Manhole vs Catchpit: Difference and Comparison

Is there a difference between manhole and catchpit (manhole vs catchpit)?

When building cities or towns, construction is done on the surface and underground. Underground infrastructures in our cities and towns are cleaned and maintained from time to time to ensure they function perfectly.

Manholes are the constructed holes in the ground built for accessing of the sewers or other underground vaults and installations. In contrast, a catchpit is an empty chamber installed into a drainage system to prevent debris from causing a blockage.

Catpits are usually found in areas such as parks, roads, railroads, gardens, and driveways.

Stay with us as we discuss more on the difference between a manhole and a catchpit.

What Is a Manhole?

A manhole is a hole in the ground for accessing the sewers or other underground vaults and installations.

Manholes are used as an access point to gain entrance to a confined space. It’s used as an entrance point for an underground public utility, allowing sewage workers to inspect, maintain and perform system upgrades.

Most underground services have manholes for easy access for maintenance, inspection, and system upgrades. Underground services such as electricity, district heating, gas, sewers, storm drains, telephone, and water.

Underground constructions generally need an access point for inspection, maintenance, and upgrade. The drainage systems in streets, driveways, parks, gardens, and roads need to be inspected and maintained by workers.

Manholes are usually found in urban areas, mostly under sidewalks along streets.

While most underground services in urban areas have manholes, services such as telephone and electricity in urban and underdeveloped areas use utility poles or pylons.

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Manhole vs Catchpit: Types of Manholes

The different types of manholes include shallow manholes, normal manholes, and deep manholes.

Shallow Manhole

This is a type of manhole that usually has a depth ranging between 75 to 90 centimetres.

Shallow manholes are generally placed at the start of the sewer. They are also placed at the start of a drainage water conduit passage. These types of manholes are also installed in areas that are not subjected to heavy traffic.

This type of manhole is also known as the inspection chamber and they are the perfect option for maintenance work.

Normal Manhole

This type of manhole comes in square and rectangular shape. Normal manholes have a depth of five feet and they are usually found in drainage water lines or sewage.

Also, normal manholes have hard lids as a cover on top.

Deep Manhole

Deep manholes are known to have thick lids as a top cover, with a depth of over 150 centimetres.

Deep manholes are built differently with their heavy manhole covers and a ladder designed to allow workers to enter and exit at any time.

What Is a Catchpit?

A catchpit is designed to prevent pipe blockages. It’s an empty chamber installed into the drainage system to prevent debris and silt from causing any blockage.

Catchpits are built for the purpose of allowing free movement of surface water. They are usually found in environments such as car parks, gardens, roads, railways, driveways, and parks.

Catchpits are used for main-line stormwater and sewer drainage systems. They are installed in order to prevent pipe blockages, which can lead to flooding in an area.

They are essential, as they are used in water management systems. Catchpits are usually found upstream where it collects all the dirt and debris before the water flows into the main public or private stormwater pipes.

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Manhole vs Catchpit: How a Catchpit Works

Catchpits are designed to collect debris and dirt. They have an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe- the inlet pipe is raised above the ground, while the outlet pipe is in a lower position.

When there is an inflow of water into the catchpit, dirt and debris in the water fall into the bottom catchpit. The chamber that the debris and dirt fall into is known as the catchpit sump.

After the debris and dirt are extracted from the water, it then flows out through the catchpit’s outlet pipe. The catchpit’s outlet pipes can be fitted with a baffle in order to filter any floating debris or dirt.

Catchpits are designed to prevent debris and dirt from causing a pipe blockage. Debris and dirt often build up in catchpits, so they need to be cleaned regularly.

Manhole vs Catchpit: What are Catchpits Made From?

Initially, catchpits were brick-lined. However, most of the catchpits today are made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Precast Concrete (PPC).

Catchpits made from HDPE are used for railway line drainage.

In contrast, PCC catchpits come in different sizes as well as different inlet and outlet pipe configurations.

Manhole vs Catchpit: The difference between Manhole vs Catchpit

Manholes and catchpits are installed in areas to allow the flow of surface water and to prevent debris and dirt from causing a blockage.

Catchpits are built for the purpose of allowing free movement of surface water. They are usually found in environments such as car parks, gardens, roads, railways, driveways, and parks.

Catchpits are used for main-line stormwater and sewer drainage systems. They are installed in order to prevent pipe blockages, which can lead to flooding in an area.

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Manhole vs Catchpit: Comparison Chart

	Manhole	Catchpit
Definition	A hole in the ground for accessing the sewers or other underground vaults and installations.	An empty chamber installed into the drainage system to prevent debris and silt from causing any blockage.
Purpose	Access to underground utilities	Collects runoff water and prevents pipe blockages.
Design	Vertical shaft with a heavy lid	Designed for water to slow down and for debris to settle
Maintenance frequency	As needed for utility access and repairs	Periodically, to remove accumulated debris.
Found in	Urban areas	Storm water systems

Manhole vs Catchpit: Purpose of Manhole

Manholes are essential in urban areas where they are built. They are built for many purposes which include;

Joining sewers: changing the direction or the alignment of sewers is made possible with the help of manholes
Allow workers to inspect, maintain, and clean debris or dirt causing any blockage in the sewer line.
Built with a perforated cover that allows fouled gases to escape the confined space.

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Important Uses of Catchpits

They are used in wastewater management systems
They collect debris and dirt before the water flows into the main public or private stormwater pipes.
Catchpits are used in areas that collect large quantities of debris and dirt

Conclusion

Manholes are essential in urban areas where they are built. They remain an essential part of surface and underground construction.

Debris and dirt often build up in catchpits, so they need to be cleaned regularly.

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References

Wikipedia: Manhole