ECH 5512 WATER MANAGEMENT PROF DR AZNI IDRIS

Chapter 3 Water Quality Parameters

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1. Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

Dissolved oxygen refers to the amount of oxygen (O) dissolved in water. Oxygen from the atmosphere is mixed into (diffuses into) the water from the atmosphere. Where water is rough , the oxygen and the water mix more easily, resulting in more oxygen from the atmosphere being dissolved in the water. Oxygen is also introduced into water by green aquatic plants and algae during photosynthesis. Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water. For example, pure water at 4C (just above freezing) can hold about 13.2 mg/L dissolved oxygen at 100 percent saturation, while pure water at 250C can hold only 8.4 mg/L at 100 percent saturation.
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- The higher the concentration of DO, the better the water quality. - Changes in water temperature have a significant effect on DO concentrations. - Do not have direct effect on public health, but can lead to corrosion or rusting of metal pipes. - Determined by using standard wet chemistry methods or using membrane electrode meters. DO > 2 mg/l DO > 5 mg/l Low DO < 1 mg/l DO = 0 = good = very good = bad = ??
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Oxygen Dynamic in Coastal Water

Green boxes : Processes that increase dissolved oxygen concentrations Orange boxes :Processes that decrease dissolved oxygen concentrations
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2. Water Temperature
y Many of the physical, biological and chemical characteristics of surface water are dependent on temperature. y If temperatures are outside the optimal range for a prolonged period, organisms are stressed and can die. Macroinvertebrates (for example, insects, crayfish, worms, clams and snails) will move in the stream bed to find their optimal temperature. y The temperature of the water also affects the volume of dissolved oxygen it can hold (water s ability to contain dissolved oxygen decreases as water temperature rises). y Water temperature is affected by the seasons and can also be affected by weather, discharging cooling water, discharging stormwater and groundwater influx
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Temperature and living fish

3. Color and odor

- Esthetic reasons, caused by dissolved or suspended colloidal particles. - Measured by comparing the water sample with standard solutions or colored glass disks. - One color is equivalent to the color produced by a 1 mg/l solution of platinum. - Measure for color: PtCo or ADMI
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Colour in textile effluent

486 PtCo

680 PtCo

1744 PtCo

6175 PtCo

4. Transparency
y Transparency, like turbidity, is a measure of how far light can travel in water. Although the suspended particles that influence the turbidity reading can include organic particles (microbes, algae and plant particles and animal detritus) as well as inorganic particles (silt and clay particles. The fewer particles that occur suspended in a sample of water, the easier it is for light to travel and the higher the water s transparency, or clarity. y Transparency is measured using a Secchi disk or a transparency tube (a plastic tube with a Secchi disk pattern at its base). Transparency is the distance (in centimeters) through the water from which a person can clearly see the pattern on a Secchi disk.
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5. Turbidity
y Turbidity, is a measure of water clarity (how far light can travel through water). The more particles suspended in a sample of water, the more difficult it is for light to travel through it and the higher the water s turbidity or murkiness. y Oxygen levels decrease in turbid waters as they become warmer as the result of heat absorption from the sunlight by the suspended particles . y Turbidity is measured by an instrument called a nephelometer and is reported in nephelometric units (NTUs).

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Turbidity ..
- Small particles that suspended on water tend to scatter and absorb light rays. - Cause by clay, silt, tiny fragments of org. matter and microscopic org. - Provide hiding places for harmful microorg. and shield from disinfection process. - The greater the turbidity, the greater the amount of chemicals needed.

Measure: NTU Acceptable drinking water quality : below 5 NTU

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pH
y The pH value of water, on a scale of 0 to 14, measures the concentration of hydrogen ions. The pH represents the balance between hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in water. Solutions with more hydrogen than hydroxide ions have a pH value lower than 7 and are said to be acidic. y Water with a pH of less than 4.8 or greater than 9.2 can be harmful to aquatic life. Most freshwater fish prefer water with a pH range between 6.5 and 8.4 . The pH is also a useful indicator of the chemical balance in water. A high or low y pH will adversely affect the availability of certain chemicals or nutrients in the water for use by plants.

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Hardness
y Waters, that contain a significant concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, strontium, iron and manganese, are called hard because it takes a large amount of soap to produce a lather or foam with these waters. When hard waters are heated in water heaters, hot water pipes and boilers, for example, they leave a mineral deposit called scale. y Total hardness is expressed as mg/L of calcium carbonate because calcium and carbonate are the dominant ions in most hard waters. The following table gives the concentration of calcium carbonate dissolved in water by its degree of hardness.
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Alkalinity
y Alkalinity is a measure of all the substances in

water that can resist a change in pH when acid is added to the water. y Alkalinity is typically expressed in mg/L of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) because calcium carbonate is a good acid neutralizer. y Water with low alkalinity has a low capacity to neutralize or buffer incoming acids and is very susceptible to acidic pollution. Sufficient alkalinity in water protects aquatic life against rapid changes in pH and makes water less vulnerable to acid rain.
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Table 1: Alkalinity of Selected Rivers

Site Missouri River, St. Joseph, MO Missouri River, Garrison Dam, ND Cataloochee Creek, Cataloochee, NC Columbia River, Northport, WA Merrimack River, Lowell, MA Alkalinity (mg/L CaCO3)

224 178 626 49 7

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Alkalinity - Bicarbonate level

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Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

y Biochemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon measure the level of organic carbon in wastewater and in natural waters. y Indirect measure of the total amount of biodegradable org. in water and measure of the strength of waste. y BOD5 : the amount of DO used by microbes in 5 days to decompose org. substances in water at 20oC.

- Carbonaceous matter is a food source for bacteria = CBOD - Bacteria can also oxidize reduced forms of nitrate = NBOD

Polluted water BOD = ??

Std BOD = 20 mg/l for rivers used drinking water

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http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/water/interactive/soe-ri-bod

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Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

- Measure all organics including non-biodegradable substances. - The capacity of water to consume oxygen during decomposition of organic matter and oxidation of inorganic chemicals such as ammonia and nitrite. - Uses a strong chemical oxidant (potassium dichromate), acid, and heat to oxidize organic carbon to carbon dioxide and water. Measures the amount of dichromate (oxidant) consumed in the breakdown of organic matter.

COD = BOD (organic ) + inorganic. (BOD/COD < 1.0)

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COD vs BOD
BOD Faster process control Different methods of oxidation Know what you are sending downstream within five days. Microorganisms are susceptible to pH, temperature, and other variables in the water. Oxidation efficiency depends on the condition of the microorganisms. COD Know what you are sending downstream within two hours. Chemicals (potassium dichromate) more stable. Potassium dichromate will oxidize regardless of water conditions.

Oxidation condition

BOD/COD = measures biodegradability = 0.5

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Solid
Type of Solid Total Suspended Solid TSS Description solids in water that can be trapped by a filter Content silt, decaying plant and animal matter, industrial wastes, sewage. Effect clog fish gills, reduced rates of photosynthesis, reduce growth rates, decrease resistance to disease, and prevent egg and larval development.

Total Dissolved Solid TDS

amount of material dissolved in water

carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, organic ions, and other ions

reduce water clarity, contribute to a decrease photosynthesis, combine with toxic compounds and heavy metals, and lead to an increase in water temperature.

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Type of Solid Settle able Solids

Description coarser fraction of the SS that readily settle out because of gravity. solids lost on ignition (heating to 550oC.)

Benefits

Volatile Suspended Solid

useful to the treatment plant operator because they give a rough approximation of the amount of organic matter present in the solid fraction of wastewater, activated sludge and industrial wastes.

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LEVEL OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS IN RIVERS

100-200 mg/1
Shire River (at Kamuzu Barrage) Diamphwe River (at Chilowa Bridge) Lingadzi Riveeer (At M1 Bridge) South Rukuru River (at Chimwewezo) Lunyangwa River (at Ekwendeni)

200-300 mg/1
Lunzu River at Whayo Mpira River at Ntcheu Lilongwe River (lower portion)

300-400 mg/1
Lilongwe river (at Likuni) Likhubula River (at Mulanje)

<400 mg/1
Mwanza River (at Mwanza) Thondwe River (at Zomba Bridge) Livulezi River (at Linthipe) Linthipe River (at Linthipe) Nanjiri River (at Mzimba) North Rukuru River (at Karonga)
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Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

y Total organic carbon is a measure of the organic matter in water in terms of the organic carbon content. Naturally-occurring organic material from decaying plants and animals contributes to the total organic carbon levels in rivers. Human sources of organic carbon can include petroleum products, pesticides and herbicides. y Total organic carbon itself is not regulated but is an important consideration for the operators of water treatment plants when they consider disinfection practices. When chlorine is used to disinfect water supplies, it reacts with total organic carbon to form chlorinated organic compounds that are collectively referred to as disinfection byproducts, which are cancer-causing compounds. The levels of these compounds in drinking water are regulated under the U.S.
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Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

y Total dissolved solids is a measure of the total amount of

all the materials that are dissolved in water. These materials, both natural and anthropogenic (made by humans) are mainly inorganic solids and a minor amount of organic material. Total dissolved solids can vary greatly from a few milligrams per liter to percent levels (tens of thousands of milligrams per liter), depending on the type of water. Seawater contains 3.5 percent (35,000 mg/L) total dissolved solids. y The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s Secondary Drinking Water Standards recommend that the total dissolved solids concentrations in drinking water not exceed 500 mg/L, based on taste and aesthetics. 29

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

y The volume of particles that float in a sample of water

is called total suspended solids. The greater the total suspended solids in the water, the higher its turbidity and the lower its transparency (clarity).
y The volume of total suspended solids can be estimated

from measurements of turbidity or transparency, but an accurate total suspended solids measurement involves carefully weighing the amount of suspended material from a water sample. y TSS of polluted river= ???
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Suspended solid conc. vs turbidity

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Ammonia (NH3)
y Ammonia is a source of nitrogen (N), an important nutrient for plants and algae. Ammonia is excreted by animals and is produced during the decomposition of plants and animals. y Ammonia in Water y At the temperature and pH range typical of most rivers and lakes, ammonia exists predominantly in the ionized form (NH4+). As pH and temperature increase, the ionized ammonia changes to un-ionized ammonia gas (NH3). Ammonia gas can be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. y If dissolved oxygen is present, ammonia can easily be broken down by nitrifying bacteria to form nitrite and nitrate.
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Nitrite and Nitrate

y Nitrite and nitrate are sources of nitrogen, an important nutrient

for plants and algae. Nitrates are used in fertilizers and also occur in effluent discharges from wastewater treatment plants and runoff from animal feedlots. y Decomposition of the plant and algal material by bacteria can deplete dissolved oxygen, adversely impacting fish and other aquatic animals. y As early as 1940, it was recognized that consuming waters with high nitrate levels contributed to methemoglobinemia ( blue baby syndrome). This condition, usually in infants, impairs the ability of blood to carry oxygen to the body. y The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Primary Drinking Water Standards require that nitrate nitrogen not exceed 10 mg/L in public water supplies. Nitrite, much more toxic than nitrate, is regulated at a level not to exceed 1.0 mg/L in public water 33 supplies.

Phosphorus
y Phosphorus, is an important nutrient for plants and algae. Because

phosphorus is in short supply in most fresh waters, even a modest increase in phosphorus can cause excessive growth of plants and algae that deplete dissolved oxygen during their growth and as they decompose. y Excessive algae growth can also reduce the transparency of the water. Much of the excess phosphorus available to plants in the environment comes from farm and lawn fertilizers, runoff containing soil-bound phosphate, yard waste, runoff from animal feedlots, stormwater and certain industrial wastewaters. y Total phosphorous includes organic phosphorous and inorganic phosphate. Organic phosphorous is a part of living plants and animals. It is attached to particulate organic matter composed of once-living plants and animals. Inorganic phosphates comprise the ions bonded to soil particles and phosphates present in laundry detergents.
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Fecal Bacteria
y Members of two bacteria groups, coliforms and fecal streptococci, are

used to test for contamination from sewage. These bacteria are called fecal indicators because they live in the intestinal track of humans and animals and are found in human and animal feces. y The fecal indicators themselves are not harmful, but because they live in the same portion of the digestive system where disease causing microorganisms occur, the presence of these fecal bacteria in a water sample indicates that water might contain microorganisms harmful to human health. Sources of fecal contamination to surface waters include wastewater treatment plants, on-site septic systems, domestic and wild animal manure, and storm runoff.
y Fecal bacteria levels in water are determined by incubating a water

sample for 24 hours and then counting the number of bacterial colonies that grew during that time. The unit for reporting fecal bacteria is colony-producing units per 100 milliliters of water (CPU/100 mL). CPUs/100 mL is used interchangeably with organisms per 100 mL.
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What is E. coli? The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), belongs to a group of bacteria known as coliforms. These bacteria naturally reside in the intestinal tracts of mammals where they assist in the digestion of food. However, they can cause severe health problems when ingested in large amounts. E. coli can be found in rivers and lakes polluted with animal waste. E. coli does not live long outside of the body, so any amount detected in streams is an indication of a recent pollution event. What level of E. coli is unsafe? The USEPA has established a safety level of 265 colonies E. coli per 100mL of water sample. Water above this level are unsafe to swim in and to drink. Waters below this level are considered safe for full body contact .

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Where does it come from? Intestines of the warm municipal waste water blooded animals discharges, leachate from domestic septic systems E. Coli Escherichia coli, one of the most Intestines of humans and Indicator, but Stormwater run-off, sewer, common species of coliform animals can be a overflow bacteria; has a relatively short pathogen life span compared to more general coliform E. Coli One of hundreds of strains of Cattle farms, lambs, goats, Indictor, but Intestines of healthy cattle; O157:H7 bacterium Escherichia coli piglets, cats, deer, dogs, some are also contaminated meat rabbits, humans; in pathogens pastures and contaminated ground water Cryptosporida Infection by spore forming Water, ponds, reservoirs, Pathogen Mammals esp. livestock, / Giardia protozoan, parasites that infect other humans and urban dogs and wildlife human intestines; passed in the run-off feces of infected persons and animals in form of cysts, which remain in the ground for months and produce symptoms when ingested Enterococci; Among the most antibiotic Feces of most humans and Indicator Soil and animal waste Fecal resistant bacteria from humans many animals usually when near-shore Streptococci water receives large quantities of run off or freshwater flows Salmonella Type of bacteria that causes Food; pet reptiles Pathogen Mammals (especially dogs) typhoid fever and many other 38 infections of intestinal origin Microbial What is it? Indicator Fecal coliform Smaller group within the total coliform family

Where is it found?

Indicator/ Pathogen Indicator

Thank YOU..

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