Sanitary Engineering/Unit-4: Sewer Appurtenances (only introduction): [4 Hours] September 9, 2017

Introduction
Sewer appurtenances are those structures of sewerage system which are constructed at
suitable interval and other locations along a sewer line, to assist in efficient operation and
maintenance of the system.
The important appurtenances of sewer are as follows:
1) Manholes
2) Drop manholes
3) Lamp holes
4) Street inlets
5) Catch basins
6) Flushing devices (Flushing tanks)
7) Inverted siphon
8) Grease and oil trap
9) Storm regulators
10) Ventilating shaft
11) Water closet
12) Trap
13) Clean outs
4.1. Necessity of sewer appurtenances
The sewer appurtenances are necessary due to following two reasons:
 Sewer appurtenances are necessary for proper functioning and maintenances of sewer.
 For cleaning of sewers when choked up and for periodic cleaning.
4.2. Construction of sewer appurtenances- (location, function and construction)
The location, function and
construction of all appurtenances
has been described as follows:
4.2.1. Manhole
 A masonry or RCC chamber
constructed along the sewer to
provide access for inspection,
testing, cleaning, and removal of
obstructions from the sewer line
is called manhole.
 It may be circular or square in
shape and has a suitable cover
(generally of CI) on the top.
Object of providing manhole
1) To provide manual excess for
inspection, cleaning, testing etc.
in sewer.
2) To allow joining of sewer lines
in case of changing in direction or at level or both. Fig-4.1 Manhole (Source: PN Modi, 2001)
3) To lay sewer in convenient length and
4) To achieve the ventilation of sewers.
Location of Manhole
It is generally provided directly over the centerline of the sewer and at every
bend, junctions, and every change of gradient, direction and size and at
other convenient locations.

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Spacing of manhole
Spacing of manhole depends upon size of sewer, bends and junctions, every variation of
size and gradient etc. but normal spacing with respect to dia. is shown in table 4.1 below:
Diameter (m) < 0.3 > 0.3 to 0.6 > 0.6 to 0.9 > 0.9 to 1.2 >1.2 to 1.5 > 1.5
Spacing (m) 45 75 90 120 250 300

Construction of manhole
A manhole has following
components:
(Refer figure 4.1) ⟹
a) Top cover and frame:
 Depth of frame is 20 to 25 cm
and width is 10 cm.
 The clear cover of opening
should be at least 50 cm.
 Weight of top cover with
frame = 90 to 270 kg
b) Access shaft:
 The upper portion of manhole
is called access shaft which
provides an access to the
working chamber.
 Its size is 0.6m x 0.75m for
rectangular and for circular
manhole its diameter is 0.6m
to 0.75m.

Figure – 4.1: Manhole ( Source: PN Modi, 2001)

c) Working chamber:
 It is the lower portion of manhole, which provides working space and should have
minimum 0.9 m x 1.20 m for rectangular and 1.2 m diameter for circular chamber
manhole.
d) Bottom or invert or benching:
 The bottom of the manhole is made of concrete bed of 150 to 300 mm thick and top slope
of 1:6 towards center and called benching which may be of semi-circular or U-shape.
e) Side walls with minimum thickness 22.5 cm (1 brick thick):
 The thumb rule to determine wall thickness is, t= 10 + 4d, where t = thickness of the wall
in cm and d = depth of manhole in meter.
f) Step or ladder:
 It is the CI or steel steps provided for all deep manholes and made of and placed 30 cm
apart vertically for up and down.

Classification of manhole
Manholes are classified based on depth as follows:
a) Shallow manhole:
 When the depth of manhole is 0.75 m to 0.90 m it is called shallow
manhole.
 It is constructed at the start of branch sewer with light CI cover and also
called inspection chamber.

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Sanitary Engineering/Unit-4: Sewer Appurtenances (only introduction): [4 Hours] September 9, 2017
b) Normal or medium manhole:
 When the depth is about 1.50 m it is called normal or medium manhole
 Its shape may be square (1m x 1m) or rectangular (0.80m x 1.20m) in section.
c) Deep manhole:
 When the depth of the manhole is greater than 1.50m it is called deep
manhole.
 Normally its size is larger at bottom and reduced at top.

4.2.2. Drop manhole

 Drop manholes is special type of manhole used to connect a branch sewer entering from
a high-level (0.50 to 0.6m above main sewer) to low-level main sewer.
 The main purpose of drop manhole is to avoid splashing of sewage on the man working in
manhole and on the masonry as well as for smooth fall of sewage.
 It may be inclined drop type or vertical drop type as shown in figure 4.2 but vertical drop
type is common nowadays.

Fig-4.2: Drop manholes (Source: Modi 2001)

Lamp holes:
 A lamp hole is a small opening provided on
sewers as shown below in figure 4.3 mainly to
permit the insertion of lamp into the sewer for the
purpose of inspection of sewer and detecting the
presence of any obstructions in the sewer from
two adjacent manholes upstream and
downstream.
 It is useful, if there is slight curve and change in
gradient of sewer and have limited space to
provide manhole in narrow lanes.
Fig-4.3: Lamp hole
(Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)

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4.2.3. Street inlets:

 Street inlets are the device or opening in the
street constructed to intercept the storm-water,
and surface wash along the street and to convey
it into the sewer by means of pipes of 25 to 30
cm diameter
(Refer to figure 4.4)
 These inlets are provided at road junctions and
even in intermediate points at 100 m to 130 m
spacing if road intersection is at more than 200
m lengths.
Fig-4.4: Street inlets ⟹
(Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)

a) Curb inlet:
 It consists of a vertical opening with CI or steel
bar gratings on (kerb).
 It is more suitable because it allows entering a
very less quantity of suspended matters.
So it is common (Refer to figure 4.5)
Fig-4.5: Curb inlet
b) Gutter inlet: (Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)
 It consists of a horizontal opening with CI or
steel bar gratings directly on the gutter to catch
large quantity of water.
 It allows entering a large quantity of suspended
matters than curb inlet (refer to figure 4.6).
 It is suitable for roads having steep slopes and
no problem of suspended matters.

Fig-4.6: Gutter inlet (Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)

c) Combined (Curb and Gutter) Inlet:
It is nothing but combination of curb and gutter inlet
(Refer to figure 4.7)
4.2.4. Catch basin or pit:
 It is a RCC or masonry chamber below the street
inlets to prevent the flow of grit, sand or debris to the
sewer is called catch basin or pit (Refer to figure 4.7).
 It has a depth of 600 mm to 750 mm; may be square,
rectangular or square of dimension 600 mm to 900
mm.
 After entering the water the sand, grit etc. settles down
in the pit and only water enters to the outlet pipe
because the outlet pipe is fixed about 60 cm above the
bottom with trap to prevent from out coming of odors. Fig-4.7: Catch pit with inlets
(Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)
 Catch pits needs periodic cleaning.
 They are provided if sewer gradient is very low and the drains are passing along the
water Bound Macadam roads or in market or in sandy area.

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4.2.5. Flushing device

 Sewers may get clogged due to entrance of
various undesirable external matters or due to the
settled suspended matters resulted from lack of
self-cleansing in flat gradient.
 Hence a flushing chamber or tank is used to store
the water to flush the clogged ewers is called
flushing tank.
 It is normally provided for combined and separate
sewer only and constructed at the head of the
sewer.
 It may be manually operated or automatic type.
 Nowadays automatic type is commonly used in
which flushing arrangement is done for regular
intervals normally twice or thrice in a day. Fig-4.8: Flushing tank (Source: PN Modi 2001)
 Automatic flushing tank consists of a masonry or concrete chamber provided with an
inlet, an overflow and one outlet with U-tube and bell to sewer (Refer to figure 4.8).
The timing in the tank is so adjusted that after reaching water in a certain level
in a tank all water in the tank flows by symphonic action. When water level is below the
sniff hole the water level in the U-tube is at level X-Y and after increment of water level
above sniff hole, the air entry in U-tube stops and compressed, which exerts pressure
on surface X.
 Further increment of water level in the increases pressure in surface X and water level
in long leg of U-tube decreases.
 A stage comes when water in the tank meets certain level, the air is released through
outlet and the water comes out with siphon action.
4.2.6. Inverted siphon:
 In areas having more depressions in the sewer line can be made above the ground
supported by piers but when sewer is crossed through roads, canals etc. lying at the
lower level than the sewer, it is depressed below them is called depressed sewers or
inverted siphon (Refer 4.9).
 A true siphon flows full with the flow line above the HGL and, therefore, flows under less
than atmospheric pressure but inverted siphon flows full with the flow line below the HGL
and, therefore, flows under greater than atmospheric pressure. So the inverted siphon
for sewage flow is also called depressed sewer.
 It consists of an inlet and outlet chamber with cover and three pipes of different sizes laid
in parallel to each other. When sewage flow is minimum central pipe of smaller diameter
pipe are used and for new flow an overflows to the other pipes within the inlet channel
and other pipes are activated.

Fig-4.9 Inverted siphon (Source: PN Modi 2001)

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Sewer outlet:

Fig-4.10: Sewer outlet

(Source: Hussain, 1998)

Sand, grease and oil trap:

Fig-4.11: Grease and oil trap

(Source: PN Modi 2010)

Figure - 4.11 Figure - 4.12

Fig-4.12: Sand grease and oil trap

(Source: PN Modi 2010)

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4.2.7. Ventilating shaft:

Figure 4.13

Fig-4.13: Ventilating shaft

(Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)

Fig-4.13: Ventilating shaft

(Source: Birdie & Birdie 2001)

4.2.8. Water closet

 Water Closet is a ceramic sanitary ware product which is used as a toilet for receiving
and discharging human excreta directly from the person using it.
 This appliance is connected to the soil pipe by means of a suitable trap.

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 Water closet are attached to a tank (6 to 10 liters capacity) for
flushing the waste.
 Tank can be ceramic made or plastic made. This kind of
toilets are more hygiene and easy to clean.
 The Toilet which are designed to sit is known as water
closets. All water closet must with stand a minimum of 400 kg
without breaking.
 Normally Sitting height of the water closet will be 400mm
(16 inches) from the ground.
Fig-4.14: Water closet
 This sitting height 400 mm is not going to be always same but it is a
standard height preferred when designing a water closet toilet.
 Mostly the plastic seat and cover are attached with the water closets.
 In the picture on right side you can see is the water closet set in a
restroom.

Three types of Water Closets are available In India and

Nepal:
1) Indian type (Asian type) water closet.
2) European type water closet.
3) Anglo-Indian type water closet.

1) Indian type (or Asian type) water closet:

 This is the classic type of toilet.
Such squatting pan is called in many name as Indian pan,
Orissa pan and also Asian pan toilet. Fig. 15: Indian type (Asian type)
or Squatting type Pan Toilet
 These squatting pans have several designs and varying design country to country.
 Squatting pans are normally used in Asian countries. Indian, Chinese & Japanese
squatting pan varies in design.
 These types of toilets are comparatively cheaper than other.
 The flushing cistern is normally kept 2 m above the closet.
 Indian type water closet requires greater quantity of water
(at least 10 liters for flushing.

2) European type water closet:

 This European or Western Water Closet (WC or EWC) are
designed to sit in toilet.
 This kind of toilets comes with seat & cover when flushing cover
need to be closed.
 Flush Tank may be plastic or ceramic one.
 But flushing tank and water closet may be of same material and in
attached form also.
 Small amount of water will be trapped inside the toilet itself by
water seal, normally this water seal height will be 50mm.
 The height of European water closets are around 500 to 550 mm.
 The weight of European Water Closets vary from 12 kg to 20 kg
according to the design.
Fig.-16: European Type WC

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3) Anglo-Indian type water closet:
 Anglo – Indian Type toilet is a combination of squatting pan
Indian and western water closet style toilets.
 You can squat or sit in this toilet as you like.
 These types of toilets are brought when people get confusion
about the type of toilet they want to go with the squatting or
western one.
 This toilet is also called as combination toilet and universal
toilet.
Fig.17: Anglo- Indian Type Water Closet⟹

4.2.9. Trap:
 In plumbing, a trap is a U-shaped pipe, S-shaped pipe, or J-shaped pipe located below or
within a plumbing fixture.
 Because of its shape, the trap retains a small amount of water (the depth of water seal is
about 25 mm to 75 mm) after the fixture's use. This water in the trap creates a seal that
prevents sewer gas from passing from the drain pipes back into the occupied space of the
building.
 Essentially all plumbing fixtures including sinks, bathtubs, and toilets must be equipped with
either an internal or external trap.
 Most traps can either be disassembled for cleaning or they provide some sort of cleanout
feature.

Causes of breaking of water seal in trap

Water seal in traps may break due to the following reason:
(i) Faulty joints
(ii) Crack in the bottom of seal
(iii) Creation of partial vacuum in the sewer fittings
(iv) Increase in the pressure sewer gasses, and
(v) No-use for a prolonged period.
Breaking of the water seal can be prevented by
(i) connecting the portion between the soil pipe and trap by a vent pipe, and
(ii) use of anti-siphonage pipe in the building.
Characteristics of traps
A trap should poses the following characteristics:
(i) It should possess (keeps) adequate water seal at all times.
(ii) It should be of non-absorbent material.
(iii) The inside surface of it should be free from obstructions.
(iv) It should be simple, easily available and cheap for construction.
(v) It should be self-cleansing.
(vi) It should be provided with suitable access for cleaning.
(vii)Its internal and external surfaces should have smooth finish so that dirt do not stick to it.

Classification of traps
Traps are classified as follows:
(a) Classification according to the shape (Fig. 4.18)
(i) P-Trap (refer Fig. 4.18 a)
(ii) Q-Trap or half S-trap (refer Fig.4.18 b)
(iii) S-Trap (refer Fig.4.18 c)
The development of all these traps has been shown in Fig.4.19 (d).

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Classification of traps according to the

shape
(i) P-Trap: This is similar to shape of letter P, in
which the legs are at right angle to each
other as shown in Fig. 4.18 (a).
(ii) Q-Trap or half S-trap: This is similar to
shape of letter Q, in which the two legs meet
at an angle other than right angle as shown
in Fig.4.18 (b).
(iii) S-Trap: This is similar to letter S, in which
both the legs are parallel to each other,
discharging in the same direction as shown
in Fig.4.18 (c).
The development of all these traps
has been shown in Fig.4.18 (d). (Fig. 4.18) Classification of traps according to the shape

(b) Classification of traps according to use

(i) Floor Trap
(ii) Gully -Trap
(iv) Intercepting Trap
(v) Anti-siphon Trap
(vi) Grease Trap

(i) Floor Trap (refer Fig. 4.19):

It is also known as a nahni trap which is used Fig. 4.19: Floor Trap or nahni trap
to collect water from floors, kitchens and bath rooms.
It forms the starting point of the sewage flow.
It is made of cast iron with a grating at top to exclude entry of coarse solid matters of big size.
This cover can be removed to do frequent cleaning of the trap.
These traps have small water seal. (Refer Fig. 4.19)

(ii) Gully -Trap (refer Fig.4.20): A gully trap is

provided at the junction of a drain carrying
sullage from baths, kitchen, wash basin, etc.
and the drains carrying rain water from roofs
and courtyard as well as room washings. As
shown in (Fig. 4.20) the foul sullage from
baths, kitchens, wash basins, etc. will enter
through the side inlet called back inlet, and
the unfoul room washings and rain water
from roofs and courtyards will enter from the
top. A gully trap may be made of either stone
ware or cast iron. Stone-ware gully traps are
of square section at the top on which cast iron
grating is fitted. A cast iron gully trap is
circular in section and it is also provided with
a grating at the top. A gully trap is provided
with a water seal of about 50 to 75 mm and it
may have either S-trap or P-trap.
Fig.4.20: Gully -Trap⟹

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(iii) Intercepting Trap (refer Fig. - 4.21 & Fig. - 4.22)

Fig. 4.21: Intercepting Trap

Fig. – 4.22. Intercepting chamber

(iii) Intercepting Trap (refer Fig. - 4.21 & Fig. - 4.22)

Fig. – 4.22)
Fig. – 4.22).

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(iii) Anti siphon Trap (refer Fig. – 4.23)

There are several types of Anti siphon traps in the market, which are also called “re-called
trap”. These traps avoid the connection to the vent pipe and reduce this expensive work.
One of the anti-siphon traps is “Grevak trap” which is most common has been shown in
Fig.
4.23. The construction of this trap is such that when water seal is subjected to the pull
due to siphonic action, the heavier atmospheric pressure on the inlet side presses the
water down and the air can pass from by-pass tube B as shown in Fig 4.23 (a) and the
water is stored in through C, when the pressure on both sides becomes equal, the water
stored in C, falls back in the tube an seals it as shown in Fig. 4.23 (b).

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(v) Grease Trap

Fig. - 4.24 Grease Trap

(Source: BC Punmia 2010)

Examples of traps

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