ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

WATER POLLUTION DETERMINATION

THEORY

METHODS TO DETERMINE WATER POLLUTION

Waste waters are characterized on the basis of various parameters
1) Physical characteristics colour, odour, dissolved oxygen, etc.
2) Chemical characteristics COD, pH, acidity, alkalinity, total C, etc
3) Biochemical characteristics BOD, presence of pathogenic bacteria, toxicity
to aquatic organisms, plants & other life forms, etc.

BOD (Biochemical oxygen demand)

The biochemical oxygen demand of water is a measure of amount of free oxygen
required by the bacteria & other micro-organism for biological oxidation of
organic matter under aerobic conditions at 200C for a period of 5 days.

Organic matter + O2
[CH2O]

Micro-organisms
-----------------------------------
Bacteria at 200C & 5 days

CO2 + H2O

Significance 1. It is useful in designing of treatment plants & calculation of waste load.

2. The higher the BOD of a sample the higher will be pollution.
3. It helps in pollution control.
BOD = (Dob Doi) * Dilution factor
ml of sample after dilution
= (Dob Doi) * ------------------------------------- mg/lit
ml of sample before dilution
Where,
Dob Dissolve oxygen present in the effluent sample before incubation.
(period between infection starts & appearance of first symptons)
Doi Dissolve oxygen present in the effluent sample after incubation.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

WATER POLLUTION DETERMINATION

THEORY

COD (chemical oxygen demand)

It is defined as the amount of oxygen required by organic matter in sample water
for its oxidation by strong oxidizing agents (K2Cr2O7) in the hot conditions. It is a
measure of both the biologically oxidisable & biologically inert organic matter.
As a result COD values are always greater than BOD values.
(V1 V2) * 8000
COD = ---------------------- mg/lit
Y
Where,
V1 Volume of ferrous ammonium sulphate in blank experiment.
(for calculation un-reacted dichromate).
V2 Volume of ferrous ammonium sulphate in test experiment.
Y Volume of water sample taken for test.
Significance
1. It measures the effect of pollutants on dissolve oxygen.
2. It helps in designing& calculation of efficiency of the water treatment plants.
3. It helps in deciding the disposal of domestic & industrial effluents in various
types of water streams.