Wastewater Engineering

Design of Sewers: Examples

Dr. Sudipta Sarkar

 d 1
[1 cos ]
D 2 2
r 360 sin
[1 ]
/2 /2 D R 2
v 360 sin
2/3

1
d V 2
q sin 360 sin
2/3

1
Q 360 2 2

In all the above expressions, is the only variable, all other

parameters are constant. Thus at different values of , the above
proportional elements can be easily calculated
d/D a/A v/V q/Q
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
0.9 0.949 1.124 1.066
0.8 0.858 1.140 0.988
0.7 0.748 1.120 0.838
0.5 0.5 1.000 0.500
0.4 0.373 0.902 0.337

Capital Letters denote the situation

when the sewers run full

Maximum velocity is achieved

when the sewers are designed
to run at 80% of the full depth.
Designing Sewer Systems

Sewers are designed taking consideration of 30 years.

Population in the initial years of the design period are low compared to the
design population at the end of design period

Peak flow rate in the initial years is low compared to the designed peak
flow rate

Sizing should be such that it will attain the self-cleansing velocity at the
average flow rate or at least at the maximum flow rate at the beginning of the
design period
 1 2 / 3 1/ 2
v r s
n

a D 360 sin
r [1 ]
p 4 2

s
1000
v 360 sin
2/3
Velocity at partially full flow
1
Velocity at full flow V 2

For Partially-full flow v is not influenced by the diameter of the

pipe, rather is much influenced by the slope of the channel
 After finding the minimum slope required, the pipe size is decided on the basis
of ultimate design peak flow rate and the permissible depth of flow. Adoption
of the above slopes would ensure minimum flow velocity of 0.6 m/s

Minimum size for a public sewer is 150 mm diameter

Minimum size for a public sewer in hilly terrain is 100 mm diameter

What will be the diameter of the sewer designed with the following
conditions:
a) Population to be served is 100,000;
b) Water consumption= 180 lpcd
c) 80 % of supplied water appears as wastewater
d) Self-cleansing velocity to maintained in the sewer = 0.6 m/s;
e) Maximum velocity in the sewer 3 m/s;
f) Minimum size of the sewer = 150 mm;
g) Peak factor = 2.5
h) n=0.015

d/D a/A v/V q/Q

1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
0.9 0.949 1.124 1.066
0.8 0.858 1.140 0.988
0.7 0.748 1.120 0.838
0.5 0.5 1.000 0.500
0.4 0.373 0.902 0.337
STEP 1. Find out the average flowrate and maximum flow rate
Average Discharge or flowrate = 130,000 people * 130 lpcd * 0.8
= 0.156 cum/s

Peak Flowrate = 2.5* 0.156 cum/s = 0.391 cum/s = 391 L/s

STEP 2. Find out the optimum slope to be provided

Slope to be provided = s=1 in 1000 = 1/1000 = 0.001

STEP 3. Find out the size based on the maximum flowrate.

Find out D considering that there will be full flow.
2
D 1 2 / 3 1/ 2
Q = A.V A V R s
4 n
D 2
A D
R 4
P D 4
D
2/3
1D 2
Q A.V * * s1 / 2
4 n 4
 Q=0.391 m3/s S= 0.001 n =0.015

D
2/3
1 D 2
Q A.V * * * s1 / 2
4 n 4

D
2/3
D
2
1
* * * (0.001)1/ 2 0.391
4 0.015 4
D 8 / 3 0.595
D (0.595) 3 / 8 0.823 m Say, D = 800 mm

Q 0.391
V 0.778m / s >0.6 m/s (OK)
A * (0.8) 2

4
For a circular channel running under gravity,

Velocity is maximum when the depth of flow d = 0.8 D

At d/D = 0.8, v/V = 1.140

Hence, vmax = 1.140*0.778 m/s = 0.887m/s < 3 m/s (Maxm. Velocity allowable)
O.K.
At the average flowrate q,
q/Q =(1/2.5)=0.4

From the proportionality table, extrapolating, v/V = 0.96

Hence, v = 0.96* 0.778 m/s = 0.75 m/s >0.6 m/s O.K.