Why are These Structures Important in our Sewer System?

Sewer appurtenances are structures and devices that help with the efficiency and maintenance of the sewer system along the sewer line. They are an important part of the sewer system and its ability to function.

Luckily, there are several different types of these which makes it to our sewer system’s advantage for easy waste management. 

Let’s summarize each sewer appurtenance and why they are so important to our sewer system.

Types of Sewer Appurtenances

Inlets 

Inlets are something we all see everyday and they are everywhere! They catch the water that flows along the roads and streets when it rains. They allow the flow of the water to drop down in there and be carried by a pipeline to a nearby manhole. 

There are three types of inlets including: 

• Curb – You can find these built into the curbs along any road or street. Also known as vertical inlets, you will often find more of these in areas where there is heavier traffic flow. 
• Gutter – Also known as horizontal inlets, these are openings in the gutter which are covered by gratings. Storm water will flow through and should be capable of maintaining heavy traffic loads.
• Combination – These inlets are a combination of both. Most commonly, you will be able to see that the gutter inlet has placement in front of the curb inlet.

Clean-Outs

Clean-outs clean the sewer system. A clean-out is an inclined pipe, one side attaches to the underground sewer and then the other side comes up to the ground level. In order to “clean out” a clean-out, you remove the cover and then high-pressurized water pumps through to the sewer.

Catch Basins

A catch basin catches all heavy debris that travels through storm water. This is so it doesn’t carry into the sewer system. Catch basins do require some maintenance. They periodically need to be cleaned out because of decomposition of organic matter. This could potentially produce bad smells or become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Manholes

A manhole’s use is for inspection, testing, cleaning, and removing anything from the sewer system due to a clog. They are an advantage to sewers because they catch sewage from any sewer that comes in all different directions. The sewage that they are collecting can also be a sewer from any size. They are typically circular, square, or rectangular in shape. I bet you have seen one on almost any road or street. 

There are also drop manholes. A drop manhole is just a shaft in which sewage drops from a higher level to a lower level. It provides flow between the branch sewer system and the main sewer system and is typically used in different areas where the slope is steep. 

Lamp holes are small openings that have a vertical pipe or shaft extending from the surface of the ground to a sewer. Its purpose is basically the same as any other man hole. It detects any blockages, clogs, or breaks inside the sewer line. 

Grease and Oil Traps

Grease and oil traps are great for most restaurants. Essentially, anywhere that produces a lot of grease. You do not want all of the grease that you produce in the kitchen to be going straight down your drains and into the sewer. These are extremely necessary for any company that produces grease.

There are many reasons why grease and oil can not enter through the sewer system. One of the reasons is because it will stick to the sides of the sewer line and harden. This will cause clogs and blockages and lead to other things like bad odors, explosions in the sewer line, and biochemical reactions.

Flushing Devices

When sewers lay flat, it is not possible to be able to create enough velocity to clean out the sewer itself. This also goes for the dead ends of sewer lines because there is never really a large flow coming through.

Being able to flush the sewer system helps prevent different blockages forming and clogs from happening. There are two types of flushing devices, hand-operated ones and flushing tanks. 

Rain/Storm Water Overflow Devices & Regulators

The purpose of an overflow device is to ensure that excess flow of water will go into receiving waters like a stream, river, etc. This might not seem best because sewage isn’t sanitary. Because there is such an excess amount of water at that time, the water dilutes the sewage more than you might think. This makes it acceptable to use direct overflow devices into a different water outlet. 

Inverted Siphons 

Inverted siphons carry sewage or stormwater under highway cuts, streams, or other depressions in the ground. The difference in inverted siphons is that the liquids will completely fill the pipes and flow under pressure rather than open-channel gravity flow like most other sewer lines do. 

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, sewer appurtenances are everywhere. We just didn’t know it. Some of which you can see all the time, and some never, regardless they all play a part in how the sewer system works.

Understanding the importance of each one and the rolls that they all play in the operation of the sewer system can help you understand how that ties into the multiple different drains you have in your home, or even within your business. 

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help with any plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage service, anywhere in your home or business. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. 

We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.