Interesting Facts about Sewers
How much do you know about sewers?
Not a lot, I reckon. In fact, the only people I know who are knowledgeable about sewers are plumbers. Unlike its actual content, the sewers have very interesting facts and content that you, as a home owner, may want to know about.
History
- It was King Minos of Crete that had the first ever flushing closet recorded in history and this was over 2800 years ago. This was the same King Minos in the Minotaur legend.
- Ancient Romans already had a sewage system running and they built latrines and outhouses over sources of running water and poured into the Tiber River.
- A toilet was discovered in the tomb of a Chinese King of the Western Han dynasty, dating back as far as 206 B.C.
Types of Sewers
- Combined sewers are made up of a single pipe system and carries both wastewater and freshwater to a wastewater treatment plant.
- Surface sewers or storm sewers carry rainwater from roofs, pavements and paved areas, and roads. These sewers often flow into the rivers or streams.
- Foul or sanitary sewers carry wastewater. Wastewater includes water coming from your toilet, kitchen sink, washing machine, and cooking.
Types of pipes
Sewers are usually made up of a huge network of pipes that are in charge of bringing in water from your home or office and straight into the system.
- An orangeburg is a bituminous pipe made up of asphalt and impregnated layers of wood pulp. These pipes are lightweight and very brittle but they’re good at absorbing moisture and they deform when under pressure.
- Steel sewage pipes work well against pressure and gravity. They are resistant to rusting and they are also quick to install.
- Bamboo pipes are made from actual bamboo and they’re found in some of the sewage systems in different parts of the world.
- Lead pipes are made from lead metal (99.97% lead) and they are flexible and resistant to rusting, but they are being phased out because of health risks.
