Construction

Methods
ECCOS1A

Semester 1 | 2022
 Drainage Materials

Topics we’ll be Drainage systems

Pipe Installations

Surface Drainage

Hydrological Study

Hydraulic Study

Drainage as a concept
Pipe sizing & testing

Sewer

Soak-Aways
Our Textbook

Familiarize yourself with it

and its contents.
 Learning

*Understand the importance and application of various drainage

systems.

*Identify the various drainage system components.

*Know and understand the testing methods on pipelines.

*Know and understand the design process of a typical drainage

system.

*Know the importance of applying good drainage practice.

 Drainage?

Drainage may be The conduits are used to convey:

described as a horizontal
structure involving
systems of conduits and
channels.
*storm water from roads and any
other paved facilities,
*waste water and sewerage from
buildings
*sanitary fittings to treatment or
storage areas
*Concrete pipes which is in reinforced concrete 25Mpa and size approximately 2.00m
in diameter x 2.00m long x 50mm thick.(Usually storm water)
*Vitrified Clay pipes of approximately 100mm internal diameter x 2.00m long x 10mm
thickness.(domestic waste water)
*Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) size minimum size starting from 40mm diameter x 6.00m
long. (Sewerage waste)
*Galvanised steel (low, medium and high grades or industrial) size minimum 12mm diameter to
150mm X 6.00 m long.(clean water)
*High Density Ethylene Pipes (HDEP) size vary from 25mm to 200mm x 6m (clean water).
*Cast iron pipes various sizes but usually 100mm diameter x 2m long (sewerage waste)
*Copper pipes varies sizes starting from 12mm diameter x 6m long (clean and hot water domestic
and for connections)
 • Foul waste water from buildings sanitary systems (flushing).
• Clean water transported under pressure and delivered to the buildings
• Sewerage waste from buildings transported to treatment plants.
• Storm water drainage systems from building roofs through gutters.
• Water transported for other services under very high pressure such for fire fighting
 • Delivery pipe conduits of different materials.
• Connection joints (Pipe fittings) serving different purposes
• Flow gravity system such as sewerage and storm water from manholes serve as pipe
jointing and inspection inlets.
• Water transported for other services under very high pressure such as for fire fighting are
connected by high pressure valves and are usually of high grade galvanised steel
 • Gravity the force or pull that moves things or pull objects towards the earths centre.
• Water table is the surface top of water- saturated part of the ground.
• Conduits are pipes or channels used to carry fluids.
• A reservoir is a natural or artificial lake for collecting and storing water for domestic or community
consumption.
• Dams are barriers of concrete or earth built across a river to create a body of water.
• Portable water is water fit for human consumption (drinkable water).
• Sewage means waste matter from domestic or industrial areas that is carried away sewer lines
or drains.
• Sewers are underground drains or pipes used to carry waste water (sewage) from domestic or
industrial areas
 • Sewerage is a system or arrangement of sewers,
• Jointing is a junction of two or more pipes.
• Invert level is the lower, inner surface of a drain line or sewer,
• Manholes are shafts with removable covers that lead down to sewers or drains through which a
person can enter. Manholes are often referred to as inspection chambers
• Bore refers to the diameter of a circular hole or pipe.
• Hydrological study is the study of the distribution, conservation and use of water in a given.
• Hydraulic study is concerned with liquids in motion and the pressures exerted in this motion.
• Nomogram is a graph consisting of three lines that are graded for different variables so that a
straight line intersecting all three gives the related values of these variables.
 • A Catchment area refers to the overall area (measured in square meters or kilometres) over
which the influence of rain over drainage will be experienced (e.g. the area that catches rain in
order to drain to a river).
• Storm duration is the length of time rain falls.
• Storm intensity measures the amount of water that falls when it rains in millimetres per given area
space.
 *Water test which involves filling the
drain with water under pressure and
observing if any water escapes.
*Smoke test in which smoke is pumped
into the pipes and the float on the
smoke machine is for any fall in
pressure.
*Air tests only give indicative values
required to be confirmed by water test
where otherwise a lot of water would
have to be used in the first place. If
failure is indicated by air test, the drain
should be re-tested using the more
reliable water test.
*Visual inspection - This test is
performed on pipes that are of large
enough diameters to allow a person to
crawl into them.
 • Specifications- Depending on the materials one chooses, the specification of the pipe material
and the pipe jointing. In case of vitrified clay it is according South African Bureau of Standards
:SABS 559 and SABS 974 respectively.
• Code of practice- This is in connection with installation of sewerage and non-pressure pipe lines
which is SABS 058 to guide the installation and inspection of pipelines.
• Pipe jointing-Jointing is a junction of two or more pipes. The jointing will depend on whether the
material is rigid or flexible. For example rigid joints are common to vitrified clay pipes, asbestos
pipes, cast iron pipes and steel water pipes. Because of the rigidity, it does not accommodate
ground movements, any expansions and used to be jointed through caulking.
 • The gradient of drainage pipes. Since most of the drains flow by the pull of gravity as a
guiding rule the drain pipes must be laid on the ground to a maximum of 1 in 6 and a
minimum of 1 in 60 and according to the requirements of each local authority. The invert
levels of subsequent manholes are use to calculate the gradient rate
• The trench excavations- The pipe excavations should be a minimum of 450mm deep if
shallower the pipe should be protected by encasing in concrete. The minimum width of
the excavation is pipe diameter+ 150mm on either sides of the pipe. The continuous depth
of the drain excavation will be is guided by the gradient of the pipe along the line
• Provision of access- There must be access for cleaning and un blocking, through provision
of manholes and inspection chambers. As a rough rule manholes and inspection
chambers should not exceed 25 meters apart. In additions drain pipes at every bend
should have cleaning or access eyes to serve the same purpose.
 • Shorter pipes of between 1.2m and 2.00m in case of rigid pipe materials are used and
then joined by flexible joints to accommodate movements in the ground
• Anchor blocks- There are usually made of mass concrete and of size 300 x 150 x 150 mm,
required for high pressure pipes at bends/corners to stop movement inside or above the
trenches.
• The relevant pipe has to be correctly laid on the ground: Scheduling, correct earth cover,
trench width, correct pipe bedding, shoring sides of deep excavations, keeping excavated
soils away, correct pipe alignment, use of granular material to level pipe, careful handle to
avoid pipe damage.
• Properly demarcate end of municipality work and beginning of and work for the private
contractor. So that connection points and discharge methods are determined
 • The materials for pipes to have good strength
• Pipes to have appropriate diameters for example ground pipes minimum 100mm
• Every part of drain to be accessible for cleaning and draining.
• Pipes to be laid in straight runs.
• Pipes to be laid with sufficient and good gradients.
• Inspection chambers should be placed at points of direction change,
• Inspection chambers should be placed at 12.5 m from drainage junction and not
exceeding 90m apart on a straight run.
• Drain junctions should be at an oblique to the direction of the flow.
• Avoid laying drains under building with out sufficient protection
• Drains of less than 1.00m next to the buildings must be bac filled with mass concrete.
• Drains should be at least 450mm deep in ground to minimise damage.
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ALL THE BEST FOR THIS SEMESTER!