When it comes to wastewater management, there are a few methods through which sewage is transported from properties to treatment facilities. The three most commonly used methods around the world are gravity, vacuum, and low-pressure sewer systems. Each of these has unique characteristics and advantages, but they also have various challenges that they need to overcome.
In this post, we’ll be covering all three systems, with a particular focus on low-pressure sewer systems, which are growing in popularity.
What are gravity sewer systems?
Gravity sewer systems rely on the natural downward flow of wastewater that is caused by gravity. These systems basically let gravity do the work when it comes to moving sewage through pipes. These pipes usually go from higher to lower elevations towards treatment plants. Due to the reliance on gravity, these sewer systems tend to be quite large and require deep excavation in order to build. Areas with challenging topography also make it difficult to install such sewer systems.
What are vacuum sewer systems?
Vacuum sewer systems make use of suction to transport sewage through pipes. Pumps create a vacuum seal within the pipes, and this pulls the wastewater from individual properties to a collection point and then a wastewater treatment plant. Since these systems don’t require gravity, they can be built in areas with flat terrain or high groundwater levels.
What are low-pressure sewer systems?
Low-pressure sewer systems use grinder pumps to macerate sewage. It’s then pumped through a small pipe into a central collection point before being treated. These systems are growing in popularity because they don’t rely on gravity, meaning they can be much more compact. This also means they can work in areas with flat terrain, steep slopes, or rocky landscapes, which are often challenging for regular wastewater treatment systems.
The benefits of low-pressure sewer systems
Low-pressure sewer systems are growing in popularity due to their many benefits when compared to traditional gravity-based sewer systems and even vacuum sewer systems.
For starters, flexibility and adaptability are the primary focus of low-pressure systems. This is because they’re suitable for a wide range of environments. Regardless of the terrain or population, low-pressure sewer systems can be customized to fit the needs of the population. This flexibility also means that they can be fitted and mixed with existing collection systems or expanded to facilitate new developments or changes in the landscape.
When compared to traditional gravity sewer systems and vacuum systems, low-pressure sewer systems are more cost-effective, especially in areas where a large network of pipes is required to move or pump wastewater. This is partially because low-pressure sewer systems utilize smaller diameter pipes, resulting in less material usage and overall installation costs. They can also be built at much shallower depths, meaning that less land has to be excavated in order to install a low-pressure sewer system.
With fewer parts overall and less susceptibility to terrain-related issues, low-pressure sewer systems offer more reliability while being lower maintenance. The grinder pumps require little upkeep, and the number of pipes is much smaller than other systems which results in less downtime and operational disruptions. In addition, each property has its own individual grinder pump that transports wastewater to the main sewer line. This means it’s easier to identify disruptions in the system, and they won’t cause problems for the entire neighborhood if they fail.
Another benefit is improved odor control which can be an issue in most wastewater systems. Traditional gravity-based sewer systems tend to become a source of gas generation and bad odors, especially if any wastewater becomes clogged. Low-pressure sewers are far less likely to produce odors due to the short amount of time the wastewater spends in the pipes and the sealed nature of the systems.
Finally, low-pressure sewer systems are more eco-conscious than other sewer systems. This is because they minimize disruption to natural landscapes when they’re installed, and they can accommodate future growth and technological advancements in wastewater treatment.
Choose the right sewer system with Muller
Gravity and vacuum sewer systems have been around for a really long time, serving many large populations and ensuring that wastewater can be transported and treated efficiently.
However, their expensive nature coupled with high maintenance costs calls for a modern alternative–and that’s where low-pressure sewer systems come in. Their ability to adapt to any terrain challenge and improved cost-effectiveness make them an efficient, resilient, and eco-friendly option for building future wastewater infrastructure.