INFLUENCE OF EXTRANEOUS WATER ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A COASTAL SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM
Keywords:
sanitary sewer system, infiltration, rainfall-derived inflow, extraneous water, hydraulic overloadAbstract
The presence of extraneous water contributions, such as groundwater infiltration and rainfall-derived inflow, poses a recurring challenge to sanitary sewer systems, compromising their efficiency and increasing operation and maintenance costs. This study evaluated the influence of these contributions in a coastal sewer system at Lagoa da Conceição, in Florianópolis/SC. Groundwater infiltration was estimated using the nighttime minimum flow method, while rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration (RDII) was determined by comparing pumped volumes under dry-weather conditions and during rainfall events, based on continuous monitoring of flow and precipitation. Results indicated infiltration coefficients ranging from 0.26 to 0.43 L/s·km. The estimated rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration led to pumped volume overloads ranging from 20% to 78% compared with dry-weather flows. Moreover, the inflow effects persisted for up to six days after rainfall events, evidencing long-term RDII response in the system. These findings reinforce that extraneous waters represent a substantial fraction of the volume conveyed during rainy periods, and that its quantification is essential to improve the planning, operation, and sustainability of sanitary sewer systems in coastal regions.
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