Waste Water Terminolgy 101

Much like one language can have several dialects, in the drain world there can be more than one name for an object. However, to most people outside of our business it can become somewhat confusing...well have no fear, get ready for Waste Water Terminology 101!

Storm Drain aka Catch Basin:  

Designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems. They are fed by street gutters on most motorways, freeways and other busy roads, as well as towns in areas which experience heavy rainfall, flooding and coastal towns which experience regular storms.

Drain Fields:  

Are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the septic tank. A septic tank, the septic drain field, and the associated piping compose a complete septic system. The septic drain field is effective for disposal of organic materials readily catabolized by a microbial ecosystem. The drain field typically consists of an arrangement of trenches containing perforated pipes and porous material (often gravel) covered by a layer of soil to prevent animals and surface runoff from reaching the wastewater distributed within those trenches. Primary design considerations are hydraulic for the volume of wastewater requiring disposal and catabolic for the long-term biochemical oxygen demand of that wastewater.

Septic Tank:

 Is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations. Other components, typically mandated and/or restricted by local governments, optionally include pumps, alarms, sand filters, and clarified liquid effluent disposal means such as a septic drain field, ponds, etc.

Manhole:

Is the top opening to an underground utility vault used to house an access point for making connections or performing maintenance on underground and buried public utility and other services including sewers, telephone, electricity, storm drains and gas. Manholes are usually covered with tops. These are non permeable keeping water from entering the manhole. Very different from storm drains which are meant to allow water to pass through.


We hope this small tutorial has helped you become more familiar with the types of waste water tools you are likely so see on a rather frequent basis. Have one that needs looking at? Call us today!