PLUMBING QUESTIONS:

Sewage Ejector Type of pump that discharges waste in the sump pit and transfers the waste to the house drain.

503 mm Minimum dimension of a septic tank manhole.

Industrial drain A drain that discharges objectionable waste such as acids and other chemicals from industrial
equipment.

75 mm Minimum diameter of pipe of any water closet.

3 Maximum number of water closets able to discharge into a shared 75mm diameter horizontal soil
branch.

Combination Type of sewer that discharges both storm water and sewage from households, rendered obsolete
Sewer due to the health hazards it poses.

Septic Tank Airtight receptacle used to expedite the decomposition of elements contained in raw sewage,
usually located 1.5 meters from the property line and 15.2 meters from the water main or any
potable water source. It is comprised of two chambers that contain anaerobic bacteria that break
down wastes.

Sedimentation Term defined as the settling down or separation of solid matter suspended in a liquid.

1% Minimum slope or grade (in %) permitted with 100mm (4'') pipes.

Scum Lighter organic solid particles found in sewage, cesspools and septic tanks, found floating on the
liquid.

Sludge Term defined as the organic particles that have settled down in septic tanks, cesspools or sewage.

900 mm Minimum WIDTH of a septic tank for residential dwellings. (mm)

1500 mm Minimum LENGTH of a septic tank for residential dwellings. (mm)

1200 mm Minimum DEPTH of a septic tank for residential dwellings. (mm)

Hair Leading cause of pipe clogs in waste and soil pipes.

Drainage, Waste Definition of DWV

and Vent

Acrylonitrile Definition of ABS

butadiene styrene

Oval Cross sectional shape of the interior of Polybutene pipes (PB)

38 mm Minimum size of cleanouts. (mm)

PLUMBING QUESTIONS:

Corporation Stop Type of valve found in the service main, used as a control of the water service and shut off valve
when service is disconnected.

Check Valve Type of valve used to prevent backflow or reversal of flow of water, usually found after the water
meter.

Union Patente Fitting used to describe the connection of the service pipe and water meter. Usually used as the
demarcation between the property of the water service and water supply pipe system residential
dwelling or building.

Booster Pump / Type of pump used to distribute water within a building or residence, when an upfeed system
Pneumatic Pump cannot provide adequate pressure to supply fixtures with potable water.

Durham System Type of piping system that is characterized by threading and connecting cast iron pipes in the
building.

Teflon Tape Material used to fuse joints or connections of GI pipes.

Caulking Process of joining the joints and connections of cast iron pipes.

Motor Oil Type of oil used when threading GI pipes.

Centrifugal Pump Type of pump used for high-rise or mid-rise buildings, when booster or piston pumps are
unavailable or inadequate.

Piston Pump Type of pump used for residential or low-rise buildings, and comes in single action, double action
or twin.

Drum Trap Type of trap that is installed only in bathtubs.

Flushometer Valve Type of flushing valve used in commercial water closets, usually installed with a pressure tank that
expels air pressure and a set amount of water when flushing.

14 Number of teeth per inch in a hacksaw blade used to cut GI pipes.

Looped Vent Type of vent used in an island counter type kitchen sink.

Trap Seal Maximum vertical depth of liquid that a trap can contain.

Sump Pit Type of detention pit usually found in basements, used to gather and discharge waste water,
sometimes with the help of a pump.

Standpipe Vertical pipe that is used for the storage of water, usually contains pressure and is used for fire
suppression.

Return Bend Type of pipe with a 180 degree bend.

PLUMBING QUESTIONS:

2 Water Supply Fixture unit of a bath tub.

2 Water Supply Fixture unit of a shower

38 mm Diameter of pipe used for bath tub drum traps.

38 mm Diameter of pipe used for wash basins / lavatories.

75 mm Diameter of pipe used for water closets.

50 mm Diameter of pipe used for floor drains.

Bleeder Type of connection found in a looped vent, connecting the looped vent pipe to the waste pipe.

50% Percentage required of liquid flow for a waste or soil pipe to have adequate drainage or
discharge.

Circuit Vent Type of vent that connects a battery of fixtures to a stack vent.

Privy A concrete sealed vault with a wooden shelter constructed for the collection of raw sewage.

Cesspool Hole in the ground curbed with stones, bricks, CHB or other materials to allow raw contaminated
sewage to leach into the ground.

Trap Seal Loss A common problem in traps due to inadequate ventilation.

Unit Vent Type of vent that is shared by two fixtures of the same type.

Solvent System Type of system used in plumbing that eliminates the vent stack, relying of downward pressure
and suction. The waste and sewage discharges form slug-like (bullet) pressings or pressure.

Volume/Flow rate Formula for detention time of a tank