DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND PIPE

LAYING

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Understand different drainage systems and their
components
Be aware of the considerations in designing drainage
systems

Understand the setting out procedure for drains

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The piping network within a structure which conveys sewage, rainwater, or other wastes from
their point of origin to a point of disposal, such as a public sewer or a private treatment.
(McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction)

DEFINITIONS
Gray Water : Water from waste appliances (wash basin, sink,
showers)
Sewage : Water from soil appliances (WC, Urinals)
Foul water: Water from Sewage

WATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM

1.

Below ground disposal system

2.

Above ground disposal system

ABOVE GROUND SYSTEMS

1.

Combined System

2.

Separate System

3.

Partially Separate System

Figure: Combined System

Figure : Separate System

Figure : Partially Separate System

COMPONENTS OF ABOVE GROUND SYSTEMS

Appliances
Pipes
Traps

PIPES
Type

Function

Sizes

Waste Pipes

Carry waste water from

sinks

30mm- 50mm when

Horizontal; 50-75mm
when they have to join
as vertical down pipes

Soil Pipes

Carry Human Waste

100mm for WC and

down pipes

Vent Pipes (Ventilating

stack)

Main vertical pipe open

at both top and bottom;
(opening 1m above roof
level)

50mm if exclusively used

to vent; otherwise
100mm

TRAPS
Used to retain water seal to prevent the passage of foul air and
insects in to the buildings
Comes as an integral part of certain appliances (WC) or should be
fitted separately
Self cleaning capability and efficient water sealing is important
during flow conditions as well as non flow status
For WC, floor traps 50mm trap should be maintained; only manual
flushing squatting pans are allowed to have 20mm flush
Traps may drain out by siphonage, momentum, evaporation

Siphonage losses can be prevented by ventilating, limiting the lengths

to the main pipe and having a sufficient radius at the connection to the
main pipe

Siphonage

Siphonage

TRAPS
Traps integrated to appliances P,Q or S types
especially in WCs
Floor traps Meant for waster water flows at floor level
may come with a grating on top

Gully trap to prevent foul air and insect movements

from sewer
Intercepting trap preventing entry of sewer gas of
sewer drain in to the house; provided at the end of house
drain

TYPES OF WC

GENERAL LAYOUT

MANHOLES/ INSPECTION CHAMBERS

Manhole and inspection chamber are constructed
Junction, Change in gradient/levels
Change of drainage pipe size
Long pipeline
Change in drainage pipe direction
Invert level >1m : Manhole
Invert level < 1m : Inspection chamber
The Functions of manhole and inspection chamber
are to ease inspection, testing, cleaning and water
sampling works.
Manhole usually using brick or concrete with a
removable cover on top

Figure: Manhole Detail

A cross section of manholes at change of gradient.

Back drops

LOCATION OF MANHOLES AND

INSPECTION CHAMBERS
Maximum length from between the house fitting and IC should be 6m
Maximum distance between two manholes is 30m
IC up to 800mm depth should have 700mm*500mm internal dimensions
(700mm in the direction of flow)
IC up to 800mm 1m depth should have 1200mm*900mm internal
dimensions (800mm in the direction of flow)
Deeper manholes should have 1400mm circular chambers
All soil pipe connections after passing vertically down must be below the
ground level and shall be led by easy bend in to a manhole or to sewer
pipe
All waste pipes at ground level should have a floor trap or a gulley trap

DRAINPIPES
May be made of Cast iron, UPVC

Should have sufficient pipe sizes and slopes

1:40 or 1:50 for 100mm diameter
1:120 for larger pipes

SETTING OUT FOR DRAINS/ MANHOLES

Setting out includes
- marking the positions
- Establishing levels

- Controlling excavations
Gradient of the drain (fall/ horizontal length)
should be at least 1:60 if pipe diameter is
100mm or 1:120 if 150mm diameter

SETTING OUT PROCEDURE

1. Fix the man hole centers and thus the centerline of the pipe
trench using pegs (w.r.t traverse, grid or road center line)

Check the accuracy of the work based on

Distance between manholes(d1 d5 etc)
Orientation of each lines (x)
MH 5

BUILDING
MH2
MH1

d1

x
MH3

d4
MH4

SETTING OUT PROCEDURE

2. Set out off set pegs and profile stakes (only the pegs) at
suitable distance from manholes, drainage centres

3. Set out level pegs near each manholes

Set sight rails on profile stakes at correct level and mark the
height of traveler

DRAIN CONSTRUCTION
Bed
Firm ground trimmed properly for pipe sizes 100-150mm
Class B Granular bed: more than 150mm pipes requiring good seating to pipe barrel
Class A Concrete: for larger sewer pipes or those one poor ground
Drains adjacent to Buildings
If the drain bottom is below the foundation of the adjacent building the trench of
those should be concreted at least to the foundation level
Expansion joints should be done at concrete filling
If drain goes under a building try to avoid differential settlement
Laying of the drains
Gauge board od the boning rod could be used to lay the drain to correct levels

RODDING POINTS
If a block is discovered it could be cleaned by a rod inserted in to the
pipes.
Rodding could be done in IC or via Rodding points (shallow or deep)

Rodding point systems

INTERCEPTING CHAMBERS
In order to prevent sewer gasses entering from the
drainage system disconnecting or intercepting chambers
are introduced
In addition to rodding and inspection functions and
interceptor trap is introduced

VENTILATION
If foul air is accumulated and then released at once it
may cause a nuisance or pose a health danger
Ventilation could be by and inlet at the lover end of drain
(probable at intercepting chamber) or outlet at the top

Inlet ventilation system is not frequently practiced now

TESTING OF DRAINS
Hydraulic test : Fill with water and observe water levels
to judge leakages
Smoke test: Cap the upper end and smoke of burning
cotton inserted at lower end. Escaping smoke will indicate
defects
Ball test: push a ball between sections to identify
defective construction or improper alignment

SOAKAGE PITS
To infiltrate rain water or waste water into ground or disposal of final
effluents from septic tanks

BELOW GROUND WATER DISPOSAL

All foul water from various sources should be grouped and disposed
through pipes below ground level
Preferably one of the peripheral walls would have a down pipe to
collect all foul water

SURFACE DRAINS
1.

Pre Cast V Drain

2.

Pre Cast U Drain

3.

RC Drain

4.

Cascading

Pre Cast u Drain

Pre Cast V Drain

R.C Drain
Cascading Drain

PRINCIPLES OF DRAIN CONSTRUCTION

Drains should be water right and air tight under all conditions all traps
must be self cleansing and adequately sealed

Drains must have a sound foundation lade with and adequate and
uniform gradient and in straight line between points
Adequate means of inspection and cleaning must be provided; ICs must
be constructed at the change of direction and in convenient positions to
receive maximum number of branches
A drain may be required to be disconnected from a sewer by
intercepting chamber
Adequate ventilation must be provided
Branch drains should be as short as possible, laid in straight lines to the
nearest IC
Bends must be slow and junctions should be oblique

PRINCIPLES OF DRAIN CONSTRUCTION

Rain water must be discharged in to Gullies

Ground floor sinks and other bathe waster pipes may be discharged
to gullies outside or connected to soil stack; building up to 3 stories
may have external soil stack but stack should be inside for building
beyond three stories
Ground floor WCs may be directly connected directly to drains
Unless avoidable no drains should pass under the building
Plumbing should ensure that traps remained sealed with water