Lecture-6

Waste Water Characteristics

Books:
1. Environmental Engineering by Saurabh Kumar Soni
2. Environmental Engineering and Management by Dr.
Suresh K. Dhameja
3. Introduction to Environmental Engineering by Richard O.
Mines and Laura W. Lackey

Prepared by:
Engr. Mudassir Abbas
Department of Civil Engineering
NFC IET Multan
Temperature
Temperature is commonly higher than water supply because of addition of
warm water from households and industrial activities.
As specific heat of water (4.187 kJ/kg-K) is much greater than that of air
(1.005 kJ/kg-K), the observed wastewater temperature are higher than the
local air temperature during most of the year and lower only during hottest
summer months.
Depending upon geography, the mean annual temperature of wastewater
varies from 10 to 21.10C (50-700F). 15.60C (600F) is representative value.
Depending on the location and time of years, the effluent temperature can
either be higher or lower than corresponding influent values.
The temperature of water is very important due to effects on chemical
reactions, aquatic life and suitability of water for beneficial uses.
pH
pH of most natural water falls within 4 to 9. the majority of water are
slightly basic (over 7.0) because of presence of carbonate and
bicarbonate.
The pH increases to acidic during daytime due to photosynthetic activity
because of consumption of CO2 where it declines at night due to
respiratory activity.
By definition, pH is the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion
concentration, more precisely hydrogen ion activity.
pH
As pH is expressed in logarithmic scale, a drop of 1 unit of pH value
(e.g from 7 to 6) is equivalent to an increase in 10 times acid intensity.
It is important in water supplies, water softening, disinfection and
corrosion control. Lower pH causes corrosion, high pH causes taste,
soapy feel.
pH<8.0 is preferable for effective disinfection with chlorine.
Color
Color in water may result from presence of natural metallic ions (iron and
manganese), humus and peat material, plankton, weeds.
Iron oxide causes reddish water and manganese oxide causes brown or blackish
water.
Industrial wastes from textile and dying operation, pulp and paper production, food
processing, mining and coal processing operations, refinery, slaughter house
operation may add substantial colors in water in receiving system.
Color can be described relative to type and density the type being related whether it
is true color (dissolved) caused by colloidal particles or apparent color (filterable)
caused by suspended matter. It is expressed in Hazen units.
The color values measured by comparison with the platinum-cobalt standards.
Fresh sewage is light grey in colour. While the old sewage is dark grey in colour.
At a temperature of above 200c, sewage will change from fresh to old in 2 to 6
hours.
Odor (Ton)
Many substances with which water comes in contact may impart
perceptible odor and taste. These includes mineral, salts, metals from
soil, inorganic substances are more likely to cause taste unaccompanied
by odor.
Organic substances on other hands causes both taste and odor.
In domestic use, gases produced by decomposition of organic matter
causes odor. The most characteristics of odor of stale or septic
wastewater is that of H2S.
Solids
Solids refer to matter suspended or dissolved in water or wastewater.
A max limit of 500mg/L is permissible for drinking water.
Five types of solids are analyzed for water or wastewater.
1. TOTAL SOLIDS: Include both suspended and dissolved solids. It
is measured by evaporating a known volume of sample and then
weighting the residue. Results are expressed in mg/L.
2. SUSPENDED SOLIDS: These are solids which are not passed from
a pre-weighed glass fibre filter of 0.45µ at 103-1050C.
Where µ is 10-6.
Solids
3. DISSOLVED SOLID: Filtrate which has passed thought 0.45µ filter
is evaporated in chine dish. The residue gives the dissolved solids.
4. SETTLEABLE SOLIDS: It is the fraction of the solids that will
settle in an imhoff cone (shown in figure) in 30-60 minutes. These
are expressed as mg/L.
5. VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS:
They give a rough measure of the organic content or in some instances
of the concentration of BIOLOGICAL SOLIDS such as bacteria.
The determination is made by ignition of residues on 0.45µ filter in a
Muffle furnace at 5500C.
The residues following the ignition is called non-volatile solids or ash
and is rough measure of the mineral content of the waste water.
(Note:- Most of the inorganic and mineral content do not volatilize at
5500C and are quite resistant).
Nitrogen
Four forms of nitrogen namely nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), nitrite nitrogen
(NO2-N), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) and organic nitrogen may be present
in water or wastewater.
The Kjedhal Nitrogen (TKN) is the sum of nitrogen contained in the free
ammonia and other nitrogen compounds which are converted to ammonium
sulphate under the specific digestion conditions (ASTM 1995).
According to Melcalf and Eddy (1995)
i. For strong sewage TKN = 85mg/L (organic=35mg/L + NH3-N=50mg/L)
ii. Medium strength TKN = 40mg/L (organic=15mg/L + NH3-N=25mg/L)
iii. Low strength TKN = 20mg/L (organic=8mg/L + NH3-N=12mg/L)
Phosphorus
Phosphorus occurs in water or wastewater almost solely as phosphates.
These are classified as:
i. Orthophosphate
ii. Condensed phosphates
iii. Organically bound phosphates
In sewage, concentration of phosphorus (P) has been reported in the
range of 4mg/L (organic P = 3mg/L and inorganic P =1mg/L) to 15mg/L
(organic P = 5mg/L and inorganic P =10mg/L)
Chlorides
Chlorides occur in all natural waters in widely varying conditions. The
chloride content normally increases as the mineral content increases.
Upland and mountain supplies usually are quite low in chloride and high in
rivers and groundwaters.
At concentrations above 250mg/L, it gives salty taste of water which is
objectionable.
So standard value of 250mg/L has been set by US EPA and WHO.
In many areas of world where water supplies are scarce, sources containing as
much as 2000mg/L are used for domestic purposes without the development
of adverse effects, once human system becomes adopted to the water.
Toxic Metals and Compounds
Metals with specific gravity greater than ‘5’ are termed as heavy metals.
The most important route for elimination of heavy or toxic metals is via
kidney.
Kidney contains millions of excretory units called nephrons. Chemicals
that are toxic to the kidney are called nephrotoxins.
Nephrotoxins contain
i. Heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ag, Zn)
ii. Non-metal (As, Se)
iii. Others (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe)
Sr# Elements in IS (1991) WHO (1984) USEPA Remarks
mg/L (1974)
1 Arsenic (As) 0.05 (no 0.05 0.05 Dermal and nervous system toxity.
relaxation)
2 Copper (Cu) 0.05 to 1.5 1.0 to 1.5 1.00 Desirable
3 Cadmium 0.01 0.005 0.01 Kidney effect
(Cd)
4 Chromium 0.05 0.05 0.05 Liver/Kidney effect
(Cr6+)
5 Iron (Fe) 0.1-0.3 0.3 0.3 Taste/appearance affected
6 Lead (Pb) 0.1 0.05 0.05 Central nervous system (CNS),
Peripheral nervous system (PNS) and
kidney
7 Manganese 0.1-0.5 0.1 0.05 Hardness, taste, gastrointestinal
(Mn) irritation
8 Mercury (Hg) 0.001 0.001 0.002 CND disorder
9 Silver (Ag) No value set No value set 0.05 Skin discoloration
10 Zinc (Zn) 5-15 5 5 Desirable
Sewage
Sewage is a type of wastewater that is produced by a community of
people. It is typically transported through a sewer system.
Sewage consists of wastewater discharged from residences and from
commercial, institutional and public facilities that exist in the locality.
Types of sewage:
1. Greywater (from sinks, bathtubs, showers, dishwashers, and clothes
washers)
2. Blackwater (the water used to flush toilets, combined with
the human waste that it flushes away)
Sewage
Sewage usually travels from a building's plumbing either into a sewer,
which will carry it elsewhere, or into an onsite sewage facility.
Collection of sewage of several households together usually takes places
in either sanitary sewers or combined sewers (both are used to take
stormwater).
Sewage
Factors affecting sewage production:
A range of factors influence water consumption and hence the sewage
flowrates per person.
1. Water availability
2. Water supply options
3. Climate (warmer climates may lead to greater water consumption))
4. Community size
5. Economic level of community
6. Industrialization
7. Water cost
8. Water pressure (depends on distribution system)
Characteristics
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Bacteria placed in contact with organic matter will utilize it
as food source. In the utilization of the organic material it will
eventually be oxidized to stable end products such as CO2
and H2O.

“The amount of oxygen required by the bacteria to oxidize

the organic matter present in sewage to stable end products
is known as biological oxygen demand (BOD).”
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Biological oxidation of organic matter by bacteria is considered to be a
first order reaction for all practical purposes.
In a first order reaction, the rate of reaction is directly proportional to
the concentration of the reactant present.
So, we can say that in case of biological oxidation of organic matter
by bacteria, the rate of oxidation is proportional to the organic matter
REMAINING.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Note:
Reactant is the reactive matter which participates in making products
in a reaction may or may not be in the presence of catalyst (helps in
reaction without participating in reaction) or heat or water. They
consume during reaction and lost their quantity or concentration in
irreversible reaction.
Products are final outcomes of the reaction made from reactants. As
they are manufactured so their concentration increase in irreversible
reaction.
In case of reversible reaction, both products and reactants are present
in their original amount as reaction proceeds in both ways.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Significance:
1. Used in design of waste water treatment plants.

2. Used to measure efficiency of waste water treatment

plant.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Equation:
Let
C = Concentration of organic matter at any time ‘t’
C0 = Initial case of organic matter at t=0 i.e. (Ultimate or
maximum BOD).
𝑪 = 𝑪𝟎 𝒆−𝑲𝒕
C0 should be greater than C and C0 can be equal to C when
time approaches infinity.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Let ‘y’ be the concentration of organic matter (BOD) consumed up to
time ‘t’.
𝑦 = 𝐶0 − 𝐶 y cannot be negative.
𝑦 = 𝐶0 − 𝐶0 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡
𝑦 = 𝐶0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡 )
i.e BOD consumed = ultimate BOD (1 – e –Kt) in ‘t’ days
Typical value of K = 0.23 per day for domestic sewage at 20oC.
Where K is temperature dependent per day. For value at any other
temperatures (T)
𝐾𝑇 = 𝐾20 (1.047)𝑇−20
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Example 1:
The 5 day BOD of waste water is 190mg/l. determine ultimate BOD
assuming K = 0.25 per day.
Let
C =Concentration of organic matter at any time ‘t’
Co = Initial case of organic matter at t=0 (Ultimate or maximum BOD) and
y be the concentration of organic matter (BOD) consumed up to time ‘t’
𝑦5 = 𝐶0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡 )
190 = 𝐶0 1 − 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡
Where e= 2.718
190 = 𝐶0 1 − 2.718−0.25𝑥5 = 𝟐𝟔𝟔. 𝟐𝟗𝒎𝒈/𝑳
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Example 2:
Calculate the ultimate BOD for a sewage whose 5 day BOD at 20oC is
250 mg/l. Assume K = 0.23 per day. What will be BOD after 2 days?
Solution:
𝑦5 = 𝐶0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡 )
250 = 𝐶0 1 − 2.718−.23𝑥5
250 = 𝐶0 0.683
𝑪𝟎 = 𝟑𝟔𝟓. 𝟖𝟒𝒎𝒈/𝑳
For BOD consumed after 2 days (so y2)
𝑦2 = 𝐶0 (1 − 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡 )
𝑦2 = 365.84 1 − 2.718−0.23𝑥2 = 𝟏𝟑𝟒. 𝟖𝟗𝒎𝒈/𝑳
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Example 3:
The BOD remaining in a sewage sample after 4 and 8 days was 160 and 60 mg/l respectively at 20oC. Calculate the 5 day
BOD of the sewage at 25oC.
Solution:
𝑪 = 𝑪𝟎 𝒆−𝑲𝒕
𝟏𝟔𝟎 = 𝑪𝟎 𝒆−𝟒𝒌 BOD after 4 days
160
𝐶0 = -----Equation 1
𝒆−𝟒𝒌
𝟔𝟎 = 𝑪𝟎 𝒆−𝟖𝒌 -----Equation 2 BOD after 8 days
Put value of equation 1 into 2
160
60 = x(𝒆−𝟖𝒌 ) 0.375 = 𝑒 4𝑘−8𝑘 0.375 = 𝑒 −4𝑘 Equation 3
𝒆−𝟒𝒌
Take natural log (ln) on both sides of equation 3 and hence we reduce 𝑒 −4𝑘 to just -4k as natural log (ln) and power e are anti to
each other, so they cancel out each other.
ln(0.375)=-4k -0.98=-4k K=0.245 Put K in equation 1 or 2
60 = 𝑪𝟎 (𝟐. 𝟕𝟏𝟖−𝟎.𝟐𝟒𝟓𝒙𝟖 ) = 𝟒𝟐𝟔𝒎𝒈/𝑳
Continued
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Example 3:
The BOD remaining in a sewage sample after 4 and 8 days was 160 and
60 mg/l respectively at 20oC. Calculate the 5 day BOD of the sewage
at 25oC.
Solution:
We have equation of K for any temperature (here 250C) using K20 (at 200C)
𝐾𝑇 = 𝐾20 (1.047)𝑇−20 𝐾25 = 𝐾20 (1.047)25−20
𝐾25 = 0.245(1.047)25−20 = 0.308 per day
For BOD consumed after 5 days (so y5)
𝑦5 = 𝐶0 1 − 𝑒 −𝐾𝑡 𝑦5 = 426 1 − 𝑒 −0.308𝑥5 =334.67mg/L