Fundamental Concepts: Fundamental Concepts: Overview of Water Quality Overview of Water Quality Ann Kenimer Ann Kenimer Texas A & M University Texas A & M University University Curriculum Development for University Curriculum Development for Decentralized Wastewater Decentralized Wastewater Management Management NDWRCDP Disclaimer NDWRCDP Disclaimer This work was supported by the National Decentralized Water This work was supported by the National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project (NDWRCDP) with Resources Capacity Development Project (NDWRCDP) with funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a Cooperative Agreement (EPA No. CR827881 through a Cooperative Agreement (EPA No. CR827881 - - 01 01 - - 0) 0) with Washington University in St. Louis. These materials have with Washington University in St. Louis. 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CIDWT/University Disclaimer CIDWT/University Disclaimer These materials are the collective effort of individuals from These materials are the collective effort of individuals from academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the academic, regulatory, and private sectors of the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have onsite/decentralized wastewater industry. These materials have been peer been peer - - reviewed and represent the current state of reviewed and represent the current state of knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a knowledge/science in this field. They were developed through a series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulati series of writing and review meetings with the goal of formulati ng ng a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not a consensus on the materials presented. These materials do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of University of necessarily reflect the views and policies of University of Arkansas, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Arkansas, and/or the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT). The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor recommendation for use from these individuals or entities, nor does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned. does it constitute criticism for similar ones not mentioned. Citation Citation Kenimer, Ann L., J. Kenimer, Ann L., J. Villeneuve Villeneuve and S. and S. Shelden Shelden . . 2005. Fundamental Concepts: Water Quality 2005. Fundamental Concepts: Water Quality - - Power Point Presentation. Power Point Presentation. in in (M.A. Gross and (M.A. Gross and N.E. Deal, eds.) University Curriculum N.E. Deal, eds.) University Curriculum Development for Decentralized Wastewater Development for Decentralized Wastewater Management. National Decentralized Water Management. National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project. Resources Capacity Development Project. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. Water Pollution Water Pollution ¾ ¾ Definition: any condition that adversely Definition: any condition that adversely affects the quality of streams, lakes, affects the quality of streams, lakes, oceans, or groundwater oceans, or groundwater Water Pollution Impacts Water Pollution Impacts ¾ ¾ Unpolluted water has a wide diversity of Unpolluted water has a wide diversity of aquatic organisms and contains enough aquatic organisms and contains enough dissolved oxygen dissolved oxygen ¾ ¾ Polluted water inhibits the growth of Polluted water inhibits the growth of aquatic organisms aquatic organisms Reference Material Reference Material ¾ ¾ Standard Methods for the Analysis of Standard Methods for the Analysis of Water and Wastewater Water and Wastewater . American Water . American Water Works Association and the American Works Association and the American Public Health Association. Public Health Association. ¾ ¾ EPA Methods and Guidance for the EPA Methods and Guidance for the Analysis of Water Analysis of Water . US Environmental . US Environmental Protection Agency. Protection Agency. Organic Compounds Organic Compounds ¾ ¾ An An organic compound organic compound is a substance that is a substance that contains carbon. contains carbon. ¾ ¾ Cyanide, cyanates, carbon dioxide and its Cyanide, cyanates, carbon dioxide and its relatives are exceptions relatives are exceptions Importance of Organic Matter Importance of Organic Matter ¾ ¾ Organic material consumes oxygen in Organic material consumes oxygen in water water ¾ ¾ Organic material can cause taste and odor Organic material can cause taste and odor problems in recreational and drinking problems in recreational and drinking water water ¾ ¾ Some material may be hazardous Some material may be hazardous Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen ¾ ¾ Dissolved oxygen is oxygen that has been Dissolved oxygen is oxygen that has been incorporated into water incorporated into water ¾ ¾ Many aquatic animals require it for their Many aquatic animals require it for their survival survival [...]... resulting in death of valuable benthic biota and loss of habitat and dissolved oxygen in the water column Total Solid (TS) Total solids of a sample is the matter left behind after drying a sample of water at 105ºC Total Solids There are two ways that solid materials may be classified Suspended solids and dissolved solids Volatile solids and fixed solids Solids Total suspended solids are the part of the sample... solids (FDS) Fixed suspended solids (FSS) Solids Solids The mass of solids per known volume of water is: mt − mc S= vol S = Solids concentration (mg/L) mt = Mass of solids and container (mg) mc = Mass of container (mg) Vol = volume of liquid sample (L) Nutrients Problems associated with excess nutrients: Causes an increase in productivity of aquatic plants, leading to depleted DO levels May cause odor... requires more DO, and will tend to deplete water of DO Oxygen Demand The oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen required to aerobically oxidize a material Biochemical Oxygen Demand Biochemical oxygen demand, or BOD is the amount of oxygen used by organisms during the breakdown of organic material BOD is considered an indirect measure of the organic content of a sample BOD BOD analysis is done under these... excess of nutrients BOD5 Procedure Measure initial DO Incubate sample for 5 days Measure final DO The BOD5 is directly related to the amount of DO used up over the 5-day period BOD BODt = BOD at t days (mg/L) DOi = Initial DO (mg/L) DOf = Final DO (mg/L) Vs = Volume of sample (L) Vb = Volume of BOD bottle (L) DO − DO i f BOD = t V s V b Ultimate BOD The ultimate BOD measures the total amount of oxygen... amount of dissolved oxygen present Water temperature Organic matter Dissolved Oxygen Temperature: Greater temperature Lower saturated DO Lower temperature Greater saturated DO Dissolved Oxygen Organic material If oxygen is available, organic material requires oxygen to decompose Organic material may also decompose in the absence of oxygen More organic material requires more DO, and will tend to deplete water. .. a 1.5 µm filter Total dissolved solids are the part of the sample that will pass through the filter Solids Total volatile solids is the portion of the sample lost after the sample has been heated to 550ºC It is an approximation of the organic material present Total fixed solids is the portion that still remains after heating It is an approximation of the mineral matter present Solids These categories... circumstances and reduces with treatment Total Organic Carbon Total organic carbon, or TOC, is the amount of organic carbon bound in a sample Fats, Oil, and Grease Generally listed under one heading called FOG (fats, oils, and grease) as it is often not important to know the exact make-up of this group of components Solids Cause many problems: Collect in septic tank requiring pump out over time May clog... levels May cause odor problems Extra vegetation near surface may inhibit penetration of light into water Nutrients Macronutrients: Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Microbial Organism Serve many important purposes including degrading waste materials Some of them may be dangerous to human health and must be removed from water Testing for Microbial Organisms Fecal coliform counts are used as an indicator... Oxygen Demand (COD) COD is the equivalent amount of oxygen needed to break down organic matter and oxidize nitrogen compounds using strong oxidizing agents Chemical Oxygen Demand Another means of measuring oxygen demand needed to oxidize organics and reduced nitrogenous compounds Faster than BOD Always higher than BOD COD is much higher than BOD in raw wastewaters COD:BOD ratio is usually less than 2:1... be removed from water Testing for Microbial Organisms Fecal coliform counts are used as an indicator organism The sample material is placed in a nutrient bath and set aside in a sterile area The number of colonies that form are proportional to how many microbial organisms are present in a sample Salts Problems associated with excess salt: High salt concentrations detrimental to plant growth and can damage . Fundamental Concepts: Fundamental Concepts: Overview of Water Quality Overview of Water Quality Ann Kenimer Ann Kenimer Texas. S. and S. Shelden Shelden . . 2005. Fundamental Concepts: Water Quality 2005. Fundamental Concepts: Water Quality - - Power Point Presentation. Power