What is an interceptor drain?

Author: Friedrich Ziemann  |  Last update: Friday, December 26, 2025

An interceptor drain, also known as a curtain drain, is a drainage system that is installed to collect, channel and remove surface and subsurface water within permeable soil as it flows across an impermeable soil layer.

What is the difference between relief drain and interceptor drain?

Relief drains are used to de-water an area where the water table is high. They are placed in a gridiron, herringbone, or random pattern. Interceptor drains are used to remove water where soils are excessively wet or subject to slippage. They are usually placed as single pipes instead of patterns.

How does an interceptor work?

Interceptors work by trapping rainwater runoff from surfaces where oil is present – by trapping this runoff, they ensure that oil does not contaminate soil and water.

What is the purpose of an interceptor in plumbing?

A grease interceptor is a device located between kitchen drain lines and sanitary sewer lines. Grease interceptors capture the fats, oil, and grease flowing down kitchen drains and stop them from flowing to the sewer.

What is the interception system of drainage?

Interceptor drainage is a term used to describe how tile captures water as it moves down slopes in the subsurface. For a drainage tile to be an interceptor drain, it must be placed perpendicular to the flow of water, or more generally perpendicular to the rising slope of a field.

What An Interceptor Back Drop Looks Like Clean A Drain 056

What are drainage interceptors?

Drainage interceptors or drain separators are a defence to stop contaminants from entering surface water drains. Also referred to as petrol interceptors or oil separators, they are tanks installed within drainage pipework designed to collect and keep hold of contaminants.

What does interception mean in drainage basin?

Interception – this is when precipitation lands on buildings, vegetation and concrete before it reaches the soil. Interception storage is only temporary as it is often quickly evaporated. Vegetation storage – this is water taken up by vegetation.

What is another term for interceptor in plumbing?

A grease trap (also known as grease interceptor, grease recovery device, grease capsule and grease converter) is a plumbing device (a type of trap) designed to intercept most greases and solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system.

Why does a grease trap smell so bad?

The worst of the smell actually comes from the decomposition of the solid food deposits at the bottom of the grease trap: this is the layer which will cause bacteria to release pungent nitrates and rotten-egg-smelling sulphates as they digest it.

What is a pipe interceptor?

(1) A large-diameter pipe that collects wastewater from smaller collection pipes such as collection mains and laterals and conveys it to a treatment plant.

What is a sewer interceptor?

interceptor sewer

A major sewer line that receives wastewater flows from collector sewers. An interceptor sewer carries wastewater directly to the treatment facility or to another interceptor.

Why do we use interceptor?

Debugging and Logging: Interceptors are invaluable for debugging purposes as they allow developers to log HTTP requests and responses, monitor network traffic, and inspect data transformations.

How to unblock interceptor drain?

Unblocking an interceptor chamber
  1. Just above the trap is a section of pipe with a plug in it, which you should remove. ...
  2. Insert a flexible rod into the pipe opening and down into the trap.
  3. If the trap is still blocked, reach down into the chamber to remove debris from the trap with a trowel. ...
  4. Replace the stopper.

What are the three types of plumbing?

The Different Types of Plumbing. There are three different types of plumbing systems; sanitary drainage, stormwater drainage and potable water. Each of these systems have their own unique functions and purposes.

What is the purpose of an interceptor ditch?

The purpose of an Interception Ditch is to intercept run-on and direct it to a stabilized area where it can be safely discharged. An Interception Ditch is a berm of compacted soil or an excavated swale, or combination berm and swale constructed across a slope.

How to drain water into the ground?

A French drain absorbs surface water to prevent flooding. It's typically built by digging a long trench, which is then filled with gravel or rocks and a drainage pipe that runs all the way down the trench. The pipe is then covered up with a filter and either soil or river stone at the grade level.

Will vinegar clean a grease trap?

Salt, baking soda, and vinegar

Pour one cup of baking soda in the sink and drain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then pour in one cup of white vinegar. The mixture will begin to bubble up, but let it sit for about ten minutes. Then, pour boiling water down the drain to finish.

How often do you need to empty a grease trap?

Most grease traps should be cleaned out every 1-3 months, depending on usage. To know exactly how often your business needs to attend to the grease traps, consider the “1/4th rule.” In simple terms, the grease trap should be cleaned out when it reaches a quarter of its capacity.

Why are grease traps so expensive?

In order for grease traps to be effective, they must be properly sized, constructed and installed into your plumbing system. Because of these specific requirements, grease traps are traditionally more expensive than other plumbing operations.

Does every house have a grease trap?

As far as homeowners are concerned, it's not a requirement.

How to clean a grease interceptor?

Grease interceptor cleaning procedures

Place vacuum tube all the way into the interceptor to suck remaining solids from the bottom. Vacuum water out of the interceptor. Clean the sides of the interceptor. Remove any remaining solids from the bottom of the interceptor.

What size grease interceptor do I need?

To size a Gravity Grease Interceptor with the flow determined in GPM you simply multiply the flow number by a detention time, 30 minutes (the time period normally excepted for the grease to separate by buoyancy). Again with our 20 GPM example, the size would be 20X30= 600. A 600 Gallon size interceptor would be used.

What does intercepting drain mean?

Interceptor drain means a type of artificial drainage designed to intercept and divert lateral moving groundwater or perched water away from the dispersal field or other system component to an effective outlet.

What are the 3 parts of a drainage basin?

What is a drainage basin?
  • The 'watershed' defines the edge of a drainage basin. ...
  • The 'source' is the origin or starting point of a river.
  • The 'mouth' is the point at which a river ends, typically where it empties into a sea or ocean.
  • A 'confluence' is where a smaller river (tributary) flows into and joins the main river.

What is called a watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody. Every body of water has a watershed. Watersheds drain rainfall and snowmelt into streams and rivers. These smaller bodies of water flow into larger ones, including lakes, bays, and oceans.

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