Influence of Intermittence and Pressure Differentials in Hydrogen Sulfide Concentration in a Gravity Sewer

The work presented herein was carried out to assess the effect of intermittent pumping events in sewer headspace pressure differentials, as well as their relationship with hydrogen sulfide gas concentration. A full scale gravity sewer in Portugal, located downstream of several pumping stations, was used as the guiding case study. Under normal system operation, pressure difference between the outside atmosphere and the sewer headspace seemed to influence the in and out-gassing of gas pollutants emitted through the venting stack. Wastewater pumping cycles generated maximum pressure differentials of roughly 100 Pa, which in turn originated maximum air velocities of 1.76 m s−1 exiting the venting stack. Each pumping event was followed by a pressure drop of about 50 Pa, quickly attaining null concentrations of H2S at the venting stack. A statistically significant relationship between pressure differentials and air exit velocity was observed, which allowed obtaining an empirical equation for expedite prediction of airflows emitted to the outside atmosphere (R2 = 0.77). Conversely, the same effect was not observed along the length of the sewer pipe, unlike the findings of other studies. The effect of a full flowing pipe at the downstream end of the gravity trunk sewer was also noticeable in downstream sewer pressurization and gas build-up. It was concluded that the magnitude of the gas pollutant emissions may heavily depend on the impacts of hydraulic flows and pumping characteristics in headspace pressure differences, denoting the need for better approaches when designing and installing venting stacks.