People and animals produce a lot of waste every day: urine and feces. In the Middle Ages, gutters ran through the streets of cities, where this waste was discharged. This was called an open sewer, the precursor to the sewers we've known in European cities since the 19th century. To dispose of our wastewater properly, more developed countries built a system of sewers. The first city to do so was London in 1859, with a length of 22.000 kilometers. Sewage must be processed quickly to prevent disease and damage. A sewer system is a system of pipes, manholes, and pumps installed underground in cities. It is designed to safely transport wastewater and rainwater.
Sewers are usually installed under the road due to the space and depth required. This means that the road must be dug up during construction, with all the associated costs and traffic disruption. When installing a new sewer, a trench is dug; if there isn't enough space, trench formwork or sheet piling is installed. Excavators, cranes, and lasers are used for the installation to precisely place pipes at a slope. These concrete sewer pipes weigh from a few hundred kilograms to many tons for larger pipes.
From concrete pipe to stoneware pipe and vice versa
The pipes in sewer systems can be made of concrete or stoneware, among other materials. The choice of material is closely related to the soil and the chemical composition of the wastewater. Due to its cost, concrete pipes are most commonly used. Stoneware, on the other hand, is more durable and lighter than concrete, has high chemical resistance, and is resistant to pH values from 0,5 to 13.
Installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining sewer pipes incurs indirect costs for the community, including lost time and income for businesses. To limit these costs and prevent time lost due to damage, there are various options, including training. SOMA Business Training can help; see the options below:
• (All-round) Civil Engineering professional (sewer worker and road worker)
• Working safely in sewers and confined spaces
• Concrete or stoneware pipe layer
• Masonry in sewers
• Maintenance, prevention and repair of sewer malfunctions
