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Types of Mechanical Sewer Systems

There are five main types of mechanical sewer systems. Classification of these systems is determined by a number of factors, including the types of materials deposited in the system, the types of sewage storage devices involved, and the amount of distance between the sewage systems and protected areas such as lakes and wells.

  1. Class 1

    • Class 1 mechanical sewage systems include sewage systems designed for the reception of human body wastes. It includes various kinds of toilets and privies. Specifically, Class 1 sewage systems would include a chemical toilet, an incinerating toilet, a self-contained portable toilet, a recirculating toilet, a portable privy, an earth pit privy, a pail privy, a privy vault and a composting toilet system. These systems must remain 10 to 30 meters away from areas containing potential drinking water that may be contaminated.

    Class 2

    • Class 2 categorization is reserved for mechanical sewage systems designed for the reception of sewage other than human body waste. An example of a Class 2 sewage system is a leaching pit. They are often combined with Class 1 sewage systems in cottage regions where water is hand-carried, serviced by a hand pump or serviced by a gravity-fed water system. Class 2 sewage systems are appropriate only for areas that experience low daily sewage flow. Like Class 1 sewage systems, they must be kept at a safe distance from protected areas that may be contaminated.

    Class 3

    • Class 3 sewage systems refer to systems managed by cesspools. A cesspool is a large tank used to dispose of sewage and waste that is between 2 and 3 meters in depth. Cesspools can fill up quickly. When this occurs, they must be emptied using a mechanical sewage pump.

    Class 4

    • Class 4 sewage systems refer to leaching bed systems combined with a treatment unit, such as a septic tank. When waste is deposited in the septic tank, the solid waste is allowed to settle before it is moved mechanically through pipes to the leaching bed.

    Class 5

    • Class 5 sewage systems refer to systems that use holding tanks to store waste at the site where it is produced. Waste is then hauled away periodically, usually by municipal organizations.

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