Following are the terms to which a civil engineer should be familiar in connection with plumbing services.
1. Plumbing or Plumbing System
It is a general term encompassing the entire design practice, material and fixtures used in the installation and maintenance of all main fixtures and other appurtenances used in connection with water supply systems and wastewater collection and disposal systems.
2. Available Head
It is the pressure water available from a water main at the ground floor level to the premises.
3. Water Main
It is a main water supply pipeline intended for general use and maintained by local authority.
4. Service Pipe
It is a pipe branching out of the water main which is used for feeding water from the main pipe to the building.
5. Storage Tank
It is a tank for storing water from the water main by means of a supply pipe.
6. Stop Cock or Tap
It is a control valve used for regulating the supply of water.
7. Stack
It is a general term used for any line of drainage particularly vertical lines.
8. Back-Siphonage
It is the flow back of used or polluted water from a plumbing fixture or vessel into a water supply pipe due to negative pressure.
9. Trap
It is a fitting provided with a water seal so that when placed in a drainage pipe it prevents the passage of foul air or gas.
10. Soil Pipe and Waste Pipe
Soil pipe is used for liquid wastes carrying human excreta, whereas waste pipe carries only the liquid waste.
11. Vent Pipe
It is a pipe to allow air to or from a drainage system so as to prevent the water seal of traps against siphonage and back pressure.
12. Flushing Storage Tank
It is provided to supply water to all flushing cistern through downtake pipes.
13. Supply Pipe
It is the pipe which extends from the stop cock to the entrance of the storage tank.
14. Distributing Pipe
It is the pipe connecting the storage tank to various sanitary fixtures, taps, etc., for purposes of distribution of water supply inside the building.
15. Sullage and Sewage
Sullage is the spent water from bathrooms, kitchens, washbasins, sinks, etc. This does not include foul discharge (i.e., human or animal excreta as from water closets, urinals, hospitals, stables, etc.). Sewage includes both the sullage as well as the foul discharge explained above.
16. Night Soil
Night soil is a composite of human excreta and urine.
17. Sewer
It is a closed drain intended to be used for carrying sewage (i.e., night soil and other water-borne wastes).
18. Drain
It is a channel or pipe which carries wastewater or water-borne wastes in a building draining system.
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