Obstruction test
● Insert a small ball (smooth too) of dia 13mm from upper end
● Let it roll down
● If no obstruction, the ball reached down end of sewer
Numericals