Course code: BNN30204

Course name: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Date of full online class (FOC) : 22 OCTOBER 2018
Name : ABDUSSALAM AL-HAKIMI BIN MOHD TAHIR
Matrix no. : AN140037
Gist of the topics:
1. Alkalinity
Is measured to determine the ability of a stream to resist changes in pH. Alkalinity is a chemical
measurement of a water’s ability to neutralize acids. Alkalinity is also a measure of a water’s
buffering capacity or its ability to resist changes in pH upon the addition of acids or bases.
Alkalinity of natural waters is due primarily to the presence of weak acid salts although strong
bases may also contribute (i.e. OH-) in extreme environments. Bicarbonates represent the major
form of alkalinity in natural waters; its source being the partitioning of CO2 from the
atmosphere and the weathering of carbonate minerals in rocks and soil. Other salts of weak
acids, such as borate, silicates, ammonia, phosphates, and organic bases from natural organic
matter, may be present in small amounts. Alkalinity, by convention, is reported as mg/L CaCO3
since most alkalinity is derived from the weathering of carbonate minerals.

2. Hardness
The simple definition of water hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in
the water. Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, both calcium and magnesium. General
guidelines for classification of waters are: 0 to 75 mg/L (milligrams per liter) as calcium
carbonate is classified as soft; 75 to 100 mg/L as moderately hard; 100 to 300 mg/L as hard;
and more than 300 mg/L as very hard. Water systems using groundwater as a source are
concerned with water hardness, since as water moves through soil and rock it dissolves small
amounts of naturally-occurring minerals and carries them into the groundwater supply. Water
is a great solvent for calcium and magnesium, so if the minerals are present in the soil around
a water-supply well, the hard water may be delivered to homes. In areas of the country where
the water is relatively hard, industries might have to spend money to soften their water, as hard
water can damage equipment. Hard water can even shorten the life of fabrics and clothes.

3. DO
Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of free, non-compound oxygen present in water or other
liquids. It is an important parameter in assessing water quality because of its influence on the
organisms living within a body of water. Dissolved oxygen is necessary to many forms of life
including fish, invertebrates, bacteria and plants. The actual amount of dissolved oxygen (in
mg/L) will vary depending on temperature, pressure and salinity. This means that warmer
surface water requires less dissolved oxygen to reach 100% air saturation than does deeper,
cooler water. Second dissolved oxygen decreases exponentially as salt levels increase. That is
why, at the same pressure and temperature, saltwater holds about 20% less dissolved oxygen
 than freshwater. Third, dissolved oxygen will increase as pressure increases this is because
Water at lower altitudes can hold more dissolved oxygen than water at higher altitudes.

4. BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand or Biological Oxygen Demand, is a measurement of the amount
of dissolved oxygen (DO) that is used by aerobic microorganisms when decomposing organic
matter in water. Biochemical Oxygen Demand is an important water quality parameter because
it provides an index to assess the effect discharged wastewater will have on the receiving
environment. The higher the BOD value, the greater the amount of organic matter or “food”
available for oxygen consuming bacteria. If the rate of DO consumption by bacteria exceeds
the supply of DO from aquatic plants, algae photosynthesis or diffusing from air, unfavorable
conditions occur. Depletion of DO causes stress on aquatic organisms, making the environment
unsuitable for life. Further, dramatic depletion can lead to hypoxia or anoxic environments.
BOD is also used extensively for wastewater treatment, as decomposition of organic waste by
microorganisms is commonly used for treatment.

5. COD
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of the capacity of water to consume oxygen
during the decomposition of organic matter and the oxidation of inorganic chemicals such as
Ammonia and nitrite. COD measurements are commonly made on samples of waste water of
natural waters contaminated by domestic or industrial wastes. Chemical oxygen demand is
measured as a standardized laboratory assay in which a closed water sample is incubated with
a strong chemical oxidant under specific conditions of temperature and for a particular period
of time. It is important to understand that COD and BOD do not necessarily measure the same
types of oxygen consumption. For example, COD does not measure the oxygen-consuming
potential associated with certain dissolved organic compounds such as acetate. However,
acetate can be metabolized by microorganisms and would therefore be detected in an assay of
BOD. In contrast, the oxygen-consuming potential of cellulose is not measured during a short-
term BOD assay, but it is measured during a COD test.

6. Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a nutrient that occurs naturally in both fresh and salt water. It is essential for plant
growth in an aquatic ecosystem. Problems occur when large amounts nitrogen are introduced
into the stream ecosystem. As a result, there can be excessive algal growth depleting the
available oxygen in the stream that fish and other aquatic organisms depend upon.
Photosynthesis by algae and other plants generates oxygen during the day. However, at night,
dissolved oxygen may decrease to lower levels because of higher levels of oxygen consuming
bacteria that feed on dead or decaying algae and other aquatic plants. The elimination of
nitrogen compounds is a fundamental aspect of wastewater treatment. Nitrification and
denitrification have to be controlled as efficiently as possible to ensure that outflow
concentrations comply with the legal requirements.
7. Oil and Grease
The concentration of dispersed oil and grease (OG) is an important parameter for water quality
and safety. OG in water can cause surface films and shoreline deposits leading to environmental
degradation, and can induce human health risks when discharged in surface or ground waters.
Additionally, OG may interfere with aerobic and anaerobic biological processes and lead to
decreased wastewater treatment efficiency. Regulatory bodies worldwide set limits in order to
control the amount of OG entering natural bodies of water or reservoirs through industrial
discharges, and also to limit the amount present in drinking water. OG in water is commonly
determined by extraction into a non-polar, hydrocarbon-free solvent followed by measurement
of the infrared absorption spectrum of the extract.

8. Biological Water Quality Parameter

Biological water characteristics are used to describe the presence of microbiological organisms
and water-borne pathogens. Many organisms can cause illness when consumed by humans and
animals. Micro-organisms and waterborne pathogens enter rivers and lakes either naturally or
via the release of untreated or partially treated sewage. Achieving a water quality standard that
will not harm aquatic organisms, and is safe for human consumption is a challenge throughout
much of the basin. This is especially true for rural and peri-urban areas. Water borne diseases
such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis and hepatitis are the primary cause of disease
and poor health. Bilharzia and malaria are other waterborne diseases that persist in the SADC
region. Drinking and bathing water polluted with Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria can
easily cause infections.