Where does kitchen sink water go?
We began documenting the journey of Dallas water last month.We were able to see the facilities that make it safe to drink and the faucets in your house.We have reached the end of the journey.What happens to your water after you flush it down the drain?How does it get there?
Any water that has been used is called wastewater.Wastewater can be flushed down a drain in a sink, tub, shower, or toilet.Simple gravity helps drain work.The drain sucks water through the opening into the appliance drain line when you push down the sink plunger.
The water gathers speed as it falls down the appliance line.It is possible for it to move past the p-trap and into your home's drainpipes.
A P-trap is a curve beneath a drain and near the end of the drainline.Wastewater, sewage, and sewer gases are kept out of your home by the P-trap.It works because when water comes down from the drain, it moves fast enough to push up past the P-trap.Once it gets over the P-trap's hump, gravity keeps it sliding down the pipe and into the drainpipes.
Backflow and gases can't generate enough speed to get past the P-trap's curve.The P-trap traps the water, keeping it from rising high enough to ruin your home.
After water gets past the P-trap and heads down the remainder of the appliance line, it joins up with a wider, longer series of pipes.Your home has drainpipes.This series of pipes empties your drain's appliance lines.toilet drainpipes are the widest and come in various widths to better accommodate the type of wastewater they are transporting.Wastewater falling at the rate and direction it should be is ensured by the size and verticality of your home's drainpipes.
Your plumbing system has an air vent at this point.The air vent in your plumbing is a long tube that runs straight up and down.One end runs all the way out to the rooftop and the other ends connect with the drainpipe.The vent supplies fresh air into the drainpipes, which is necessary to prevent air suction entering the pipes from slowing or stopping flow.Wastewater will travel down your pipes and out to your sewer line if your vent is uncovered and your drainpipes are clear.
The water is flushed down the drain.Each drain has its own appliance pipe.Falling water can get over the P-trap and into the drainpipes with the help of gravity.Water continues to flow downward through your pipes with the help of the vent system once inside the drainpipe.
The final exit pipe connects all drainpipes.This wide pipe is called a house line.It is the largest drainpipe in the plumbing system, with a diameter between 1.5 and 2 inches.The lowest pipe in your plumbing system is the lateral connection.
The other pipes in your home rely on gravity to move wastewater.The water can travel downward through the connection.As the connection goes further downward, it leads out of your home, through your yard, and off your property.There is a connection to the municipal sewer line.The upper and lower parts of the connection are located on your property.
The wastewater from your home goes into the city sewer line.The entire city of Dallas is covered in 4,020 miles of the city sewer.
The sewer is built at slight angles to allow water to flow with gravity.Since the speed of water discharging from multiple connections pushes wastewater along the sewer line towards its final destination, these angles need to be gradual.
The Dallas sewer line leads to one of the two wastewater treatment facilities in Dallas.The drinking water treatment plants are funded by the City of Dallas Department of Water Utilities.Wastewater treatment facilities use a rigorous, scientific purification process to clean wastewater.This process is explained in a step-by-step manner by the US Geological Survey Water Science School.
Dallas wastewater facilities screen out solid mass, aerate water to remove gases and reintroduce oxygen, remove sludge and scum, and kill waterbornebacteria using chemicals.Up to 260 million gallons of water a day can be treated between the two facilities.The city of Dallas treated 76 billion gallons of water.
Once facilities treat wastewater, they recycle it back into the water supply.Dallas wastewater facilities discharge treated wastewater into the river.The Trinity River is kept flowing by the wastewater of Dallas.
Adding treated wastewater to the drinking water for another city is a common practice.Almost all of Houston's drinking water comes from the Trinity River, so it wouldn't be inaccurate to say we supply Houston with the water they drink!You are welcome, Houston!
The journey our city's water takes every day makes us proud to be a plumbing professional.We like to support the characters in the epic odyssey of Dallas water by making sure your pipes are running the way they should be.You are also using your home's water.
Give us a call if you are worried about something in your home interfering with your journey to Houston.We will make sure your drinking water and wastewater get where they need to go.It is our honor!
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