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DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS

BUILDING SERVICES II

GROUP 1
NO STUDENTS NAME REGISTRATION NO
1 BERNICE CHEGE EACR/09245P/2018
2 AINLEY ARUSEI EACR/01626/2018
3 YEGO KIPKIRUI MAXWELL EACR/01627/2018
4 DAVID WAWERU EACR/01608/2018
5 MUTEMBEI JASON EACR/01614/2018
6 EUTICHUS KARIENYE EACR/01613/2018

LECTURERS’ NAME
MR BENSON ONDUSO
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DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION
Drainage is the method of removing surface or sub-surface water from a given area. Drainage system
include all the piping within a private or public property that conveys sewage, rainwater and other liquid
waste to a point of disposal. The main objective of a drainage system is to collect and remove waste
matter systematically to maintain healthy conditions in a building. Drainage systems are designed to
dispose of wastewaters as quickly as possible and should prevent gases from sewers and septic tanks
from entering residential areas.

TYPES OF SEWER SYSTEMS

There are two types of sewer systems; a separate and a combined sewer system.

SEPARATE SEWER SYSTEMS

Separate sewer systems have two separate pipes. One pipe carries rainwater from storm drains to local
streams. Pollution and trash in rainwater flows to local streams with little or no treatment. A second
pipe carries sanitary sewage to the wastewater treatment facility.

This system minimizes the risk of flooded basements during extreme rainfall events for people living in
low-lying areas. Separation also means that sewage can be led away via a closed system to the
treatment plant instead of ending up in the environment, while rainwater can be led to detention basins
and watercourses.

This system is relatively expensive to install, particularly if the ground has poor drainage qualities and
soakaways can not be used. However, the benefit is reduced volume and treatment costs at the
processing plant.
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COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM

Combined sewer systems only have one pipe. Sanitary sewage from inside homes and businesses flushes
and drains to the pipe. When it rains, stormwater flows into the same pipe and mixes with raw sewage.
The system is economical to install, but the processing cost at the sewage treatment plant are high.

SUBSOIL DRAINAGE

A subsoil drain is a drainage system which is installed to expel excess water from the surrounding soil in
buildings. Ideally, buildings should be constructed with foundations above the subsoil water table. Where
this is unavoidable or it is considered necessary to generally control the groundwater, a subsoil drainage
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system is installed to permanently lower the natural water table. Various ground drainage systems are
available, the type selected will depend on site conditions.

The simplest is a French drain. It comprises a series of strategically located rubble-filled trenches
excavated to a fall and to a depth below highwater table. This is best undertaken after the summer, when
the water table is at its lowest. Flow can be directed to a ditch, stream or other convenient outfall. In time
the rubble will become silted up and need replacing. An improvement uses a polyethylene/polypropylene
filament fabric membrane to line the trench. This is permeable in one direction only and will also function
as a silt filter. This type of drain is often used at the side of highways with an open rubble surface. The
layout and spacing of subsoil drainage systems depends on the composition and drainage qualities of the
subsoil and the disposition of buildings.
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For construction sites the depth of drainage trench will be between 600 mm and 1.5 m. Shallower depths
may be used in agricultural situations and for draining surface water from playing fields. Installation of
pipes within the rubble drainage medium has the advantage of creating a permanent void to assist water
flow. Suitable pipes are produced in a variety of materials including clay (open jointed, porous or
perforated), concrete (porous (no-fine aggregate) or perforated) and uPVC (perforated). The pipe void can
be accessed for cleaning and the system may incorporate silt traps at appropriate intervals. Piped outlets
may connect to a surface water sewer with a reverse acting interceptor trap at the junction.

Note: The installation of subsoil drainage may be necessary under

the requirements of Building Regulation C3. The purpose of this is

prevent the• Porous clay, BS 1196.

• Profiled and slotted plastics, BS 4962.

• Perforated uPVC, BS 4660.

• Porous concrete. BS withdrawn no manufacturing interest.

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Silt and other suspended particles will eventually block the drain unless purpose-made traps are
strategically located for regular cleaning. Complete systems will require a pit which can be physically
accessed. This is an essential requirement if the drain is to connect to a public surface water sewer. In
order to protect flow conditions in the sewer, the local water authority may only permit connection via a
reverse acting interceptor trap. This item does not have the capacity to function as a silt trap.

passage of ground moisture into a building and the

possibility of damage to a building.

British Standard pipes commonly used for subsoil drainage:

• Perforated clay, BS EN 295-5.

• Porous clay, BS 1196.

• Profiled and slotted plastics, BS 4962.

• Perforated uPVC, BS 4660.

• Porous concrete. BS withdrawn no manufacturing interest.

Silt and other suspended particles will eventually block the drain unless purpose-made traps are
strategically located for regular cleaning. Complete systems will require a pit which can be physically
accessed. This is an essential requirement if the drain is to connect to a public surface water sewer. In
order to protect flow conditions in the sewer, the local water authority may only permit connection via a
reverse acting interceptor trap. This item does not have the capacity to function as a silt trap.

TESTS ON DRAINS
Drains must be tested before and after backfilling the trenches.

There are three tests; the air test, water test and smoke test. Usually, air test is carried out on all
pipework following installation. Water test is only required to verify a failed air test or to test
manholes or inspection chambers. Failure during an air test is not sufficient reason to condemn a
pipeline. If an air test indicates a leak in the system, a water test must be then undertaken to verify
and quantify the problem.

Prior to any test the pipeline should be visually inspected for any obvious signs of damage or
leakage. Mortar jointed systems should be left for at least 48 hours before initiating any test, to give
the mortar time to set.
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AIR TEST
The apparatus used to test drains include; stoppers, manometer (u-shaped), hand pump and a hose
pipe. Stoppers are placed in the open ends and branches of section of pipeline to be tested and
adjusted via the screw mechanism so that they expand within the bore of the pipe, effecting an air-
tight seal.

Air is pumped into the pipeline via a hand-pump with control valve, until the reading on the
manometer is 150mm. The set-up is then left for 5-10 minutes to allow for temperature to stabilize
before the pressure is reduced to 100mm on the manometer scale.

The manometer is then monitored for a period of 5 minutes; the level of the manometer should not
below
75mm mark during this period. This is deemed to be a ‘pass’ and the pipeline is declared satisfactory
and can be backfilled. However, if the level in the manometer does fall below the 75 mm mark, then
the equipment should be checked and cleaned and the pipeline examined for leaks of defects. The
pipeline should be re-tested after rectifications and if this fails for a second time, a water test should
be administered.
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WATER TEST

A water test is not as strict as an air test, but far more useful in identifying any leaks or bad joints that
are causing the pipeline to fail the test, and is usually preferred to an air test.

The water test is affected by stopping the lower part of the drain and filling the pipe run with water
from the upper end. This requires a purpose made test bend with an extension pipe to produce a
1.5m head of water. This should stand for 2 hours and if necessary, topped up to allow for limited
porosity.
For the next 30 mins, max leakage and 150mm pipes is 0.08litres per meter run respectively.

SMOKE TESTING
Although testing with smoke is not an official test of water tightness, it may be used to detect leakage.
The length of drain to be tested is sealed and smoke pumped into the pipes from the lower end. The
pipes should then be inspected for any trace of smoke. Smoke pellets may be used in the smoke
machine or with clay and concrete pipes they may be applied directly to the pipeline.
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SOAKAWAYS

A soakaway is a generic term often used to describe anything which takes the wastewater from a septic
tank or a sewage treatment plant. These two types of tanks do not operate in isolation, and they need
an outlet for the separated wastewater to pass into in order for the wastewater to pass safely into the
surrounding ground. This is typically either a drainage field, or some sort of soakaway arrangement.
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TYPES OF SOAKAWAY

1.DRAINAGE FIELD

A drainage field is a network of perforated or slotted pipework, running from the septic tank or sewage
treatment plant. It provides a form of treatment of the wastewater, by enabling it to percolate safely
through the subsoils without causing pollution.

2.BORE HOLE SOAKAWAY

A bore hole soakaway is typically a 6-inch diameter vertical perforated pipe and is generally used when a
percolation test reveals that the ground conditions at the property are not appropriate for a drainage
field. It is effectively a way of accessing more appropriate ground conditions at deeper level.

3.SOAKAWAY CHAMBER

A soakaway chamber is generally used when there is a lack of space available for a drainage field, but
the ground conditions are generally suitable for one. A trial excavation is required to confirm whether
the ground is suitable at the required depth for a soakaway chamber.

4.RUBBLE FILLED PIT

This is typically an excavation filled with rubble into which a solid pipe from the septic tank discharges. It
is an old style of a soakaway which may still be in existence, but which is no longer considered an
appropriate solution for a septic tank discharge.

CESSPOOLS AND SEPTIC TANKS

1.CESSPOOLS.

A cesspool is a shallow, underground system for disposing of sanitary waste. Although structures vary,
most cesspools consist of a concrete cylinder with open bottom and/or perforated sides. Sanitary
wastes from toilets, sinks, and washing machines enters the cesspool and percolates out. While cesspool
is designed to capture sanitary waste, they do not treat waste.
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2.SEPTIC TANK

A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete , fiberglass or plastic through which
domestic wastewater flows for basic treatment. Settlng and anaerobic processes reduce soilids and
organics, but the treatment efficiently is moderate.Effluent is infiltrated into the ground or transported
via a sewer to a centralised treatment plant. Accumulating feacal sludge needs to be dug out of the
chamber regurlaly and correctly dsposed of.

ADVANTAGES OF SEPTIC TANK

• Can be built and repaired with locally available materials.

• No real problems with flies or oduors if used correctly.
• No electrical energy is required.
• Little space required due to underground construction.
• Low operating cost.
• Long service life.

DISADVANTAGES

• High cost compared to dry composting toilets.

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• Constant and sufficient amounts of piped water required to bring the waste to the treatment
unit.
• Low reduction in pathogens, solid and organics.
• Regular desludging must be ensured.
• Only suitable for low-density housing in areas with low water table and not prone to flooding.
• Manual cleaning of the tank is highly hazardous and an inhumane task.
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REFERENCES

• Weinberg, B.J. (1980). Subsoil drainage

• Cotteral, J., & Norris, D.P. (1969). Septic tank systems. Journal of the Sanitary Engineering
• Marsalek, J., et al.” Urban drainage systems: design and operation.”
• Building Services Handbook Fred Hall & Roger Greeno (6thEDI