Ch 04

Design and Construction of Sewers

Sewer Design Criteria
1. Determination of sanitary sewage and storm sewage for
suitable design period (25-30 years)
2. Select the type of sewerage system (separate or
combined)
3. Select shape and type of sewer (closed for sanitary
sewage and open drain for storm flow)
4. Sewer size should be at least 15 cm but recommended is
20 cm
5. Sewer gradient should be such that self-cleaning and non
scouring velocity is maintained. (minimum gradient 1:100
and maximum is 1:20)
6. Sewers are designed to flow 1/2 to 2/3 full at peak or
maximum discharge
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• Design period: Sewerage system is normally
designed for a design period of 25-30 years but it
depends on:
– Fund available
– Rate of interest
– Life of material
– Anticipated expansion of town
– Ease/difficulty in expansion

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 Self cleaning velocity
• Minimum velocity at which solids do not get deposited in the invert
of the sewer.
• May not have SCV whole day but should have at least once in a day.
• Design velocity of flow is normally 0.6-0.9 m/s
• Minimum velocity (SCV) is given by shield’s Formula

8k Where,
Vs  ( S  1) gd K= dimensionless constant,
f for inorganic solids = 0.04
for organic solids = 0.06
f = Darcy Weisbach friction factor
S = Specific gravity of sediments
= 1.2 for organic
= 2.65 for inorganic
g = gravity acceleration
d = diameter of grain, m
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 Non-scouring/ Limiting/Maximum Velocity

• Maximum velocity at which no scour or

abrasion of sewer takes place. The limiting or
non scouring velocity will depend upon the
materials of sewer.
Materials in sewer Limiting velocity (m/s)
Earthen channels 0.6-1.2

Brick lined 1.2-2.5

Cast iron 3.5-4.5

Cement concrete 2.5-3.0

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 Calculation of Velocity
A) Chezy’s Formula V  C RS
Where, C = Chezy’s constant
R = Hydraulic mean radius (depth)
S = slope or gradient of sewer
Value of C is given by:
Kutter’ formula: Bazin’s formula:
0.00155 1 157.6
23   C
C S N k
 0.0015  N 1.81 
1   23   R
 S  R
Where, N= Rugosity coefficient
K = Bazin’s constant

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B) Hazen William’s Formula
V  0.85CR 0.63
S 0.54

Where, C= Hazen William’s coefficient

C) Crimp and Bruge’s Formula
2 1
V  83.47R S 3 2

D) Manning’s Formula
1 2 3 12
V R S
N

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 Shape of Sewers
a. Circular
b. Rectangular
c. Semi-circular
d. Parabolic
e. U-shape
f. Horse shoe shape
g. Basket handle
h. Egg shaped
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 Circular Section
 Least perimeter for the given area (maximum hydraulic
mean depth hence hydraulically efficient section which gives higher
discharge)
 Less chance of deposition of organic matters
 Easy to construct, transport and handle
 Useful in separate systems
 Self cleaning velocity can not be maintained at DWF
conditions in combined system
Egg-Shaped
• Depth is 1.5 times of width
• Hydraulically efficient section than circular secton
• Self cleaning velocity is maintained even in DWF
• Difficult in construction and less stable

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 Sewer Material
• Brick
• Cement concrete
• Stone ware/ vitrified clay
• Cast iron
• Plastic pipes
Requirements for sewer
 Resistant to corrosion and abrasion
 Strong and durable
 Should be impervious
 Should have minimum possible weight
 Hydraulically efficient for given discharge
 Economic in construction and material itself

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 Vitrified clay/stone ware
• Manufactured from clay and shales of special
qualities and grades
• Inner surface is made smooth
• Cheap and resistant to corrosion and abrasion
• Bulky and heavy in weight
• Brittle in nature
• Weak in tension
• Highly impervious

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 Cast Iron Pipes
• Structurally stronger, long life but costlier
• Heavy and brittle
• Can withstand high internal and external
pressure and vibration
• Can bear tensile, bending and compressive
strength

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 PCC/RCC Pipes
• Widely used in sewerage system
• Non pressure type classified as NP2, NP3, NP4
• Joined by bell and spigot joints and collar joints
• PCC is used for upto 60 cm diameter
• Grade M20 is normally used
Merits
– strong enough to withstand external and internal pressure
– can be cast in site in required shape and size
– Economical for medium and large size
– Maintenance cost is low
– Can be laid under water
Demerits
– heavy to handle and transport
– May be affected by acids and alkali and salt water
– Most liable to crown corrosion

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 Crown Corrosion
Sulphate present in sewage are converted into
sulphide by bacteria and then to hydrogen sulphide
gas. Further bacterial action forms sulphuric acid
droplets at the crown. This makes crown uneven and
its thickness reduces with respect to time which is
called as crown corrosion.
 
SO4  org.matter   S
bacteria
 H 2O  CO2
S   2 H   H 2 S
H 2 S  2O2   H 2 SO4
bacteria

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 Method of Construction of Sewer
1. Setting out centre line
2. Alignment and gradient fixing
3. Excavation, timbering and dewatering of
trenches
4. Laying and jointing of sewers
5. Testing of sewer
6. Backfilling

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 1.0 Setting out centre line
• General practice to lay sewer line between manholes and
setting out from tail end or outfall and proceeding upwards
• Centre line can be marked on the ground by two methods
Method I:
• A offset line parallel to centre line is marked at a distance of
(1/2 trench width + 0.6m).
• Pegs are driven along this line at an interval of 7.5-15m
Method II
• Two vertical posts are driven into the ground at a known
distance from centre line peg and one horizontal rail known
as sight rail is fixed between these posts.
• Cord is driven between sight rails of consecutive posts.

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 2.0 Alignment and gradient fixing
• Sewers are laid to correct alignment and gradient with
the help of boning rods or sight rails or sometimes with
level.
• Modified levels of invert are first obtained by adding a
suitable vertical length to the invert levels marked on L-
section.
• These modified levels are marked on sight rails either
by fixing nails on sight rails or by adjusting the top of
sight rails to the modified invert levels of sewer lines.
Thus an imaginary line parallel to the proposed sewer
line is obtained on the ground
• The boning rod or traveler of same height is travelled
on the cord to obtain required gradient.

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 3.0 Excavation, timbering and
dewatering of trenches
• Minimum depth above sewer is 0.9m and
width is 0.6m
• When depth exceeds 1.5-2.0m, timbering
(support the side by sheeting and bracing) of
trench is necessary
• If high water table condition found during
excavation, dewatering should be adopted

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 4.0 Laying and Joining of Sewers
• Before placing the sewer pipe, the gradient of the
bottom of the trench should be checked
• Pipes are laid with their socket end faces at
upgradient.
• Jointing are properly done and filled with cement
mortar or bitumen.
• Normally collar or bell and spigot joints are used

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 5.0 Testing
Water Test
• 3 days after cement mortar joints
• Pipe lines are filled with water (plugging lower end and upper end
with provision of air outlet in upper end and a provision of funnel in
lower end
• Level of water is noted after 30 min
• The water loss should not be greater than 2l/cm diameter of pipe
per km length
Air Test
• When water is not available and size of pipe is larger, air testing is
necessary
• Plug the sewer at both ends
• From one end, air pressure equivalent to 100mm of water is given.
If the pressure is maintained at 75 mm of water, the joint is
assumed to be water tight.

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 6.0 Backfilling
• Immediately done after successful testing
• If beddings are provided, backfilling is done only after the
sufficient setting time
• Backfilling soil should be free from pebbles, stones etc
• Done in every 15 cm thickness, watered and evenly
rammed
• Should be about 60-90 cm above the crown and remain
left for one week.
• After one week, backfilling is completed and filled 15 cm
extra above the ground surface.

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