Organic near-bed fluid and particulate transport in combined sewers

Studies in Germany, Belgium, France and Scotland have revealed that there are significant solids transport gradients in the depth of foul and combined sewage flows. Continuous field observations of changes in depths of sediment deposits in combined sewers have also indicated that there is an interaction between the erosion and deposition processes and changes in the mass transport of solids in regions in the overlying flow. A fuller understanding of the interactive phenomena is essential for both sewer sediment management and the minimization of associated pollution from wash-out of solids via CSOs. The paper presents results from the detailed studies in Hildesheim, Germany and those carried out in Dundee, Scotland, investigating the heterogeneity of solids movement with regard to gross solids, erosion of sewer sediments and their interactions with the suspended transport phases and the layer of very dense fluid found to be transported under certain circumstances, near the sediment bed or sewer invert (traditionally called ‘bed-load’).