Self-Cleansing Sewer Design Based on Sediment Transport Principles

The need for sewers to carry sediment has been recognized for many years. Traditionally, a minimum “self-cleansing” velocity was specified and, although this approach had been successful in many cases, it was appreciated that a minimum velocity—unrelated to the characteristics and concentration of the sediment or to other aspects of the hydraulic behavior of the sewer—could not properly represent the ability of sewer flows to transport sediments. During the 1980’s, sediment transport theory had been increasingly applied to the design of sewers, particularly in major interceptor sewer schemes. But, in the absence of any universally recognized guidance, the design methodologies and criteria adopted were developed on a project-by-project basis, building on the increasing experience and understanding of the subject of the designer. In recognition of this, a research project was initiated by the U.K.’s Construction Industry Research and Information Association to develop a new design methodology for sewers, which would take advantage of the available knowledge (mostly laboratory derived) on sediment mobility and the effects of sediment deposition on the hydraulic performance of sewers. This paper describes the main findings of the project and summarizes the recommended design guidance.     

Dimensionless Approach for the Design of Flushing Gates in Sewer Channels

The various hydraulic and environmental problems related to the accumulation of solids have recently drawn increasingly attention to deposits in the management of sewer systems. Among the mechanical and hydraulic devices used for deposit removal, hydraulic flushing gates have proved to be a cost-effective solution and have been adopted in several sewer networks. This paper reports the results of an investigation on the scouring performance of flushing waves produced by hydraulic flushing gates. A numerical model based on the De Saint Venant–Exner equations in dimensionless form was validated by using data derived from laboratory experiments and was then utilized in this investigation. Simulations were carried out considering various values of the dimensionless parameters involved in the analysis, in order to obtain indications for the design and positioning of flushing devices in sewer channels. The problem of optimal flushing frequency was also investigated.     

Removal of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Sanitary Gravity Sewer

Utilization of dissolved organic matter in a 1.5 km section of a sanitary gravity concrete sewer with an inner diameter of 450 mm constructed on a slope of 0.0075 was studied. Continuous measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, and flow rate were performed along the sewer. About 14% of the DOC was removed in an 18-min retention time. A slower flow rate in the sewer would favor higher DOC removal efficiency because it offers a longer retention time. Oxygen was not a limiting factor as the dissolved oxygen level was at least 1 mg∕L. Batch tests using raw sewage and either suspended solids or settled sediments yielded specific DOC rates of 1.3 mg and 2.6 mg DOC∕mg dry wt/day for the sewage phase and sediment phase, respectively. Adenosine triphosphate content analysis of the suspended solids and sediment samples confirmed that both contained substantial amounts of active biomass. In the 1.5-km sewer system, it is estimated that 39.13 kg of DOC can be stabilized∕day; the sewage phase contributes 40% while the sediment phase contributes 60%.     

Gate and Vacuum Flushing of Sewer Sediment: Laboratory Testing

The objective of this study was to test the performance of a traditional gate-flushing device and a newly designed vacuum-flushing device in removing sediment from combined sewers and CSO storage tanks. A laboratory hydraulic flume was used to simulate a reach of sewer or storage tank. The flushing device was fabricated and installed at upstream end of the flume. The removed sediment was collected at downstream end of the flume and weighed. The test results indicate that the weight of flushed sediment increases with increasing initial water depth in the flushing device; the weight of flushed sediment decreases with increasing initial water depth in the flume; the weight of flushed sediment only changes slightly with changing height of flushing device opening for water release and does not necessarily increase with increasing opening height. Water is held up by vacuum and is released upon dissipation of the vacuum in the vacuum-flushing device rather than through closing and opening of a mechanical gate in the gate-flushing device. The test results indicate that sediment removal efficiency of the vacuum-flushing device is practically the same as the gate-flushing device.     

Automated Sewer and Drainage Flushing Systems in Cambridge, Massachusetts

This paper summarizes the design of passive automatic flushing systems installed in the City of Cambridge’s storm and sanitary sewer system tributary to the Alewife Brook as part of a $75 million sewer separation program. Grit and debris deposition is severe in the existing combined sewers, storm drains, and sanitary trunk sewers due to the flat topography of the area. This condition is exacerbated by hydraulic constraints imposed on the system’s outlet by the Alewife Brook (shallow stream) and downstream sanitary siphons (again because of the Alewife Brook). The use of pumps to lift flows from sewers and drains to permit self-scouring velocities is prohibitively expensive. To overcome this problem, five automated flushing systems using quick opening (hydraulic operated) gates discharging collected stormwater were constructed in conjunction with downstream collector grit pits covering a distance of 1,604 m for storm drain pipes ranging from 1.4 m circular to 1.2 m by 1.8 m rectangular. New 450 and 600 mm sanitary trunk sewers, 561 m long, will be flushed daily by two flushing systems using spent filtrate water from Cambridge’s water treatment plant recently constructed nearby. The flushing systems are sized to achieve wave velocity of 1 m/s at the end of the flushing segment. The flush vault volumes range from 11 to 40?m3 for the storm drain systems and 6?m3 for the sanitary system. Construction was completed in May 2002 and functional testing of the flushing systems is in progress. Partial test results are reported.     

Estimation of Uncertainty in Long-Term Sewer Sediment Predictions Using a Response Database

Regulations require U.K. water companies to reduce the number of properties at risk of sewer flooding. One of the potential causes of sewer flooding is the presence of persistent sediment deposits in sewers, such deposits are a common problem in many combined sewers. Although the regulations are risk based, there is a gap in the current knowledge on how the risk assessment is affected by the uncertainty in sewer sediment transport prediction. This paper describes the development of a methodology for estimating uncertainty in sewer sediment deposit depth predictions using existing empirically calibrated sediment load equations and Monte Carlo simulations combined with a response database. This methodology has been used to estimate the range of uncertainty of in-pipe deposit build-up predictions for a U.K. combined sewer system that suffered persistent deposition problems.     

Modeling In-Sewer Deposit Erosion to Predict Sewer Flow Quality

High levels of suspended solids are typically observed during the initial part of storms. Field evidence suggests that these suspended solids derive from the erosion of in-sewer sediment beds accumulated during dry and previous wet weather periods. Suspended sediment transport rate models within existing sewer network modeling tools have utilized inappropriate transport rate relationships developed mainly in fluvial environments. A process model that can account for the erosion of fine-grained highly organic in-sewer sediment deposits has been formulated. Values of parameters describing the increase in deposit strength with depth are required. These values are obtained using a genetic algorithm based calibration routine that ensures model simulations of suspended sediment concentrations that correspond to field data collected in a discrete length of sewer in Paris under known hydraulic event conditions. These results demonstrate the applicability of this modeling approach in simulating the magnitude and temporal distribution of suspended in-sewer sediment eroded by time varying flow. Further work is developing techniques to enable the application of this type of model at the network level.     

Remarks on Camp’s Criterion for Self-Cleansing Storm Sewers

This study brings to the attention the difficulty imposed by the design on the development of a self cleansing storm sewer based on a general rule of minimum water velocity of 0.75 m/s under pipe full capacity and suggests the Camp’s criterion as an alternative. The key finding is the determination of the lower limit of flow strengths above which the Camp’s criterion can be applied to warrant the development of a more efficient storm sewer system. The lower limit is adjusted for storm sewers with loose or rigid boundary serving two transport conditions: to sustain equal sediment mobility on pipe invert instead of selective transport, and to avoid progressive deposition of finer grains due to low and reducing water flows.     

Prediction of Concerted Sediment Flushing

A proprietary one-dimensional numerical model was developed for predicting the amounts of sediment flushed and deposited in the reservoirs in series, the bed evolutions, and variations of the suspended solids concentrations along a river during the concerted sediment flushing events. The model consists of a flow movement module and sediment transport module in which the bed material load is taken as sediment mixture. The nonuniform property of the bed material load is modeled by the introduction of a mixing layer, transition layer, and deposition strata. The model was calibrated on the basis of the field data at Dashidaira and Unazuki reservoirs on the Kurobe River in Japan. The calculated results are in good agreement with the measurements. For the reservoirs out of Japan, the Ashida and Michiue bed load formula used in the model should be verified or replaced by other formulas.     

Closed-Conduit Bed-Form Initiation and Development

Nonintrusive measurement of closed-conduit erodible-bed development was undertaken for 12 experiments of ranges of flow strengths and sediment (solids) sizes. Analogous to open-channel flows, wavelets on the sediment bed of a closed-conduit are instigated by discontinuities in the bed, with wavelet lengths λ for laminar and turbulent open-channel and closed-conduit flows given by λ = 175d0.75, where λ and sediment size d are in millimeters. For closed-conduit flows, ripples, and dunes grow from these wavelets (at rates increasing with increasing flow strength, and utilizing the mechanisms of bed-form coalescence and throughpassing) to limiting lengths, heights, steepnesses, and bed friction factors that are approximately maintained or possibly decrease thereafter. Limitation of free-surface deformation results in increased rates of bed-wave development for closed-conduit flows in comparison to open-channel flows. Measured results indicate that equilibrium closed-conduit ripple and dune magnitudes can be predicted using relations derived for equivalent open-channel flows. The present findings are of particular relevance for understanding and modeling engineering activities ranging from dredging to transport of solids in stormwater and sewer systems, bed-form transport of solids in closed conduits influencing (potentially markedly) conduit conveyance, rate of solids transport, and system head losses for such flows.     

Modeling a Retention Treatment Basin for CSO

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) result in hazardous and unsightly contamination of receiving waters, particularly swimming areas. The removal of suspended solids and associated biological oxygen demand (BOD) can accelerate the recovery following a CSO event. This paper presents a numerical model to simulate the solids removal efficiency of a retention treatment basin (RTB) that utilizes polymers to improve the flocculation and settling rates for the suspended solids. The model includes settleable, nonsettleable, and floatable solids. The sludge is treated as a non-Newtonian fluid. Discrete, zone, and compression settling/floatation regimes are included. In-tank flocculation and a storage zone for sludge flushing are also included in the model. The model was calibrated and validated with data from a RTB pilot plant, and was applied to evaluate preliminary designs for a prototype RTB for the City of Windsor. The calibrated model showed that the optimum location of the target baffle was approximately 30% of the distance to the scum baffle. For design flows of 20?m/h and run durations of up to 2?h, it was found that the removal was insensitive to slopes from ?1 to ?3% and depths greater than 2.5?m (L/H = 10). The simulations indicate that 70 to 78% of solids removal can be achieved at surface overflow rates up to 25?m/h.     

Validation of Existing Bed Load Transport Formulas Using In-Sewer Sediment

Granular sediment in pipe inverts has been reported in a number of sewer systems in Europe. Given the range of flow conditions and particle characteristics of inorganic sewer sediments the mode of transport may normally be considered as bed load. Current commercial software for modeling the erosion and transport of sediments in sewer pipes still utilizes well-known, or modified versions of transport equations that were derived for transport of noncohesive sediment in alluvial streams. In this paper the performances of the equations of Ackers and White (originally developed for the transport of river sediments) and of May (derived from laboratory pipe experiments) are examined against two separate data sets. One set is from laboratory erosion experiments on sewer sediment obtained in Paris. A second data set has bed load transport rate measurements recorded in a sewer inlet pipe. The formulas were selected because of their widespread use in the prediction of in-sewer sediment transport both in commercial software and in the latest United Kingdom design guidance for new sewers. The results indicated that both the relationships performed poorly, even in such well-controlled conditions. These formulas have significant difficulties in predicting the erosion thresholds and fractional transport rates for non-uniformly sized in-sewer sediments. An empirical formula to adjust the threshold of motion for individual grain size fractions was developed which significantly improved predictions. Although such techniques have been used in gravel bed rivers, the threshold adjustment function for in-sewer deposits was significantly different from these previously published for fluvial gravels, indicating that a direct transfer of fluvial relationships to sewers may be inappropriate without further research.     

Computational and Experimental Study of Surcharged Flow at a 90° Combining Sewer Junction

Combining sewer junctions with a lateral inflow at 90° angle are commonly used in our sewer systems. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model based on Ansys CFX 10.0 was established to simulate fully surcharged flow at a 90° combining sewer junction. The model was carefully assessed by comparing its results with the measurements of detailed physical experiments. Good agreement was obtained between results of the computational model and of the laboratory experiments. The computational model was proved to be capable of simulating surcharged combining junction flow in the aspects of water depth, energy losses, velocity distributions, and turbulence. The verified CFD model was also used to investigate air entrainment and effects of the size of the junction chamber on the flow. Such CFD models can be used to optimize the design of sewer junctions and will also be useful in studying sediment transport at sewer junctions.     

Effect of Biofilm Formation on Roughness Coefficient and Solids Deposition in Small-Diameter PVC Sewer Pipes

The purpose of a sanitary sewer is to carry the peak discharge at the end of the design period, and to transport suspended materials under all flow conditions to prevent deposition of solids, and hence, sewer blockages. To accomplish the latter, the liquid must provide for sufficient shear stress to suspend and transport the particles along the sewer. Published design criteria for critical shear stress in sanitary sewers vary significantly. However, the effect of biological film development on the internal pipe surface has been neglected. Experiments conducted utilizing a pilot-scale sanitary sewer installed in the Hydraulics Laboratory at the University of New Orleans, La., provide evidence that the shear stress to move particles of a given size is independent of slope and pipe diameter, but does depend on the effect of biological film on increasing the roughness coefficient. This critical shear stress, to achieve self-cleansing in sanitary sewers, was found to be in the range of 1.1–1.4?N/m2, depending on the integrity of the biofilm. Based on this principle, a design procedure applicable to small-diameter PVC pipes with slopes between 0.1 and 0.5% was developed.     

European Research into Sewer Sediments and Associated Pollutants and Processes

Research investigating all aspects of solids in sewer systems has been underway in Europe for nearly two decades. Due to the early development of European sewer systems, originally as part of the industrialization process more than 100 years ago, urbanization has caused the original sewer networks to become overloaded and unable to function efficiently. Operational problems of interest include loss of ability to convey (designed) flows and the performance of “overflows” to relieve the high flows discharging directly into rivers and other watercourses. Research has characterized the nature of the solids getting into sewer systems, how they behave in terms of transport, and some of the main aspects of their effects. It has been possible to demonstrate that much of the pollutants found in suspension during storms, and likely to be discharged from overflows, originate from the predominantly organic “near bed solids” which accumulate in systems during dry weather. New ideas for the way in which the sediments are transported and the importance of the transformation processes, are leading toward the development of a unified and integrated understanding of the way in which sewer solids behave and the associated biochemical transformation processes.     

Erosion of Sediment Beds in Sewers: Model Development

The problems created by sediment deposits in combined sewer systems (sanitary and storm) are internationally recognized. The loss in conveyance due to these deposits contributes to hydraulic overloading, leading to flooding and premature operation of combined sewer overflows. The washout of sediments through combined sewer overflows into urban water courses during times of storm and the associated pollution caused by this phenomenon may be a factor affecting many urban ecosystems. Based on field observations, coupled with sampling and analysis of combined sewer sediment deposits, it has been found that in the invert of pipes there is often coarse, loose, granular, predominantly mineral material overlain by a mobile, fine-grained deposit. The erosion of the latter type of deposit is considered to be the source of the “first foul flush” of pollution, which is observed in many sewerage systems in response to storm events. This paper describes an experimental laboratory investigation of the erosion and subsequent suspended sediment transport of an in-pipe, fine-grained, organic, cohesive-like sediment deposit analogous to those found in sewers. The development of the laboratory system, the test program, the results of the study, and the development of a new approach to model the erosion and transport of cohesive-like sediments in pipes are described. Conclusions regarding the importance of the structure of the bed and its erosional behavior under a wide range of time-varying hydraulic conditions are presented.     

Settling Velocity Grading of Particle Bound PAHs: Case of Wet Weather Flows within Combined Sewer Systems

The elaboration, management, and design of the sedimentation devices require an improved knowledge not only on the suspended solids (SS) settling velocity but also on the distributions of these particulate pollutants by category of SS settling velocity. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of available data regarding the settling velocity grading of particle bound pollutants. As a consequence, this study investigating the settling velocity grading of particle bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wet weather flows within combined sewers was launched. The pursed objectives were to compare the SS and PAH settling velocity grading curves and hence to assess whether or not PAHs were associated with a specific settling velocity category. Investigations were carried out for three storms at two sampling sites within the Parisian combined sewer. Results indicate that most of PAHs seem to be preferentially associated with particles with a settling velocity >0.3?mm?s?1.     

Compatibility of Reservoir Sediment Flushing and River Protection

In this paper, we propose a system of numerical models for the compatibility assessment of reservoir sediment flushing and protection of downstream river environments. The model system is made up of two simulation models. The first model simulates soil erosion in watershed slopes and sediment transport in the tributary of the reservoir by means of a weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) method, which is conservative and fourth-order accurate in space and time. The second model simulates velocity and suspended solid concentration fields in the reservoirs. This model is based on the three-dimensional (3D) numerical integration of motion and concentration equations, expressed in contravariant form on a generalized boundary-conforming curvilinear coordinate system by using a conservative and higher-order accurate numerical scheme. The proposed system of models is applied to the Pieve di Cadore (Veneto, Italy) reservoir and to its catchment area. By comparing suspended solid concentrations that are discharged through the bottom outlets during flushing operations with suspended solid concentrations in the main river during natural flooding, we perform an assessment of the compatibility between sediment flushing and the protection of the river ecosystem downstream.     

Pilot Scale Demonstration of Cross-Flow Ceramic Membrane Microfiltration for Treatment of Combined and Sanitary Sewer Overflows

A pilot scale investigation was undertaken at the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) for approximately 12 months to evaluate the feasibility of using cross-flow microfiltration for the treatment of primary sewage effluent simulating combined and sanitary sewer overflows. Ceramic membranes of various pores sizes (0.05–1.4?μm) were tested to understand the impact of cross-flow velocity, transmembrane pressure, and feed suspended solids on permeate water quality and permeate flux rate. A 0.2?μm membrane operated with a 1.8?m/s cross-flow velocity, a transmembrane pressure below 2.1 bar and a backpulse frequency of 60 s showed the best performance among the conditions evaluated in this study. The 0.2?μm membrane consistently met water quality objectives for fecal coliforms, E Coli, enterococci, BOD5, and suspended solids independent of the feed concentration, suggesting that direct discharge to surface water may be feasible. Feed suspended solids concentration and temperature influenced membrane permeate flux. Membrane cleaning with alkaline sodium hypochlorite solution is recommended as the first step followed by nitric acid cleaning if needed.     

Bacteria Load Estimator Spreadsheet Tool for Modeling Spatial Escherichia coli Loads to an Urban Bayou

The model developed in this paper, the bacteria loading estimator spreadsheet tool (BLEST), was designed as an easy to use indicator bacteria model that can overcome the shortcomings of many of the simpler total maximum daily load (TMDL) modeling approaches by integrating spatial variation into load estimates. BLEST was applied to the Buffalo Bayou watershed in Houston, Texas and incorporated loading from point and nonpoint sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, sanitary sewer overflows, septic systems, storm sewer leaks, runoff, bed sediment resuspension, and direct deposition. The dry weather Escherichia coli load in Buffalo Bayou was estimated using BLEST to be 244 billion MPN/day and would require an overall 48% reduction to meet the contact recreation standard, while wet weather loads would need to be reduced by 99.7%. Dry weather loads were primarily caused by animal direct deposition, septic systems and discharges from storm sewers under dry weather conditions, while wet weather loads were mostly attributable to runoff and resuspension from sediment. Unlike most simple TMDL load allocation strategies, BLEST can be used to evaluate spatially variable load reduction strategies. For example, septic system load reductions implemented in less than 10% of the subwatersheds resulted in a decrease in bayou loading of more than 20%.