SEWER VENTILATION

ALAN ANTONY I Semester MTech Environmental Engineering VNIT

INTRODUCTION

Sewers are to be properly ventilated. It is essential for the benefit of their contents , for the security of its construction , for the long life of the sewer materials, for the safety of sewer maintenance crew and the public. Different methods of sewer ventilation includes Providing manholes with gratings, providing ventilation columns.. etc.

WHY SEWER VENTILATION.???

To maintain continuous flow. Ventilation relieves air pressure above or below atmospheric caused due to sudden rise or fall of sewage. Due to this, air locks will not be formed and continuous flow of sewage inside the sewer will be ensured.

Contd..
Proper disposal of sewer gases
Ventilation prevents accumulation of explosive, corrosive or poisonous gases and vapours. The sewer gases includes ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane (CH4), nitrogen, sulphureted hydrogen (H2S), petrol vapour etc. Methane gas being explosive, may even blow off the manhole covers, if it is not removed by proper ventilation. The gases also interfere with the natural flow of sewage.

Prevention of unpleasant odours.

Why sewer ventilation benefits sewer contents..?

Oxygen is essential for aerobic action and its maintenance. If sever is not properly ventilated oxygen gets depleted and anaerobic conditions will prevail. This will lead to odour formation. Treatment plant have to receive fresh sewage under aerobic condition.

INJURY TO SEWER STRUCTURE

The sewer contents are driven along a long tunnel, each mile the condition gets worse. In such a sewer there are chances to sewer materials get deteriorated which are no credit to the designer.

SAFETY TO SEWER MAINTANANCE CREW AND PUBLIC

In all sewers maintenance operations are at times necessary. For the safety of the workmen engaged therein ventilation of the sewers is the first and most important factor. Leakage from gas lines into sewer lines and also the gases from industrial wastes are new dangers. Accumulation of dangerous gases can lead to situations including explosions creating danger to the public.

METHODS OF VENTILATION
Man holes with gratings. The man hole covers are provided with perforations or gratings through which sewer gases escape. However this method cannot be adopted in residential locality since it will spread foul smell and will cause air pollution. It is adopted only in isolated localities. Another disadvantage of this method is that it permits road dust , large quantities of storm water and other debris.

CONTD
Ventilation columns and shafts Ventilation columns or shafts are provided at the upper end of every branch sewer and also at every change in size of sewers, apart from their regular placement at the interval of about 200 to 300m along the sewer lines. Ventilation column consists of a vertical shaft made by joining cast iron or steel pipe lengths. A foundation block is provided at the bottom end to keep it steady in the vertical position.

Contd
At the top, copper wire dome or cowl prevent blockage by nesting birds. Foul gases escape from the cowl. The internal diameter of the column is preferably kept one third the diameter of the sewer served by it. The joints of pipes forming the column should be air tight. The height of the shaft should be sufficient to effectively discharge the foul gases and to be clear of the flat roof of the nearby buildings.

PROPER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SEWER

Sewer should be so designed that they run half or two third full. The space above the flow level will provide ventilation. Also the flow velocity should be self-cleansing. This can be achieved by laying the sewers at proper gradients

PROPER HOUSE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

House vent and soil pipes may be used advantages to ventilate house drain and the lateral sewers into which they drain, particularly where interceptors are not provided on the sewers connecting houses and buildings.

Contd..
Unobstructed outlets
Unobstructed outlets provide partial ventilation to storm water drains and sewers.

Use of mechanical devices

Forced draft is provided by exhaust fans to expel out foul gases from sewers.

REFRENCES
Waste water engineering : B C PUNMIA Sewer Ventilation, Why and How? D. Donaldson Sewage Works Journal Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jan., 1932), pp. 108-113 Published by: Water Environment Federation

THANK YOU