CEE 5134

Deoxygenation Reaeration
and the
The Streeter-Phelps Equation
Thomas J. Grizzard
25 October, 2007

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Streeter-Phelps History
Modeling of oxygen dynamics in flowing waters has
become a sophisticated discipline in the 21st century
Modern models are built on the work of Streeter and
Phelps on the Ohio River in the first quarter of the 20th
century (1914 1925)
Developed a relationship to predict longitudinal oxygen
profile in flowing waters as a function of:
Strength of degradable organic matter
Consisting of mix of background BOD in stream and BOD
introduced by a waste discharge

Rate of diffusion of oxygen into the water from the

atmosphere
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Who Were Streeter and Phelps?

Beginning in 1913, USPHS maintained a laboratory in
Cincinnati dedicated to the study of the manifold
problems of stream sanitation
Eventually morphed into the EPA Cincinnati Laboratory

H.W. Streeter: Sanitary Engineer at the USPHS

Cincinnati Lab
E.B. Phelps: Professor of Sanitary Science at Institute of
Public Health of the College of Physicians and Surgeons
at Columbia University
Studies on the oxygen dynamics of the Ohio River were
commissioned in 1914 and 1915 by Surgeon General
W.H. Frost
In 1925, Phelps dedicates his book, Stream Sanitation, to
the memory of Frost
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Key Historical Publications

Purdy, W.C., A Study of the Pollution and Natural Purification of the
Ohio River, Vol. I, The Plankton and Related Organisms, Public
Health Bulletin No. 133, U.S. Public Health Service, Washington,
D.C., 1923.
Streeter, H.W. and W.H. Frost, A Study of the Pollution and Natural
Purification of the Ohio River, Vol. II, Report on Surveys and
Laboratory Studies, Public Health Bulletin No. 143, U.S. Public
Health Service, Washington, D.C., 1924.
Streeter, H.W. and E. B. Phelps, A Study of the Pollution and
Natural Purification of the Ohio River, Vol. III, Factors Concerned in
the Phenomena of Oxidation and Reaeration, Public Health Bulletin
No. 146, U.S. Public Health Service, Washington, D.C., 1925.
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Effect of Organic Wastes on Stream Ecosystems

Streeter-Phelps Model: Dissolved Oxygen Sag Curve
The Streeter-Phelps Equation is integral to most of the
widely used dissolved oxygen models in use today
Addition of degradable organic matter (BOD) to a flowing
watercourse causes a slow decrease in O2, caused by
heterotrophic metabolism
Opposing deoxygenation is reaeration, which proceeds at
a rate proportional to the concentration deficit (relative to
the saturation concentration)

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Oxygen Sag Effects on Biological Communities

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Components of the Oxygen Sag Curve

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Definitions for the DO Sag Curve

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Streeter-Phelps Model Assumptions

Stream behaves as an ideal plug flow reactor (PFR)

Flow rate, stream cross section and longitudinal velocity

are constant
Physical, chemical, and biochemical reactions of interest
are BOD exertion and O2 transfer across air-water
interface
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Streeter-Phelps Model Limitations

Considers only one sink for DO Degrading BOD
Missing: NOD, SOD, nonpoint sources, algal respiration,
degradation of microbial products

Considers only one source for DO Atm. Reaeration

Missing: Algal photosynthesis

Downstream movement is by advection only (ideal PFR).

Missing: Dispersion/Diffusion

Velocity, depth, BOD exertion, and reaeration are

invariant with distance
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1st Order BOD Exertion Relationship

It has been shown that, under experimental conditions
approximating those prevailing in a stream containing
reserve dissolved oxygen, this reaction an orderly and
consistent one, proceeding at a measurable rate, and
according to the following law:
The rate of biochemical oxidation of organic matter is
proportional to the remaining concentration of unoxidized
substance, measured in terms of oxidizability.
- Phelps, Earle B.

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Quantitatively Stating the BOD Exertion Relationship

As long as oxygen is present, the rate of biochemical
oxidation of organic matter is proportional to the amount
of organic matter remaining.
dL
dt = rate of BOD exertion = -k dL
d
where : L = organic matter remaining at time, t,
oxygen concentration units, mg / L

k d = first - order BOD rate coefficient, t -1

dL
Separate variables :
= -k ddt
L
Integrate & apply boundary conditions (L = L0 @ t = t 0 ) :
L = L0e
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-k d t

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What does BOD exertion look like?

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Summary of BOD Exertion

As long as oxygen is present, the decline in
BOD remaining (L) is exponential
If the system is closed, such as in a BOD bottle,
the DO supply is fixed, and no replenishment
from the atmosphere can take place
This is the case for laboratory BOD measurements
Allows construction of a quantitative DO budget between
start and the finish of the test

Whats different about what happens in the world?

System is open
BOD is exerted, but DO depletion is opposed by
continuous replenishment from the atmosphere
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Oxygen Replenishment by Atmospheric Reaeration

Reaeration rate is 1st order with oxygen deficit
Rate coefficient is related to stream characteristics:
Velocity, Turbulence, Depth

dC
dt

= rate of reaeration = +k r (Cs - C)

r

where,
Cs = saturation oxygen concentration, mg / L
k r = first - order reaeration rate coefficient, t -1
Can also express in terms of the saturation deficit, D = Cs - C
dD
Giving :
= -k rD
dt
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What Does Reaeration Look Like?

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Reaeration: OConnor and Dobbins Formula

Based on surface renewal theory
Model is that parcels of water are brought to air-water
interface for some finite time period
Gas exchange takes place only while a water parcel is at
the surface
After moving away from the surface, water parcel mixes
with the liquid bulk

SI :

English Customary:

U0.5
k r = 3.93 1.5
H

U0.5
k r = 12.9 1.5
H

k r (d-1 ), U (mps), H (m)

k r (d-1 ), U (fps), H (f)

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Reaeration: Churchill et al. (1962) Formula

Based on empirical studies of reaeration of undersaturated waters downstream of dams on the Tennessee
River
Correlated measured reaeration rates with velocity (U)
and depth of flow (H)
SI :

English Customary:

U
k r = 5.026 1.67
H

U
k r = 11.6 1.67
H

k r (d-1 ), U (mps), H (m)

k r (d-1 ), U (fps), H (f)

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Reaeration: Owens and Gibbs (1964) Formula

Conducted studies of British streams where oxygen was
artificially depleted by sulfite additione
Combined British and Tennessee River data
Correlated measured reaeration rates with velocity (U) and
depth of flow (H):
SI :
U0.67
k r = 5.32 1.85
H

English Customary:
U0.67
k r = 21.6 1.85
H

k r (d-1 ), U (mps), H (m)

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k r (d-1), U (fps), H (f)

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Atmospheric Reaeration

Input stream velocity

and depth of flow
Select kr (d-1) at
intersection of
flow and depth
coordinates
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Depth, (ft)

OConnor & Dobbins

Churchill
Owens-Gibbs

Depth, (m)

Method of Covar (1976)

Uses formulae of:

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Reaeration Coefficient Estimation from Stream Descriptions

Water Body Description

kr
(days-1 @ 20 oC)

Small ponds and backwaters

0.10-0.23

Sluggish streams and large lakes

0.23-0.35

Large streams of low velocity

0.35-0.46

Large streams of normal velocity

0.46-0.69

Swift streams

0.69-1.15

Rapids and waterfalls

> 1.15
Source: Peavy, Rowe and Tchobanoglous, 1985

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 Rule of Thumb is that biochemical reaction rates

double with a 10 oC temperature increase
(Vant Hoff Rule)
Arrhenius Equation may be used to more
Vant Hoff
rigorously correct rate coefficients for
differences in temperature:
E(T -T )

a2 a1
k Ta2
RTa2 Ta1
=e
k Ta2
Over the range of natural temperatures
(0 - 40 oC), the product of Ta2 gTa1 is ~ constant,
and allows us to define :

Arrhenius

= e RTa2Ta1 ... and 1st equation becomes : k T2 = k T1(T2-T1)

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Source: www.wikipedia.com

Temperature Corrections for Rate Coefficients

Determine BODULT in Stream after Mixing with Discharge

Construct mass balance on river flow and waste
discharge to get BODULT of mixture:
L0 =

QrLr + Q wL w
Qr + Q w

River
Flow

Mixed
Flow

Q r, L r

Qr+Qw, L0

where,
3

Qr = Flow in River, L / t
Q w = Flow of Wastewater Discharge, L3 / t

Waste Qw,
Input
Lw

Lr = Ultimate BOD of river water, m / L3

L w = Ultimate BOD of wastewater discharge, m / L3
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Simplified Schematic Representation of Model

Assume PF and define control volume as a unit rectangle

Control volume moves downstream at constant velocity
Determine the initial oxygen content after mixing (L0)
Compute DO at any time by solving differential equation
for BOD exertion and atmospheric reaeration

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Differential Equation for Predicting Longitudinal DO Profile

Identify a single fluid element in the stream
Constant volume
Constant velocity

Write a mass balance for oxygen on the element as

affected by BOD exertion and atmospheric rearation:
Accumulation = input output reaction
dC
V
= QinCin - Qout Cout - (BOD exertion)gV + (Rearation)gV
dt
Since the fluid element is intact, there is no flow in or out,
and the mass balance becomes:
dC
V
= 0in - 0out - (BOD exertion)gV + (Rearation)gV
dt
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Streeter-Phelps Development, continued

Remember the mass balance :
dC
V =
dt

dC

dt

dC
gV
+ dt
deox

gV
reaer

Substitute the rate expressions :

dC
= -k dL + k r (Cs - C)
dt
For math convenience, express in terms of deficit, D = Cs - C :
dD
dC
= 0 - = k dL - k rD
dt
dt
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Streeter-Phelps Development, continued

Substitute the BOD Exertion Expression :
dD
= k dL 0 e-k dt - k rD
dt
Rearrange to :
dD
+ k rD = k dL 0 e -k dt
dt
The above is of the standard form :
dz
+Pz = Q
dx
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(which is not separable)

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Streeter-Phelps Development, continued

Use the integrating factor :

k r dt

e
= ek r t

Multiplying each term by the integrating factor gives :

dD kr t
e + k rD
e kr t = k dL 0e -kdt ekr t
dt
And....
d
Dekr t = k dL0 e(kr -k d )t
dt
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Streeter-Phelps Development, continued

Separate variables and integrate :
(k r -k d )t
kr t

dt

d
De
=
k
L
e
d 0

Giving :
k dL0 (kr -k d )t
De =
e
+C
kr - k d
kr t

At boundaries of t = 0 and D = D0 , we have :

k dL0 0
D0 e =
e + C ....
k r - k d
0

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k dL 0
C = D 0
k
r kd

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Streeter-Phelps Development, continued

Applying the integration constant :
k dL0
k dL0 (kr -kd )t
De =
e
+ D0 -

kr - k d
k
k
r d
kr t

Solving for D :
k dL 0 -k dt
k dL 0
-kr t
-kr t
D=
e
+
D
e
e

0
k
k
k
r kd
r d

By grouping like terms, simplify to :

k dL 0
-k d t
-kr t
-k r t
D=
(e
e
)
+
D
e

0
k
k
r d
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Streeter-Phelps Development, continued

Expressing in terms of DO Concentration :
k dL0

-k d t
-k r t
-kr t
C = (Cs - D) = Cs -
(e - e ) + D0 e
k r - k d

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Compute the Critical Deficit

The critical deficit (D) occurs where the rate of change of
D with time = 0 (dD/dt =0)
May be computed from the original DE by setting the 1st
derivative equal to zero:

dD
= 0 = k dL0 e-k dt - k rDC
dt
Rearrange to :
kd
-k d t
DC = L 0 e
kr
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Time to Reach the Critical Deficit (Lowest DO)

dD
=0:
dt

dD
d k dL0
-k d t
-k r t
-k r t
=0=
(e - e ) + D0e
dt
dt k r - k d

As noted, the critical deficit is where

Taking the derivatives and simplifying :

k dL0
-k d t
-k r t
-k r t
0=
(-k
e
+
k
e
)
D
k
e

d
r
0 r
k
k
r d
Divide by e-kr t , take natural logs on both sides and solve for t :
k r
D0 (k r - k d )
1
tc =
ln 1
k
k
k
k
L
d 0
r d
d

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Deoxygenation and Recovery in a Flowing Stream

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A Streeter-Phelps Model Example Problem

Wastewater mixes with a river resulting in:
BOD = 10.9 mg/L
DO = 7.6 mg/L
Temperature = 20 C

Deoxygenation constant = 0.2 day-1

Average flow = 0.3 m/s
Average depth = 3.0 m
What is the distance downstream of the maximum
oxygen deficit?
What is the minimum value of DO?
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