Wastewater collection is the collection and conveyance of wastewater from its source to the wastewater treatment plant or its place of disposal.  Three main means of conveyance are used gravity, pressure or vacuum.

Gravity wastewater collection

Gravity wastewater collection is the most commonly employed means.  Wastewater is allowed to drain, normally through pipes that slope downwards.  If this goes on for long distances deep sewers are required, called deep gravity sewers.  Often this is impractical, so lifting stations are used along the route to pump the sewage up again, following a sawtooth pattern.

Pressure wastewater collection

Pressurised sewers, also known as force mains are similar in implementation to water networks: the wastewater is pumped through pipes at elevated pressure.

Vacuum wastewater collection

Vacuum sewers employ vacuum to suck the wastewater through the pipes.  This normally follows a sawtooth pattern:  Wastewater accumulates at the bottom of each tooth until it fills the pipe, allowing the vacuum to build and suck it into the next tooth.

Please contact us if you need consultancy to help with your wastewater networks.