The difference between a drainage system and a sewage system translates into huge contrasts in terms of the level of comfort, safety and durability of properties when dealing with water in your property. These two systems possess distinct, critical functions and each of them requires some specific design and mode of use. This article compares and contrasts drainage and sewage systems basing on their advantages and disadvantages and urges the appropriate alternatives to be chosen. Our discussion involves sewer pipes repair, clog clearing and sewer lines installation and it includes the example of plumbing services as an example of high quality water solving practices.
What are drainage system?
A drainage system is to drain the water that is found on soil and tectonic surfaces. Drainage is an issue of concern when high water levels exist in soil, when the soil constantly becomes wet when it does not allow water passage easily.
The principal elements of drainage:
- Drain pipes (with holes in it to carry water).
- Drainage wells/drainage ditch.
- Filtration layers (e.g. crushed stone or geotextiles).
The drainage systems may be surface (draining rain water) or deep (draining underground water). They are conducive since they can be easily erected and not very expensive as a fully equipped sewage system. Local plumbers, as an example, are available in a region where there is a lot of rain which in turn provides solutions to a proper drainage system.
What is sewage system?
Sewers are the wastewater removal facilities that work at a more advanced level of complexity with an aim to transfer the residential, commercial, industrial and rainfall water between a building site and a treatment facility or a septic pooling location.
The principal parts of the sewer system:
- In house pipes (up to the external system to the plumbing).
- The external sewer lines ( call Superior Plumbing )
- A sewer or a septic tank is required.
The sewerage is well suited to places of continuous consumption of water, where rainwater and domestic effluents, including kitchen or the bathroom kind have to be disposed off
Comparison: major differences
Purpose.
Drainage: gets rid of excess natural water.
Sewage: treats waste water among other household waste.
Hard to put in.
Irrigation is normally longer and more costly to establish.
Sewerage involves a more professional service like the installation of sewer lines and may be costly since it has to be connected to the sewerage or a septic tank installed.
Maintenance.
The drainage systems are less likely to be clogged and might require periodic maintenance in the form of silt or leaves cleaning.
There is greater chance to have clothing in the sewer lines (clog removal) and damage of the pipes might involve sewer pipe repair also.
Environmental friendliness.
Drainage reintroduces the water back to the water bodies or the soil which is natural.
Sewage must be treated in order not to pollute the environment.
Pros and cons
Drainage system:
advantages: Easy to install, cheap, floodproof.
Disadvantages: This cannot be used on domestic wastewater and it is rather limited in its operation.
Sewage system:
Advantages: Flexibility, capability to receive all kinds of wastewater, inhabitability with your permanent residence.
Disadvantages: They are expensive, repairing is not easy (Sewer pipe repair), require frequent maintenance.
What to select?
Whether to use drainage or sewerage depends with your need and budget. Some suggestions are the following:
- A house-less plot (garden, vegetable garden). The drainage system is the most suitable in case you use the land to cultivate the flora or in leisure activities. It will be resistant to over-wet conditions and it will not be necessary to install it complicatedly. In smaller areas surface drainage can be done through ditches or pipes.
- A plumbing residential building must have the sewage system. A sewage system is needed in a house that has a kitchen, a bath room and a toilet. Its absence would make the disposal of domestic wastewater extremely unsafe and very unhygienic. It will require installing sewer lines and ought to call on the sewer line installations at any time. In case of complications it will require the assistance of clog removal or sewer line repair.
- An integrated method. Both systems can be combined with the house on large plots of land: wastewater system (sewage) and rainwater system (drainage).
Tips on care Practical care tips
To drain: Check the pipes frequently to ensure that there is no clogging of the pipes particularly during heavy rains. Put nets over catchments to exclude debris. In the case of sewage: Do not pour grease and exceptionally large waste in the drain, and above all, there should be occasional calls to the specialists to get rid of clogs trying to prevent them. In case of old system, the sewer pipe repair can work when the system wears over.
Conclusion
Which one is good drainage or sewage? In case you intend to avert floods at the site, drainage system will be a very simple and cost effective method. Nevertheless, full-fledged house with domestic needs demands sewage which costs more investments and cares about the necessity of sewer pipe repair or clearing of the clog, etc. It may be best to mix the systems so as to be fully effective especially when you have rugged terrain or climatic conditions in your site. Evaluate what you actually need, talk with the specialists and your land will never be in a bad condition!