Sanitary system

The sanitary installation is referred to as the network of pipes and fittings that
carry off wastes and each plumbing fixture is titled with the appropriate pipe and fitting.
The discharges are conveyed to the septic vault.

The pipes used for sanitary most common to homeowners and contractors are the
plastic pipe or Polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipes and the concrete pipe for area drain.

Overview

Wastewater is discharged by gravity through the disposal system. All pipes in this
system therefore must slant in a downward direction so the weight of the waste will
cause it to move down. Because of this gravity flow, waste lines are larger than water
lines. The stacks are the vertical lines while the branches are the horizontal lines. Vents
are also provided for air circulation and to permit sewer gases to escape thru the roof.
This equalizes the air pressure in the drainage system.
The wastewater flows starting at the fixture trap, which is provided to stop gases
from entering the building and each fixture has a separate trap or seal to prevent
backflow of sewer gas, through the fixture branches to the main sewer line.
Waste stacks carry only wastewater while solid wastes runs thru the soil lines,
which are the largest in the system and are flushed with water after each use.
Piping systems are vital to modern society. Some systems may be complex;
others may be simple such as in a residential dwelling unit. But they share some
common elements, whether they are steel, plastic, copper pipes or tubing.
Sanitary for residential dwelling are either wrought – iron pipes, Polyvinylchloride
(PVC) pipes and for drainage is either concrete pipe or PVC pipe. The more common
today is the unplasticized Polyvinylchloride (uPVC) pipe.

Polyvinyl pipe and fittings are available in commercial length of 3.0 meters and
also available in schedule 40 and 80. They are usually assembled with slip joint fittings
and solvent, both PVC and chlorinated Polyvinylchloride (cPVC) pipes are commonly
available in sizes ranging from ½’ to 4” inside diameter.

The Sewage Disposal System

Absence of a good sewage disposal system can result to contamination of water

and water-borne diseases. It is important to value a good disposal system.

Types of sewage disposal system

1. Cesspool – is a hole in the ground curbed with stones, bricks, concrete hollow
blocks, or other materials laid in such a manner as to allow raw contaminated
sewage to leach into the soil. The organic wastes accumulate and finally
disposed of by disintegration process.

2. Privy – is a concrete sealed vault with a wooden shelter constructed for the
collection of raw sewage. The disintegration of excrement is accomplished in the
same manner as in a cesspool. It is objectionable because of the danger of
contaminating the source of water supply.
 3. Septic Tank – is a device or receptacle used to expedite the decomposition of the
elements contained in a raw sewage waste. Raw sewage consists of water, and
settleable solid called organic materials that can be precipitated in a septic tank
in a very short time.

4. Public Sewer line – is a public sewage system operated and maintained by the
government consisting of sewage treatment plant that conveys the raw sewage
from buildings and houses to a disposal system.

Public Sewer Line Classification:

1. Public Sewer
2. Sanitary Sewer
3. Storm Drain

The sanitary system is of two types:

1. The intercepting or trunk line - is constructed with concrete pipes
2. The tributary or contributing sewer - is laid in an open trench and is made of
vitrified clay or bricks.
SAMPLE OF SANITARY SYSTEM IN A RESIDENTIAL UNIT

Water Lines Plumbing Elevation

 The Septic Tank
The septic system converts solid wastes into liquid by bacterial action, the
wastes flow into a septic tank some distance away from the house. The liquid waste
flows thru to the sewer line while the sludge remains at the digestion chamber of the
tank.
The septic tank is constructed with reinforced concrete, and it should be located
at a safe distance from the source of potable water, and it should also be airtight.
The size and type of the system varies according to the number of people
served, the contour and soil type.

Septic tank is a receptacle or vault used to collect organic waste discharged from the
house sewer. The main function of the septic tank is to liquefy and precipitate solid
waste purifying odorous materials.

Inlet Outlet
Inlet
Types of Sanitary Fittings used in plumbing System of Septic Vaults

SANITARY FITTING
 The Typical Detail of a Septic Tank

The Size of the Septic Tank

The septic tank should be constructed as to have enough room for accumulated
sludge.
Here are some of the suggested sizes.

NUMBERS OF INSIDE DIMENSION OF DIGESTION CHAMBER

PERSONS SERVED D- DEPTH W- WIDTH L - LENGTH
METERS METERS METERS
10 1.20 0.90 1.30
15 1.20 1.00 2.20
20 1.20 1.25 2.50
25 1.20 1.40 2.80
30 1.30 1.50 3.00
35 1.30 1.60 3.20
40 1.40 1.65 3.30
45 1.40 1.75 3.50
50 1.50 1.80 3.60
55 1.50 1.85 3.90
70 1.50 2.00 4.00
80 1.60 2.20 4.40
90 1.80 2.30 4.50
100 1.80 2.50 5.00
 Sizes of Septic Vault

Septic Tank Construction

Septic Tank can be constructed from either of the following materials
1. Reinforced concrete
2. Plastered concrete hollow blocks
3. Prefabricated asbestos
4. Thin metal & plastic

General conditions in constructing septic tank

1. The concrete or masonry septic tank is usually constructed in a rectangular form.
The reason is to retard the even flow of the waste, that is necessary to avoid
disturbing the decomposition process inside the tank
2. The minimum inside dimension of a septic tank is 90 centimeters wide by 150
centimeters long
3. For effective decomposition of the organic materials inside the septic tank, a 120
cm depth of the liquid content is necessary. The depth should not be deeper than
the natural water table.
4. The inlet and outlet inverts of the septic tank shall be long turn sanitary tee. The
inverts are installed in the wall of the tank atleast 120cm from its bottom floor
equally spaced from both sides
5. The inverts is extended down the liquid of the tank not more than 30cm.
6. The bottom of the digestion chamber should be sloped to one low point
7. The septic tank should be provided with a manhole.
8. The septic tank should be constructed near the surface of the ground, because
the correction of the waste depends upon the extent of oxidation and the
existence of anaerobic bacteria.

Location of Septic Tank

1. It may be closer may be located closer to the building, providing a min of 2.00m
distance from the outside 2wall
 2. As much as possible it should not be closer to doors & windows
3. It should atleast be located atleast 15 meters away from any source of water
supply. The farther the better.

Size of Septic Tank

1. 6 pax = minimum of 1.3 cu.m with min 90cmW x 150cmL x 120ccmD
2. For residential, 5-6 cu. ft tank volume / person
3. Technical Data in Determining Volume of Septic Tank

Min W = 90 cm
Min L = 150 cm
Min D = 120 cm

For residential buildings to serve larger number of people……. 0.14 to 0.17cu.m/person

For small residential house for up to 12 person, it should not be more than…. 2.0 cu.m.

For school, commercial and industrial establishments, the volume should not be less
than 0.057 cu.m but not more than 0.086 cu.m/person

Example:

Determine the volume and propose a size of a septic tank that would serve 200 people
in a commercial establishment.

1. Volume = 200 x 0.057 (min for commercial) = 11.4 cu.m

2. Assume 1.2m width of tank per 100 person.
200 person = 2 x 1.2 = 2.4 meters width
 3. If the max depth of a septic tank is 1.50m.
L x W x D = Volume
L = Volume / (W x D)
L = 11.40 / (2.4 x 1.5)
L= 3.20 m

4. The value of L is only for the length of the digestion chamber. Divide by 2 then
add the result to the value of the L to include the leaching well.

+L=

= 1.6 + 3.2
Total Length = 4.80 meters

Therefore, the size of a septic tank to serve 200 person is 2.4mW x 4.8mL x 1.5
mD
Name: Section/Schedule:
Directions: From the plan shown below, sketch the sanitary plumbing layout from the
fixtures to the septic vault. Label the drawing.

Requirements:
1 – Kitchen Sink
1 – Water Closet
1 – Floor Drain
1 – Septic Vault
1 – Lavatory
Draft a septic vault for 5 – 7 persons (show your computation)
Procedure:
1. Draw the outline of the septic vault with your pencil using light guidelines only. As
you draw the outline, draw also the thickness of the sides of the septic vault,
taking into consideration the thickness of CHB used for walls partitions.

2. Indicate also the location of the manhole and the manhole cover. After drawing
the outline re-checked your measurements, write down your dimensions and you
are ready to draw the reinforcing bars. You may draw your rebars covering the
whole area of the vault or you can have a portion of it only.

3. Draw the vertical and horizontal bars for the reinforcement of the septic vault.
The standard distances and size of the rebars are 12mm Ø for vertical bars and
10mmØ for horizontal bars. For the slabs on top of it would be 10mm Ø spaced
at 20cm on both ways of the slab.
 Draw only the portion you wish to show the detail of the reinforcements. Indicate
now the inlet valve, in the digestion chamber its position or location and its size,
together with the outlet valve.
4. From the plan you have already drawn, project dimensions downward and draw
a longitudinal section of your septic vault. Remember the thickness and
measurements of the plan should be the same as your section.
5. With the data on its depth you have gathered, layout the depth of the septic vault,
including its foundation and footing. Indicate the location of your inlet and outlet
valves which should have a distance from the bottom of the slab of about 30 cm.
for the air space and the water level.
6. Draw vertical and horizontal bars on the sides and on the footing.
7. Review the drawing, its dimensions and measurements. Finalize the drawing by
darkening the lines.