CHAPTER XII
MAINTENANCE OF SEWERS
198. Work Involved.—The principal effort in maintaining sewers is to keep them clean and unobstructed. A sewerage system, although buried, cannot be forgotten as it will not care for itself, but becoming clogged will force itself on the attention of the community. Besides the cleaning and repairing of sewers and the making of inspections for determining the necessity for this work, ordinances should be prepared and enforced for the purpose of protecting the sewers from abuse. Inspections to determine the amount of the depreciation of sewers with a view towards possible renewal, or to determine the capacity of a sewer in relation to the load imposed upon it are sometimes necessary. The valuation of the sewerage system as an item in the inventory of city property may be assigned to the engineer in charge of sewer maintenance.
The work involved in the inspection and cleaning of sewers in New York City for the year ending May, 1914, included the removal of 22,687 cubic yards of material from catch-basins, and 14,826 catch-basin cleanings. This made an average of two and one-half cleanings per catch-basin per year, or 1½ cubic yards removed at each cleaning. The 6,432 catch-basins were inspected 71,890 times. There were 4,112 cubic yards of material removed from 517 miles of sewers, or about 8 cubic yards per mile. Inspection of 194 miles of brick sewers were made, 4.4 miles were flushed, and 27 miles were cleaned. Inspections of 198 miles of pipe sewers were made, 80 miles were examined more closely, 37 miles were flushed, and 91 miles were cleaned. The field organization for this work consisted of 17 foremen, 8 assistant foremen, 29 laborers, 71 cleaners, 13 mechanics, 7 inspectors of construction, 3 inspectors of sewer connections, 13 horses and wagons, and 28 horses and carts.[[105]]
199. Causes of Troubles.—The complaints most frequently received about sewers are caused by clogging, breakage of pipes, and bad odors. Sewers become clogged by the deposition of sand and other detritus which results in the formation of pools in which organic matter deposits, aggravating the clogged condition of the sewers and causing the odors complained of. Grease is a prolific cause of trouble. It is discharged into the sewer in hot wastes, and becoming cooled, deposits in thick layers which may effectively block the sewer if not removed. It can be prevented from entering the sewers by the installation of grease traps as described in Chapter VI. The periodic cleaning of these traps is as important as their installation.
Tree roots are troublesome, particularly in small pipe sewers in residential districts. Roots of the North Carolina poplar, silver leaf poplar, willow, elm, and other trees will enter the sewer through minute holes and may fill the sewer barrel completely if not cut away in time. Fungus growths occasionally cause trouble in sewers by forming a network of tendrils that catches floating objects and builds a barricade across the sewer. Difficulties from fungus growths are not common, but constant attention must be given to the removal of grit, grease, and roots. Tarry deposits from gas-manufacturing plants are occasionally a cause of trouble, as they cement the detritus already deposited into a tough and gummy mass that clings tenaciously to the sewer.
Broken sewers are caused by excessive superimposed loads, undermining, and progressive deterioration. The changing character of a district may result in a change of street grade, an increase in the weight of traffic, or in the construction of other structures causing loads upon the sewer for which it was not designed. The presence of corrosive acids or gases may cause the deterioration of the material of the sewer.
200. Inspection.—The maintenance of a sewerage system is usually placed under the direction of a sewer department. In the organization of the work of this department no regular routine of inspection of all sewers need be followed ordinarily. Attention should be given regularly to those sewers that are known to give trouble, whereas the less troublesome sewers need not be inspected more frequently than once a year, preferably during the winter when labor is easier to obtain.
The routine inspection of sewers too small to enter is made by an examination at the manhole. If the water is running as freely at one manhole as at the next manhole above, it is assumed that the sewer between the manholes is clean and no further inspection need be given unless there is some other reason to suspect clogging between manholes. If the sewage is backed up in a manhole it indicates that there is an obstruction in the sewer below. If the sewage in a manhole is flowing sluggishly and is covered with scum it is an indication of clogging, slow velocity and septic action in the sewer. Sludge banks on the sloping bottom of the manhole or signs of sewage high upon the walls indicate an occasional flooding of the sewer due to inadequate capacity or clogging.
Fig. 140.—Inspecting Sewers with Reflected Sunlight.