DOMESTIC WASTEWATER DISPOSAL IRR OF 1981

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE NATIONAL POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION

FOR DOMESTIC WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 6(g) of Presidential Decree No. 984, otherwise known as
the " National Pollution Control Decree of 1976", the National Pollution Control Commission
hereby adopts and promulgates the following Rules and Regulations governing the disposal of
domestic wastewater.


SEC. 22. Capacity of Sanitary Sewers. -

(a) New sewer systems shall be designed on the basis of an average daily per capita flow of sewage of
not less than 200 liters per day. This figure is assumed to cover normal infiltration in the system, but an
additional allowance should be made where conditions are unfavorable.

(b) The maximum hourly quantity of domestic sewage, commercial and industrial wastes, and
groundwater infiltration shall be considered in determining the capacities of sanitary sewers.

(c) Laterals and minor sewers shall be designed, when flowing full, by assuming flows equivalent to four
times the average daily flows, unless lesser design flows are justified by studies covered in the
engineering report.

SEC. 23. Minimum Size.- No gravity sewer conveying raw sewage shall be less than 200 mm. in diameter.
The use of 150 mm. diameter pipe will be given consideration where the design computations justify its
use.

SEC. 24. Slope.-All sewers shall be so designed and constructed as to give mean velocities, when flowing
full, of not less than 0.6 m/s based on Manning's formula using an "n" value of 0.013. Use of other
practice "n" values may be permitted if deemed justifiable on the basis of research or field data
presented.
The following are the minimum slopes which should be provided; however, slopes greater than these
are desirable:

Sewer Size I.D. Minimum Slope
(in mm) Meter/100m.
150 0.65
200 0.40
250 0.28
300 0.22
360 0.17
410 0.14
530 0.10
600 0.08
760 0.058
900 0.046

Note: For lines larger than 900 mm (36") in diameter, the slope shall be determined by a standard
recognized formula to maintain a minimum velocity of 0.6 m/s ( 2 feet per second).

SEC. 25. High Velocity Protection. - In the case of sewers where the slope and volume are such that a
velocity of 4.6 m/s is realized at average flow, special provisions shall be made to protect against erosion
and shock.

SEC. 26. Alignment.- Sewers 600 mm. (24" or less in diameter shall be laid in straight alignment with
uniform grade between manholes. The alignment shall be checked by lamping.


SEC. 27. Changes in Pipe Size. - When a smaller sewer joins a larger one, the invert of the larger sewer
should be lowered sufficiently to maintain the same energy gradient as in the previous pipe.

SEC. 28. Superimposed Loads.- All sewers shall be designed to prevent damage from superimposed
loads. Proper allowance for loads on the sewer shall be made because of the width and depth of the
trench. Where necessary to withstand extra-ordinary superimposed loading, special bedding, concrete
cradle or special construction may be used.

SEC. 29. Trenching.- The width of the trench shall be ample to allow the pipe to be laid and jointed
properly and to allow the backfill to be placed and compacted as needed. The trench side shall be kept
as nearly vertical as possible. When wider trenches are dug, appropriate bedding class and pipe strength
shall be used. Ledge rocks, boulders, and large stones shall be removed to provide a minimum clearance
of 10 centimeters below and on each side of all pipes.

SEC. 30. Backfill.-Backfill shall be made of a suitable material removed from excavation except where
other material is specified. Debris, large clods or stones, organic matter, or other unstable materials
shall not be used for backfill within 0.60 m. of the top of the pipe. Backfill shall be placed in such a
manner as not to disturb the alignment of the pipe.

SEC. 31. Joints.- The manner of the installation of joints and the materials used shall be included in the
specifications. Sewer joints shall be designed to minimize infiltration and to fully prevent the entrance of
roots into the pipe throughout the life of the system.

SEC. 33. Manholes.-

(a) Manholes shall be installed at the end of each line; at all changes in grade, size, or alignment; at all
intersections; and at distances not greater than 120 meters for sewers 380 mm in diameter or less and
150 meters for sewers 460 to 760 mm in diameter. Greater spacing may be permitted in larger sewers.

(b) The location of manholes in streams should be avoided.

(c) The flow channel through manholes should be read to conform in shape and slope to that of the
sewers.

(d) A drop pipe should be provided for a sewer entering a manhole at an elevation of 0.60 m. or more
above the manhole invert. Where the difference between the incoming sewer and the manhole invert is
less than o.60 m. the invert should be filleted to prevent solid deposition. In general, drop manholes
shall be constructed with an outside drop connection. The entire drop connection shall be encased in
concrete material.

(e) The minimum diameter of manholes shall be 900 mm; larger diameters are preferable for large
diameter sewers. A minimum access diameter of 560 mm shall be provided.

(f) Manholes shall be of pre-cast concrete, poured-in-place concrete, or other approved water-tight
types. Manholes of brick or segmented block shall be waterproofed on the exterior with plastic
coatings. In unstable soils, inlet and outlet pipes shall be joined to the manhole with a gasketed flexible
watertight connection arrangement that allows differential settlement of the pipe, and watertight
manhole covers are to be used wherever the manhole tops may be flooded by street runoff or high
water. Locked manhole covers may be desirable in isolated casement locations or where vandalism may
be a problem.

SEC. 34. Inverted Siphons.- The use of inverted siphons shall be kept to a minimum; but, where they
must be used, they shall consist of at least two lines, one of which is of a size of not less than 200 mm. in
diameter. The minimum velocity use, in their design shall be 0.90 m/s considering the average dry
weather flow. Under the minimum dry weather flow conditions, the independent operation of one of
the lines shall provide the minimum velocity of 0.90 m/s. Where the above conditions cannot be met,
some other means shall be provided. The inlet and outlet details shall be so arranged that the normal
flow is diverted to one barrel, and that either barrel may be out of service for cleaning.



NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES:

Section 1205
The minimum size of any sewer building shall be determined on the basis of the total number of fixture
units drained by such sewer, in accordance with table 12-2. No building sewer shall be smaller than
150mm nor less in size than the building drain.