You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 18.214.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪Blablubbs‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 10:52, 20 August 2024.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 18:26, 12 November 2023
- Expiry of block: 18:26, 12 November 2028
Your current IP address is 18.214.15.149. The blocked range is 18.214.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((More citations needed|date=July 2008))
[[File:Wyndham Lane Sewer Gas Chimney - geograph.org.uk - 229630.jpg|thumb|upright|An old sewer gas chimney in [[Stonehouse, Plymouth]], England, built in the 1880s to disperse sewer gas above residents]]
'''Sewer gas''' is a complex, generally obnoxious smelling mixture of toxic and nontoxic gases produced and collected in [[sanitary sewer|sewage systems]] by the decomposition of organic household or [[industrial waste]]s, typical components of [[sewage]].<ref name="sg">((cite web|url=https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/air/sewergas.htm|website=dhs.wisconsin.gov|title=Sewer Gas|date=10 March 2017))</ref>

Sewer gases may include [[hydrogen sulfide]], [[ammonia]], [[methane]], [[esters]], [[carbon monoxide]], [[sulfur dioxide]] and [[nitrogen oxides]]. Improper disposal of petroleum products such as [[gasoline]] and [[mineral spirits]] contribute to sewer gas hazards.  Sewer gases are of concern due to their odor, health effects, and potential for creating fire or explosions.

==In homes==
Sewer gas is typically restricted from entering buildings through [[trap (plumbing)|plumbing traps]] that create a [[water seal (plumbing)|water seal]] at potential points of entry.  In addition, plumbing [[Plumbing drainage venting|vents]] allow sewer gases to be exhausted outdoors.  Infrequently used [[plumbing fixture]]s may allow sewer gas to enter a home due to [[evaporation]] of water in the trap, especially in warm weather.  The result is the most common means of sewer gas entering buildings and can be solved easily by using the fixtures regularly or adding water to their drains. One of the most common traps to dry out are floor drains such as those typically placed near home [[Furnace (house heating)|furnace]]s,  [[water heating|water heaters]] and rooms with underfloor heating. Infrequently used utility sinks, tubs, showers, and restrooms also are common culprits.  [[Trap primer]]s are available that automatically add water to remote or little used traps such as these. Blocked plumbing vents, typically at the roof, also can cause water seals to fail via siphoning of the water.

Exposure to sewer gas also can happen if the gas seeps in via a leaking plumbing drain or vent pipe, or even through cracks in a building’s foundation. Sewer gas is typically denser than atmospheric gases and may accumulate in basements, but may eventually mix with surrounding air. Individuals who work in sanitation industries or on farms might be exposed on the job if they clean or maintain municipal [[sanitary sewer|sewer]]s, [[manure]] storage tanks, or [[septic tank]]s.

In buildings with [[HVAC]] [[Air handling unit|air handlers]] that admit outside air for [[Ventilation (architecture)|ventilation]], plumbing vents placed too closely to air intakes or windows can be a source of sewer gas odors.   In some cases airflow around buildings and wind effects may contribute to sewer gas odor problems even with appropriately separated vents and air intakes.  Increasing vent heights, adding vent pipe filters, or providing powered dilution and exhaust can help reduce occurrences.

==History==
[[File:The Wasp 1882-01-13 cover The Dance of Death.jpg|thumb|upright|The cover of an 1882 issue of ''[[The Wasp (magazine)|The Wasp]]'', with an illustration linking sewer gas and disease]]
During the mid-nineteenth century, when indoor plumbing was being developed, it was a common belief that disease was caused largely by [[miasma theory|miasmas]], or literally "polluted air."<ref>((cite journal|pmc=1275984 | pmid=11733443 | volume=175 | issue=6 | title=&quot;The insidious foe&quot;--sewer gas |date=December 2001 | journal=West. J. Med. | pages=427–8 | doi=10.1136/ewjm.175.6.427))</ref> (Malaria, a disease spread by mosquitoes that breed in marshy areas, got its name from the Italian words for "bad air" because people initially blamed it on marsh gas.) Originally, [[trap (plumbing)|traps]] in drain pipes were designed to help keep this bad air from passing back into living spaces within buildings.  However, during the [[Broad Street cholera outbreak]] in London, in the summer of 1854, physician [[John Snow (physician)|John Snow]], among others, worked to prove that polluted water was the culprit, not the foul smells from sewage pipes or other sources.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.theghostmap.com/|title=The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson - Online Resources|website=www.theghostmap.com))</ref><ref>((cite book | last = Johnson  | first = Steven |author-link=Steven Johnson (author)  | title = [[The Ghost Map]] | publisher = [[Riverhead Books]] | year = 2006 | isbn = 1-59448-925-4 ))</ref> Subsequently, even as the [[germ theory of disease]] developed, society was slow to accept the idea that odors from sewers were relatively harmless when it came to the spread of disease.

==Health effects==
In most homes, sewer gas may have an unpleasant odor, but does not often pose a significant health hazard.<ref>((cite web |author=Thad Godish |title=Indoor Environment Notebook |publisher=Ball State University: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management |url=http://publish.bsu.edu/ien/archives/2002/022802.htm |date=February 2002 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113002423/http://publish.bsu.edu/ien/archives/2002/022802.htm |archivedate=2012-01-13))</ref>  Residential sewer pipes primarily contain the gases found in [[air]] ([[nitrogen]], [[oxygen]], [[carbon dioxide]], etc.).<ref>VK Ojha, P Dutta,Intelligent Gas Recognition System: Analysis and Design Issue,Lambert Academic Publishing, Saarbrücken, Germany, ((ISBN|978-3-659-21734-0))</ref>  Often, [[methane]] is the gas of next highest concentration, but typically remains at nontoxic levels, especially in properly vented systems. However, if sewer gas has a distinct “rotten egg” smell, especially in sewage mains, septic tanks, or other sewage treatment facilities, it may be due to [[hydrogen sulfide]] content, which can be detected by human olfactory senses in concentrations as low as [[parts per billion]]. Exposure to low levels of this [[chemical]] can irritate the eyes, cause a cough or sore throat, [[hypoxia (medical)|shortness of breath]], and fluid accumulation in the [[lung]]s. Prolonged low-level exposure may cause fatigue, pneumonia, loss of appetite, [[headaches]], irritability, poor memory, and dizziness. High concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (>150 ppm) can produce [[olfactory fatigue]], whereby the scent becomes undetectable.  At higher concentrations (>300 ppm), hydrogen sulfide can cause loss of consciousness and death. Very high concentrations (>1000 ppm) can result in immediate collapse, occurring after a single breath.

==Explosion risk==
Sewer gas can contain methane and hydrogen sulfide, both highly flammable and potentially explosive substances. As such, ignition of the gas is possible with flame or sparks.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/air/sewergas.htm|website=www.dhs.wisconsin.gov|date=3 March 2017|title=Exposure to sewer gas))</ref>
The methane concentration in open sewers is lower (7 to 15 ppmv) than the closed drains (up to 300 ppmv) in samples collected ((convert|2|cm|abbr=on|1)) above the level of sewage.<ref>N N Purkait and D K Chakrabarty. Methane Emission from open drain; Indian journal of Radio and Physics; vol 4, March 2015: pp 56-59 ( M K Mitra centre for research in Space Environment, Institute of Radiophysics and electronics, University of Clacutta, Kolkata.</ref>

==Greenhouse gas contribution==
Fully vented sewer gases contribute to [[greenhouse gas emissions]].  Septic vent pipes can be fitted with filters that remove some odors.((Citation needed|date=August 2008))

Sewer gas can be used as a power source, thus reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. The gas is piped into a cleaning system and then used as a fuel to power a generator or combined heat and power (CHP) plant.

==Impact on sewerage==

Gases present in sewerage can strongly impact material
durability due to the action of microorganisms. The most deleterious one is associated to hydrogen sulfide that can result in [[biogenic sulfide corrosion]] or [[microbial corrosion]]. In worst cases, it may lead to the collapse of the structure with significant cost for its rehabilitation.

==See also==
*[[Fire protection]]
*[[Indoor air quality]]
*[[Louisville sewer explosions]]
*[[Plumbing]]
*[[Domestic water system|Potable cold and hot water supply]]
*[[Drainage|Rainwater, surface, and subsurface water drainage]]
*[[Septic system]]s
*[[Sewer gas destructor lamp]]
*[[Marsh gas]]

==References==
((Reflist))

((Sewerage))
((Plumbing))
((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Sewer Gas))
[[Category:Plumbing]]
[[Category:Fire prevention]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Sewer gas (edit)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Catalog lookup link (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Template:Citation needed (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite journal (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Fix (view source) (protected)
Template:Fix/category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:ISBN (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Plumbing (edit)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Sewerage (edit)
Template:Yesno (view source) (protected)
Template:Yesno-no (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Yesno-yes (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Authority control/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Catalog lookup link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Check isxn (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Delink (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Sewer gas.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewer_gas"