There are two main types of sewer drains; open-ended and storm. The first type is the open-ended sewer drains. These are large pipes that transport sewage from homes to treatment facilities. The second type is the storm sewer. These are smaller pipes that are used during rain storms to collect excess rainwater and discharge it directly into nearby water bodies. In some cases, sewage and rain water mix together inside the open-ended sewer drains. This can lead to harmful bacteria growing inside the drains and spreading to homes through the plumbing system. This article will explain the different types of sewer drains and how they operate.

What is an open-ended sewer drain?

An open-ended sewer drain is a large pipe that transports sewage from homes to the treatment facility. The pipes are usually made of cast iron or ductile iron and can be up to 35 feet in length. The pipes are usually located underground and are subject to corrosion or damage from construction activities. Some of the most common construction activities that damage or break open-ended sewer drains include installing new utility lines, trenching for new water or sewer pipes, and back-filling the pipes after they’re damaged by these activities. When the pipes break, untreated sewage can flow directly into nearby water bodies. This can be especially problematic when the broken pipes are near a water treatment plant or a drinking water main. This can lead to contamination of the drinking water supply and a costly cleanup operation.

What is a storm sewer?

A storm sewer is a smaller pipe that is used during rain storms to collect excess rainwater and discharge it directly into nearby water bodies. These smaller pipes are usually made of cast iron or ductile iron and can be up to 6 feet in length. When there is more rainwater entering the sewer system than the sewage treatment plant can process, untreated sewage can enter the sewer system through the storm sewers. This can result in untreated sewage entering nearby water bodies. This can be especially problematic if the storm sewers are near a water treatment plant or a drinking water main. This can lead to contamination of the drinking water supply and a costly cleanup operation.

Co-Wash Basics: How storm sewers work during a rain event

When it rains, storm sewers are designed to divert excess water from homes to nearby water bodies. When it rains, the open-ended sewer drains inside the home and the storm sewer outside the home are both filled with rainwater. Once the rainwater levels rise to a certain point in the open-ended sewer drains, sewage will begin to flow into the storm sewers. The flow of sewage into the storm sewers is caused by the increased water pressure in the open-ended sewer drains. When the flow of sewage into the storm sewers reaches a certain level, the sewage will flow out of the storm sewers and into the water body. The flow of sewage into the storm sewers can be stopped by two things. The first thing is a device called a flow interceptor. The flow interceptor is a device that is installed inside the storm sewer. The flow interceptor is a large U-shaped device that slows the flow of sewage and prevents it from flowing into the water body. The second thing is a gate valve that is installed on the end of the storm sewer. The gate valve can be closed to prevent the flow of sewage into the storm sewer.

Co-Wash Basics: How open-ended sewer drains work during a rain event

When it rains, the open-ended sewer drains inside the home and the storm sewer outside the home are both filled with rainwater. Once the rainwater levels rise to a certain point in the open-ended sewer drains, sewage will begin to flow into the storm sewers. The flow of sewage into the storm sewers is caused by the increased water pressure in the open-ended sewer drains. When the flow of sewage into the storm sewers reaches a certain level, the sewage will flow out of the storm sewers and into the water body. The flow of sewage into the storm sewers can be stopped by two things. The first thing is a device called a flow interceptor. The flow interceptor is a device that is installed inside the storm sewer. The flow interceptor is a large U-shaped device that slows the flow of sewage and prevents it from flowing into the water body. The second thing is a gate valve that is installed on the end of the storm sewer. The gate valve can be closed to prevent the flow of sewage into the storm sewer.

Conclusion

The different types of sewer drains are designed to transport sewage from homes to treatment facilities and discharge it into water bodies. The open-ended sewer drains are large pipes that can sometimes become clogged by debris or broken-down appliances. When this happens, untreated sewage can flow directly into water bodies. The storm sewer is a smaller pipe that is used during rain storms to collect excess rainwater and discharge it directly into nearby water bodies. The storm sewer is designed to divert excess water from homes to nearby water bodies. When it rains, the open-ended sewer drains inside the home and the storm sewer outside the home are both filled with rainwater. Once the rainwater levels rise to a certain point in the open-ended sewer drains, sewage will begin to flow into the storm sewers. The flow of sewage into the storm sewers can be stopped by two things.

Frequently Asked Question

  • Loosen the cap on the drain pipe
  • Allow any sewer buildup to come out of the drain
  • Gently feed the auger cable into the main line drain
  • Run the auger until the clog is broken up
  • Hose out leftover debris
  • Pull the auger cable back out of the main line drain
A good general rule is to have your home's sewer lines cleaned out every 18 to 22 months. That may be difficult to remember, but think of it as a year and a half to slightly less than two years
Consider using a sewer jetter to clean and remove dirt, sand, and yard debris that clog the foundation perimeter drain tile outside your home. A sewer jetter that's powered by your pressure washer can help you flush away the silt and debris so fewer clogs come back.
Perimeter drains or weeping tiles can last for decades. If properly installed, you can expect to have a problem free basement for a very long time. Older clay weeping tiles tended to deteriorate, and become clogged with soil and tree roots, but even these systems lasted for many years.