Sanitary Sewers and Storm Water Management Systems

• Introduction to Sanitary Drainage Systems
• Components of Sanitary Sewage Design Flow
• Sewage Treatment Facilities
• Sanitary Sewage Pumping Stations
• Oil Water Separators
• Combined Sewer Overflows
• Introduction to Storm Drainage Systems
• Design Rainfall
• Minor and Major Systems
• Stormwater Management
• Sanitary and Storm Sewer Materials and Construction
• Methods of Construction
• Maintenance and Repairs
• Sewer System Evaluation Survey
• Report Preparation and Cost Analysis
• Methods of Repairing Sanitary and Storm Sewers
• Additional Resources

Introduction to Sanitary Drainage Systems

Most countries have regulations that apply to wastewater and stormwater discharges. In the United States federal regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Water Act apply to both wastewater and stormwater discharges to either sanitary or storm sewer systems, and to direct discharges to receiving water bodies such as rivers, lakes, bays, and the ocean. These regulations are implemented through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater permitting program. In Canada the federal regulations are managed by Environment Canada, Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations.

State, provincial and local regulatory agencies have the authority to promulgate additional wastewater and stormwater regulations as they see fit, as long as the regulations are not less stringent than the country/federal requirements. It is essential that each manager contact the local sanitary district or agency as well as the state/provincial water pollution permitting authority for comprehensive information on wastewater and stormwater regulations pertaining to his or her specific campus.

Federal wastewater regulations are broadly separated into two categories: those dealing with direct discharges and those dealing with indirect discharges. Direct discharges of sanitary sewage by campus-operated wastewater treatment plants into receiving water bodies are subject to effluent limitations and standards and must have national wastewater permits. Indirect discharges of campus sewage into sanitary sewer systems that are ultimately treated off site at local wastewater treatment plants are governed by pretreatment standards and often are regulated by industrial wastewater discharge permits issued to campuses by the publicly owned treatment works. Most campuses are regulated as indirect dischargers and are therefore governed by pretreatment regulations.

There is an increasing trend toward heightened regulation and enforcement of all wastewater and stormwater discharges, especially at the state, provincial and local level. Complex state, provincial and federal hazardous waste disposal regulations will continue to restrict wastewater disposal practices in the future. Compliance with current and future wastewater and stormwater regulations will require closer cooperation, coordination, and communication between campus environmental resources and facilities management personnel.