Infiltration and inflow
Infiltration/Inflow is water from unexpected sources flowing within sanitary sewers. Although inflow is technically different from infiltration, it may be difficult to determine which is causing dilution problems in inaccessible sewers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines the term infiltration/inflow as combined contributions from both.[1]
Background
Early combined sewers used surface runoff to dilute waste from toilets and carry it away from urban areas into natural waterways. Sewage treatment can remove some pollutants from toilet waste, but treatment becomes inefficient when the waste is diluted in combined sewers. Modern sanitary sewers are designed to transport domestic and industrial wastewater directly to treatment facilities without dilution.[2]
Infiltration
Groundwater entering sanitary sewers through defective pipe joints and broken pipes is called infiltration.[3] Pipes may leak because of careless installation; or they may be damaged after installation by differential ground movement, heavy vehicle traffic on roadways above the sewer, careless construction practices in nearby trenches, or degradation of the sewer pipe materials. In general, volume of leakage will increase over time. Infiltration will occur where local groundwater elevation is higher than the sewer pipe. In areas of low groundwater, sewage may exfiltrate into groundwater from a leaking sewer.[4]
Inflow
Water entering sanitary sewers from inappropriate connections is called inflow.[3] Typical sources include roof drains, cellar drains, and yard drains where urban features prevent surface runoff, and storm drains are not conveniently accessible or identifiable. Sources of inflow can sometimes be identified by smoke testing. Smoke is blown into the sewer during dry weather while observers watch for smoke emerging from yards, cellars, or roof gutters.[5]
Significance
Dilution of sewage increases costs of pumping, requires increased volumes of treatment chemicals, and generally decreases the efficiency of treatment (increases the mass of pollutants discharged) by producing larger volumes of treated sewage with similar pollutant concentrations. High rates of infiltration/inflow may make the sanitary sewer incapable of carrying sewage from the design service area. Sewage may back up into the lowest homes during wet weather, or street manholes may overflow.[5]
Correction
Smoke test results may not correlate well with flow volumes; although they can identify potential problem locations. Where sewage flow is expected to be relatively uniform, significance of infiltration and inflow may be estimated by comparison of sewage flow at the same point during wet and dry weather or at two sequential points within the sewer system. Small areas with large flow differences can be identified if the sewer system provides adequate measuring locations. It may be necessary to replace a section of sewer line if flow differences cannot be corrected by removing identified connections.[5]
References
- ^ 40CFR35.905 Accessed 2010-12-29
- ^ Steel, E.W. and McGhee, Terence J. Water Supply and Sewerage (1979) McGraw-Hill ISBN 0-07-060929-2 p.318
- ^ a b King, James J. The Environmental Dictionary (1995) John Wiley & Sons ISBN 0-471-11995-4 p.335
- ^ Metcalf & Eddy Wastewater Engineering (1972) McGraw-Hill pp.39-44
- ^ a b c Hammer, Mark J. Water and Waste-Water Technology (1975) John Wiley & Sons ISBN 0-471-34726-4 pp.303-304&441-442