Most sewage is otherwise known as ‘wastewater’ and generally made up of 99% water and contains little or no solids. The word ‘sewage’ or ‘sewerage’ comes from the French word ‘assewer’ and that word derives from the Latin word ‘exaquare’ which means ‘to drain out’.
There are different categories of sewage, including commercial, industrial, sanitary, residential and agricultural. Most of the 99% of sewage that leaves the home is made up of non-solid food waste, laundry water, shower and bath water, toilet water, and other liquid waste. Because some human waste contains solids they can also be carried by the sewage system but are broken down en route to the treatment plant, usually by enzymes.
Sewage is one of the most common forms of disease carrying pathogens and can transit diseases to animals and humans if not contained correctly. This is why, during the floods of 2000 there was sewage pumps in Horsham, West Sussex, as well as many other towns and cities around the south. Water pumps and sewage pumps were a common site for many days after the floods because of the overflowing of some of the drains and local sewage systems. In order to prevent any disease from starting, the sewage had to be pumped out and straight away from anywhere it could cause contamination.
Collecting and Disposing of Sewage
From each homes there are systems of pipes that carry sewage away. The systems are an intricate network of pipes that travel underground and straight through to a treatment plant a couple of miles away at the most. Most homes in the UK are on the main sewage system for the local area. However, those that are not on the network may have their own cesspits or septic tanks to collect their own sewage. The cesspit has to cleaned every two years or so and treated with enzymes that break down the sludge.
Once the sewage reaches the treatment facility it is put through the ‘waste management’ system, separated and put through bio-filters. Grey water can be recycled and put back into the system straight away and use for things like non-drinking water. Other sewage is treated very differently but still treated and recycled for sending back out.
Arun Pumps Ltd specialise in servicing & installation of all types of water and sewage pump systems across the Horsham, UK. Visit them online!
