Efficiency analysis of gravity and pressure sewage systems

The increase in the world population and urbanization greatly increases the importance of sewage systems. It is necessary to bring different approaches in order for wastewater collection systems to work more efficiently. Traditional gravity wastewater collection systems, which are the first of the traditionally applied gravity sewer systems and the pressure sewer systems, are the systems in which the wastewater collected from the houses or other sources by the force of gravity is transmitted to a certain discharge point or wastewater treatment plant through underground pipe systems. However, in cases where the topography of the area does not allow this, the wastewater of these regions cannot be collected without being pumped. In such cases, pressure sewer systems can operate more efficiently. In general, pressure sewerage systems are systems where wastewater is transmitted by pumps in rocky areas where excavation is difficult, where the slope is very low or where the flow cannot be achieved by gravity. The main element of the pressure sewage systems, the pumping stations can be designed differently according to the reservoir and pump types. Classic old-style pumping stations are reinforced concrete structures and can be arranged as wet or dry reservoirs. However, rapid developments in package pumping centers in recent years have greatly reduced the application of reinforced concrete pumping stations. Reinforced concrete pumping stations are less preferable than package pumping stations due to their higher cost, longer duration of construction and leakage problem. A region of the sewerage system in Idil district of Sirnak province is considered as the field of this study, which aims to analyze the gravity and pumped systems in terms of efficiency. This region was projected by solving it with both gravity and pumped sewer systems, and the initial investment costs were compared by making cost analyzes of both systems. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of these systems compared to each other in terms of ease of construction and application were evaluated in terms of efficiency. In the study, although the pressure system seems to be more economical in terms of initial investment cost and ease of construction, it was concluded that the preference of the gravity system would be more efficient in the study area, considering the future benefits and operating conditions of the systems compared.