Combined & Separate

Sewage Systems
KHAIRYLLE S. JUAN; ELECTIVE 3 REPORT
 DEFINITIONS

Combined Sewage Systems are systems that are designed to

collect storm water runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial
wastewater in the same pipe and bring it to the treatment
facilities.

Separate Sewage Systems are systems that are designed to collect

storm water runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in
different respective pipes and bring it to the treatment facilities.
Combined sewerage carries both surface run-off and wastewater,
while Separate sewerage carries surface run-off and wastewater separately.
COMPARISON
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
SEPARATE SYSTEMS
Advantages
Surface run-off, greywater and blackwater can
be managed separately (no contamination of
surface run-off by sewage)
Limited or no risk of sewage overflow
Low health risk
Surface run-off and rainwater can be reused
(e.g. for landscaping or agriculture) after a
simplified treatment
Disadvantages
Difficult to construct in high-density areas, difficult and
costly to maintain
High capital costs, more expensive than combined
sewer system (two networks are necessary)
Unsuitability for self-help, requires skilled engineers
and operators
Need for pumping on flat ground
Higher risk of water pollution by accidents (e.g. oil,
chemicals, etc.)
COMBINED SYSTEMS Disadvantages

During rain events, when storm water enters the

Advantages
Easier to construct as compared to
A separate sewage system
sewers, the capacity of the sewer system may be
exceeded and the excess water could be discharged
directly to a waterbody (rivers, streams, estuaries, and
coastal waters).

Lower
Construction
costs
To address the mentioned disadvantages of the combined sewer overflows,
different ways exist for optimization:

•Storage tanks to hold overflow during storm event

•Green infrastructure to reduce stormwater flows into combined sewer system

•Expansion of waste treatment capacity

•Reduction of high concentrations in the mixed water drain through temporary

waste water retention