Provision of drop manholes: At what condition at a junction should a drop connection be provided to avoid turbulence and excessive velocities in the manhole?

Introduction / Context:
Where a higher-level branch sewer joins a lower-level main, the incoming jet can cause erosion and turbulence in a standard manhole. A drop manhole introduces a vertical drop pipe to dissipate energy and protect the structure.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Gravity sewers with manhole junctions.
• Significant invert level difference between incoming branch and main sewer.
• Desire to prevent splashing, odor, and structural damage.

Concept / Approach:

Practice commonly sets a threshold vertical difference (often around 0.6 m) above which a drop connection is used. The drop pipe conveys the branch flow down to near the main invert smoothly, limiting kinetic energy at the manhole benching.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Municipal standards and exam references consistently cite the ≈ 60 cm criterion for selecting drop manholes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Road location, space constraints, or mere intersection do not automatically require a drop; level difference is the key driver.

Common Pitfalls:

Ignoring erosive effects of high-velocity jets; providing drops for trivial level differences unnecessarily increasing cost.

Final Answer:

When the invert level of a branch sewer is more than about 60 cm above the invert of the main sewer.