How do you measure a sewer spill?

How do you measure a sewer spill?

If the spill is larger than 55 gallons, try to divide the standing water into barrels and then multiply by 55 gallons. This method is useful for contained spills up to approximately 200 gallons. This method can be useful on spills that occur on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt.

What does SSO mean in wastewater?

Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) are a release of untreated or partially treated sewage from a municipal sanitary sewer.

What is a sanitary sewer overflow and what risks are associated with it?

Occasionally, sanitary sewers will release raw sewage. These types of releases are called sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). SSOs can contaminate our waters, causing serious water quality problems, and back-up into homes, causing property damage and threatening public health.

What causes sewer to overflow?

Sewer back-ups and overflows are frequently caused by improper materials such as fats, oils and grease (FOG) being placed into the sewer system. Since fats, oils and grease are lighter than water; they tend to accumulate at the top and sides of sewer pipes and can build up until a blockage occurs.

Why do manholes overflow?

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) were developed as overflow valves to reduce the risk of sewage backing up during heavy rainfall. Overflows of diluted sewage during heavy rainfall are not a sign that the system is faulty.

What is an SSO event?

Sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) is a condition in which untreated sewage is discharged from a sanitary sewer into the environment prior to reaching sewage treatment facilities.

What is a combined sewage overflow?

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) contain untreated or partially treated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris as well as stormwater. They are a priority water pollution concern for the nearly 860 municipalities across the U.S. that have CSSs.

Are sewage leaks harmful?

Raw sewage can be a serious health hazard, even in small amounts. Sewage spills contain bacteria, viruses and parasites, and if not cleaned up quickly, and effectively, you’re exposing family or employees to serious illness and disease.

Can you drain rainwater into sewer?

Wastewater pipes should not be connected to the rainwater system. If the rainwater gutters and gullies are connected to the wastewater drain, rainwater could overwhelm the drain and cause flooding.