Additional Pollutants and Deposition Potential from Garbage Disposers

Abstract

Abstract The objectives of this study were to (a) characterise the quantity and quality of crude sewage, as might be influenced by the use of domestic garbage disposers, and (b) examine the deposition potential of wastewater solids in gravitational sewerage systems. Ground particles of organic origin require relatively low self‐cleansing velocities, and therefore conform with the usual design recommendations of gravitational sewers, with no expected deposition problems. However, ‘heavy’particles which are characterised by specific densities exceeding 2 and with sizes >1 mm, might cause deposition and associated problems. Where sewers are manufactured from smooth material, calculations indicate that higher scouring velocities than those recommended in the literature are required. Minimising the size of ground material by regulating the particle‐size distribution produced by approved garbage disposers should mitigate the problem which is caused by deposition.