Table of Contents

Abstract...........................................................................2
Objective..........................................................................2
Introduction...................................................................... 2
Theory.............................................................................. 3
Procedure......................................................................... 5
Observation and Results....................................................6
Discussion........................................................................8
Conclusion........................................................................9
Appendix........................................................................10
Questions.......................................................................12
References......................................................................14

Abstract
This report is gives a general idea of the quality of wastewater as
well as a brief insight into the acceptable standards as well. It also
makes one understand the condition in which aquatic life can
survive under.

Objective
The Objectives of this lab are:
i.

To familiarize the student with different tests used to determine the quality of

ii.

the wastewater samples.

To compare the difference in results between the influent and effluent of a

iii.

plant to determine its efficiency.

Familiarize the student with standards to determine if the effluent into the
natural environment is of acceptable levels and if not to develop
recommendations on how to improve the plants efficiency.

Introduction
Wastewater is any used water which has been adversely affected in quality by human
influence. [cited from lab script provided]. There are different types of Wastewater
which may originate from various places such as domestic, industrial, commercial,
etc. It includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and
chemicalsWastewater also includes storm runoffHarmful substances that wash
off roads, parking lots, and rooftops can harm our rivers and lakes. [Cited from
http://www.enviro-news.com/article/what_is_waste_water_and_why_treat_it.html].
In a natural state, earths life forms lives in equilibrium with their environment.
Due to the volumes of development that are present here in the 21st century, the
amount of wastewater being generated on a daily basis has increased an upset the
natural equilibrium.
Ocean disposal is the most original way to treat the wastes generated from
manHowever, the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater into the
ocean may result in contamination of the marine environment with pathogenic
organisms. (Lei Yang, 1999). This statement shows that a complete treatment process

is necessary as even partially treated wastewater can have a detrimental effect on the
environment. We ought to be concerned about the treatment of wastewater as a
healthy natural environment has a vast amount of benefits for humans (via recreation
and health), flora and fauna. Oxygen is a vital need of all living organisms whether it
is humans, vegetation or fishes. The higher the concentration of untreated wastewater,
the higher the biochemical and chemical oxygen demand due to increased presence of
microorganisms. As a result more of this vital gas is being depleted. This would
directly affect aquatic life and humans indirectly. The tests to be conducted for this lab
are:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

pH
Settleable Solids
Suspended Solids
Dissolved Oxygen
Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Theory
pH is the potential of Hydrogen of a solution. The pH is the measure of hydrogen
ion activity in a given sample. A pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. A
pH value less than 7 means the solution is acidic and a value more than 7 is obtained
for alkaline solutions. Measuring the pH of wastewater is vital as it determines
whether or not pre treatment will be needed prior to leasing it into a municipal
wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater originating from domestic use is usually
neutral. It is wastewater from industrial and commercial use (such as chemicals used
in the manufacturing process) which requires pre treatment. We dont want to have
acidic or alkaline solutions entering our natural environment as they can disrupt the
ecological balance that needs to be maintained.

The Settleable Solids test will give a basic visual representation of the efficiency
of a treatment plant. These solids are of large enough size and density such that they

should settle at the bottom of the wastewater solution after a certain time. The results
of the test will help determine whether or not a suitable percentage of the solids were
removed and whether or not the detention time in the sedimentation basin will have to
be increased.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) on the other hand are too small to settle to the
bottom. Usually to deal with this, coagulation and flocculation is used to clump the
particles together such that they collectively achieve a density high enough to
facilitate settling. Standards for effluent quality cover allowable TSS values which
can be compared against test values to determine whether amendments will need to be
made to the process.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels in wastewater along with the Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD) are direct indicators of the health of the water. As mentioned before,
all living organisms require oxygen for survival(4mg/L min.). The higher the DO
levels in water, the more aquatic life it can sustain. Also, the lower the BOD, the less
oxygen there is being depleted, leaving more to support any aquatic life that may be
present. These tests therefore see if the treatment plant has altered these components
to suitable values such that they will be suitable for discharge into the natural
environment.
The standards that the test results will be compared against are those of the
Environmental Management Authority quoting maximum permissible level or
condition of water pollutants discharged into the environment.

Procedure
The procedure presented in the Lab Manual was followed. Only three(3) changes
were made.
Dissolve Oxygen

12. Remove 99mL from BOD bottles

TTS

4. Pipette and filter 50-100mL volumes of sample taken from midway the total

volume of sample.
6. Transfer the filter back to the aluminum dish and put it to dry in an over at 103C105C for 24hrs

Observation and Results

Key:
IN- Influent
EF- Effluent
DO- Dissolve Oxygen
UF- Unfiltered
F- Filtered

Test 1: pH

Source
Influent
Effluent
Pond

pH
Electrod pH
e
Paper
7.63
7
7.67
7
7.36
6

Table 1: pH values using the strip and electrode methods.

Test 2: Settleable Solids

Time
1hr
2hr

IN1(mm/
L)
42
35

IN2(mm EF1(m
/L)
m/L)
11.5
40
21
34

EF2(m
m/L)
7
6

Table 2: Volume of settleable solids in the influent and effluent samples.

Test 3: Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Source
IN1
IN2
EF1
EF2
POND
1
PON2

Initial
weight(g),
M1
1.0769
1.0779
1.0854
1.0859
1.0867
1.0838

Volume(
mL)
50
50
50
50
100
100

Dry weight
(g), M2
1.1241
1.1237
1.1228
1.123
1.1188
1.1175

TSS(mg
/L)
944
916
748
742
321
337

Table 3: Weights before and after filtration of the suspended solids.

TSS=

M 2M 1
1.12411.1.0769
=
x 106=944 mg / L
Volume of sample filtered
50

( 994+ 916 ) ( 748+742 )

2
2
Average efficiency=
22
( 994+916 )
2

Test 4: Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

#
7
8

Sourc
e
IN
EF

9
10

POND
TAP
DISTILL
11
E

Final
Burette(
mL)
24.2
25.3

Dissol
ve
Oxyge
n
3.2
1.1

25.3
30.6

30.6
37.3

5.3
6.7

37.3

44.5

7.2

Initial
Burette
(mL)
21
24.2

Table 4: Results for Dissolved Oxygen Test.

Test 5: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

#
A

Source
IN

EF

POND

TAP
DISTILL
E

DO(mg Tem
/L)
p.
0.85
27.7
27.6
0.92
4
27.2
5.89
5
28.3
7.29
1
28.2
7.7
7

Table 5: Initial Readings for the undiluted samples.

#
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74

Sourc
e
IN-UF
IN-UF
IN-F
IN-F
EF-UF
EF-UF
EF-F
EF-F

Initial
Final
perc. of
DO(mg DO(mg/L source
/L)
)
(%)
7.66
2.11
2
7.45
1.85
3
7.61
6.65
3
7.57
5.89
5
6.55
0.6*
20
6.13
0.53*
30
7.18
0.57*
30
7.04
0.7*
40

Volume
of
source(
mL)
6
10
10
15
60
90
90
120

BOD
(3day
s)
277.50*
168.00*
28.80
33.60*
29.75*
18.67*
22.03*
15.85*

75
76
77

POND
POND
WATE
R

6.76
6.51

3.57
2.64

50
60

150
180

6.38
6.45

7.5

6.46

100

300

1.04

Table 6: Initial (i) and Final (f) DO readings for diluted samples.

BOD 3=

DOiDO f
7.662.11
x 300=
x 300=277.5 mg/ L
V
6(mL )

WWTP efficiency =

( 277.5+168 ) ( 277.5+168 ) ( 29.75+18.67 )

2
2
2
( 277.5+168 )
2

89

Discussion
The pH values obtained in Test 1 indicate that the wastewater is more or less neutral.
The electrode test gives a more accurate measurement of the actual pH levels giving a
value significant to two decimal places. The values obtained indicate that the influent
and effluent samples were slightly basic while the pond water is more neutral.
However, all these samples do not waiver too far from the neutral value of 7pH
therefore conditions are adequate for aquatic life. It also indicates that the University
of the West Indies campus discharges no hazardous chemicals. According to the
standards, the permissible pH that can be released into inland surface water is 6-9
hence meaning the plant has a satisfactory operation in this field.
The Total Suspended Solids Test show that there is an average suspended solids
removal of just 22%. All the samples tested were proven to be inadequate because the
all exceeded the maximum standard specified of 50 mg/L.
The Dissolved Oxygen results are relatively homogeneous for both the Winklers
Titration and membrane electrode methods. However, more confidence was place in
the membrane electrode method due to its susceptibility to human error by students in
the Winklers Titration . As the titration is a manual method this requires a skilled
person for it to be done correctly. It was proven by my group because while we were
testing the first sample (influence) an error was made by the group because on a
misunderstanding and we received a value of 3.2 for the DO when it was suppose to
be around 0 also we mixed too much sodium thiosulphate to another sample an
therefore the starch didnt not have any affect on the sample. Another source of error

would generate from the fact that the burettes smallest increment is 1mL, hence for
values falling between two marks the student had to make an approximation as to its
actual value. Therefore the membrane electrode method was more accurate as the
values were obtained to two decimal places and the same values could be obtained
from repeating tests.
From both the titration and membrane electrode the values obtained it could be seen
that the pond, tap and distilled water had a adequate DO concentration indicating how
healthy the water is and can hence support aquatic life. The minimum level of DO in
order to avoid fish kills is 4.0 mg/L. On the other hand the influent and effluent DO
levels were really low (<4 mg/L), hence showing they are not conducive to aquatic
life.
The BOD Test that was taken out was the BOD for a 3day period at 27C which is
equivalent to the BOD for a 5day period at 20C. It should be noted that some values
in the table are highlighted with an asterix. These values do not satisfy the ideal
characteristics of a BOD test (either BOD3 exceeds maximum standard specified of
30mg/L or a final DO level <1mg/L). As can be seen, all the effluent samples for
ended up with a final DO < 1. Further calculations from these readings cannot be
used, as one does not know exactly when the DO was depleted, whether it was 1 or 2
days. What can be done however is to calculate the BOD and know that the actual
BOD of the sample is greater than the obtained result. As can be seen, the BOD in the
pond water is relatively very small in comparison to the influent and effluent,
reinforcing its health.
From the results it can be safe to say that the treatment plant is performing
efficiently but considerably below standard. The effluent would have adverse effects
on the environment. As was mentioned before, the DO level of the effluent is so low
that it will cause fish kills and also affect any sort of aquatic plant life. Improvements
can be made to the WWTP by the addition of Delreb system or tube settlers an other
strategies The plant could also be improved by increasing the detention time such that
more solids will be able to settle. The introduction of coagulation and flocculation (if
not already present) to facilitate the clumping of smaller particles such that they too
will also be able to settle and be filtered from the supernatant.

Conclusion
It can be said that a good understanding has been made on analyzing the quality of
wastewater and being able to determine the quality performance of a treatment plant.
From the experiments and analysis it was concluded that UWIs wastewater treatment
plant outside the south gate is performing below acceptable standards and needs to be
improved.

Appendix

Table2. MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE LEVEL OR CONDITION OF WATER

POLLUTANTS DISCHARGED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT
Water Pollutants
Parametersor Substances

No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Temperature
Hydrogen ion (pH)
Five day Biological Oxygen
Demand (BOD 5 at 20oC)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Oil and Grease (TO&G) or nHexane Extractable Material (HEM)
Ammoniacal Nitrogen (as NH3-N)
Total Phosphorus (as P)
Sulphide (as H 2S)
Chloride (as Cl-)
Total Residual Chlorine (as Cl2)
Dissolved Hexavalent Chromium
(Cr6+)
Total Chromium (Cr)
Dissolved Iron (Fe)
Total
Petroleum
Hydrocarbons
(TPH)
Total Nickel (Ni)
Total Copper (Cu)
Total Zinc (Zn)
Total Arsenic (As)
Total Cadmium (Cd)
Total Mercury (Hg)
Total Lead (Pb)
Total Cyanide (as CN-)
Phenolic Compounds (as phenol)
Radioactivity
Toxicity
Faecal Coliforms
Solid Waste

Inland
Surface
Water

Level or Condition
Coastal
Marine
Environmentally
Nearshore Offshore
SensitiveAreas
/Groundwater

35
6-9
30

40
6-9
50

45
6-9
100

NIAA
6-9
10

250
50
10

250
150
15

250
200
100

60
15
No discharge

10
5
1
250
1
0.1

10
5
1
NIAA
1
0.1

10
5
1
NIAA
2
0.1

0.01
0.1
0.2
NIAA
0.2
0.05

0.5
3.5
25

0.5
3.5
40

0.5
3.5
80

0.1
1.0
No discharge

0.5
0.5
2
0.1
0.1
0.01
0.1
0.1
0.5
NIAA
NATE
400
NSD

0.5
0.5
2
0.1
0.1
0.01
0.1
0.1
0.5
NIAA
NATE
400
NSD

0.5
0.5
2
0.1
0.1
0.01
0.1
0.1
0.5
NIAA
NATE
400
NSD

0.5
0.01
0.1
0.01
0.01
0.005
0.05
0.01
0.1
NIAA
NATE
100
NSD

all units are in milligrams per litre (mg/L) except for temperature (oC), pH (pH units), faecal coliforms (counts per 100ml),
radioactivity (Bq/L) and toxicity (toxic units).
NIAA no increase above ambient
NATE no acute toxic effects
NSD no solid debris

Table1

reWPMP

Page 23

06/02/05

Questions
1. Wastewater from a food processing plant with such a high BOD
can cause major damage to a low flow stream; it can harm aquatic
animals inhabiting it. The infected stream will find its bacteria
oxidising the organic matter. In this situation, the oxygen in the
stream is consumed faster and it will have little or no chance at all
to dissolve back into the air. This will then result to the death of the
aquatic organisms due to the stream lacking oxygen. In the long run
it will therefore affect mankind because some of the animals being
killed could have been means of food for them.
2. Aerobic WW treatment introduces oxygen for the oxygen demanding bacteria to
use up in its decomposition of the organic pollutants in the wastewater. Anaerobic
WW treatment on the other hand requires the bacteria to digest these pollutants in the
absence of oxygen. Also have a look at figure1 and figure 2 in appendix.
Parameter

AerobicTreatment

AerobicTreatment

Microbial reactions take place in the

presence of molecular/ free oxygen

Microbial reactions take place in the

absence of molecular/ free oxygen

Reactions products are carbon dioxide,

water and excess biomass

Reactions products are carbon dioxide,

methane and excess biomass

Applications

Wastewater with low to medium organic

impurities (COD < 1000 ppm) and for
wastewater that are difficult to biodegrade
e.g. municipal sewage, refinery
wastewater etc.

Wastewater with medium to high organic

impurities (COD > 1000 ppm) and easily
biodegradable wastewater e.g. food and
beverage wastewater rich in starch/sugar/
alcohol

Reaction Kinetic

Relatively fast

Relatively slow

Net Sludge Yield

Relatively high

Relatively low (generally one fifth to one

tenth of aerobic treatment processes)

Post Treatment

Typically direct discharge or filtration/

disinfection

Invariably followed by aerobic treatment

Foot-Print

Relatively large

Relatively small and compact

Capital Investment

Relatively high

Relatively low with pay back

Example
Technologies

Activated Sludge e.g. Extended Aeration, Continuously stirred tank reactor/diOxidation Ditch, MBR, Fixed Film Pro- gester, Upflow Anaerobic sludge Blanket
cesses e.g. Trickling Filter/Biotower, BAF, (UASB), Ultra High Rate Fluidized Bed
MBBR or Hybrid Processes e.g. IFAS
reactors e.g. EGSBTM, ICTM etc.

Process Principle

3. Wastewater can affect the environment by killing aquatic plant and animal life and
ultimately threatening the health of humans. Wastewater has significantly low DO

levels which absolutely cannot support any aquatic life. Also the BOD is relatively
high meaning that if the wastewater is discharged directly into a stream, the
microorganisms will quickly get to work at depleting that streams healthy DO levels
and the organisms that are dependent on this DO as well.
4. See table 1 in appendix.
5. Given:

BOD 5 @ 20 C=200 mg / L
k=0.23 day1
L0=zero oxygen=ultimate BOD
BOD t
BOD t=L 0 ( 1ekt ) L0 =
( 1ekt )

200
=292.67 mg/ L
( 1e0.235 )
Correcting k for 25 C
=1.047
T=25
T 20
K T =K 20
L0 =

K 25=K 20 2520=0.29
BOD 5 @ 25 C=

200
=261.29 mg/ L
( 1e0.295 )

References
Lei Yang, M, Wen-Shi Chang, Mong-Na Lo Huang. 2009. Natural disinfection of
wastewater in marine outfall fields. Water Research 34(3): 743-750
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http://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CD4QFjAC&url
=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajol.info%2Findex.php%2Fajb%2Farticle
%2Fdownload
%2F93165%2F82578&ei=IQ5UUvrKMojk9ATkzYGgCQ&usg=AFQjCN
GEqVGbI2Lon4zJz6et8whFImDbaw&sig2=gzc16hIOqGKCE8debxW8Z
Q

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F1-4020-26943_15#page-1

http://water.me.vccs.edu/concepts/effmeasure.html

http://www.h2ou.com/h2wtrqual.htm

http://www.ema.co.tt/docs/techServ/water/rewpmp.pdf
http://www.cwc.gov.in/main/HP/download/15%20Understanding
%20BOD%20test.pdf

http://www.watertoday.org/Article%20Archieve/Aquatech%2012.pdf