Lecture 2:

Wastewater Characteristics
Physical and Chemical

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Lecture 2 Outcomes
The students should be able to:
Recognize the various important Wastewater characteristics
Importance of each parameters
Impacts of each Wastewater parameters to Environment

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Whats in Wastewater? Contaminants

Definition of Contaminant:

constituents of air, water, or soil which render them

unsuitable for their intended use.

chemical or biological in nature

from natural forces, life processes of other species, our

own activities

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Principal contaminants of concern

Contaminants

Impact

Suspended solids

Materials that resis settling may remain suspended in wastewater.

Suspended solids in wastewater
must be treated, or they will clog soil absorption systems or reduce the
effective-ness of disinfection systems.

Biodegradable organics

If discharged to the environment, their biological stabilisation can

lead to the depletion of natural oxygen resources and development
of septic conditions.

Pathogens

Communicable diseases can be transmitted.

Nutrients

Discharged in large amount can lead the growth of undesirable

aquatic life and pollution of groundwater.

Priority pollutants

Organic & inorganic compounds selected on the basis of their

known or suspected carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity or
high acute toxicity.

Refractory organics

Organics that resist conventional methods of wastewater

treatment. E.g. surfactants, phenols & agriculture pesticides

Heavy metals

Toxic to human organs, some can cause cancer, metabolism

failure, neurological problems.

Dissolved inorganics

Calcium, sodium & sulfate must be removed if the water is to be

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reused.

Wastewater
Physical Characteristics

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Solids

Solids is one of the most common assessments of water quality.

Solids 3 categories
Dissolved
Truly in solution and pass through a filter.
Homogenous and of a single phase
Colloidal

Uniformly dispersed in solution

But form a solid phase that is distinct from the water phase.
Suspended
Separate from the solution.
Some are settleable.

Method of analysis is given in APHA Method 2540.

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Solids

Three types of solids measured:

Suspended solids
Dissolved solids
Volatiles suspended solids

Filtration is used to separate suspended

and dissolved solids.
Commonly used filter paper is

Whatman glass fiber filter (1.58 m,

47 mm).

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Solids

Volatile solid
(VS) is
assumed to be
organic.

Fixed solid (FS)

is assumed to
be inorganic.

Ratio of VS to
FS gives an
approximate
amount of
organic matter
present in
wastewater.

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Chemical Constituents
Inorganic
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Trace metals

Gases
Alkalinity

Organic
Oxygen demand
parameter
Oil and grease
Total organic carbon
(TOC)
Single organic
constituent

Hardness
Aggregate organic
constituents

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Temperature

oxygen is less soluble at high

temperature

DO (mg/L)

Temperature
Oxygen
demand

Temperature (C)

increase in biochemical reactions rate

at high temperature

Oxygen
replenishment
Dissolved
oxygen

KT/K20

Temperature (C)

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Temperature

Other effects
change in fish species
mortality of fishes (thermal shock)
increase growth of water plants and wastewater fungus.
The best temperatures for wastewater treatment probably range
from 77 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, biological
treatment activity accelerates in warm temperatures and slows
in cool tempera-tures, but extreme hot or cold can stop
treatment processes altogether.
Therefore, some systems are less effective during cold weather
and some may not be appropriate for very cold climates.
Wastewater temperature also affects receiving waters. Hot
water, for example, which is a byproduct of many manufacturing processes, can be a pollutant.
When discharged in large quantities, it can raise the
temperature of receiving streams locally and disrupt the natural
balance of aquatic life.
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Taste & Odour

Caused by the presence of decomposed organic material and
volatile chemicals.

Drinking water should be practically free from colour,

tastes,and odour.

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pH

Intensity of acid or alkaline condition of a water

pH = - log [H+] = log 1/[H+]

The acidic or alkaline of wastewater affects both treatment and

the environ-ment.
Low pH indicates increasing acidic while a high pH indicates
increasing alka-line nature (a pH of 7 is neutral). The pH of
wastewater needs to remain between 6 and 9 to protect
organisms.
Acids and other substances that alter pH can inactivate
treatment processes when they enter waste-water from
industrial or commercial sources.
-14 = log H+
H+ = 1 x 10 -14
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pH

Toxicity of many compounds is affected by pH.

H2S ~ toxicity to fish increases as pH is lowered.

Solubility of heavy metals

Lower pH increases solubility of metals
Metals leaches from soil and sediment into surface water
Accumulate to fish gills or cause deformity ~ death

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pH

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Hardness
characteristic of water that causes it to require considerable
amounts of soap to produce a lather and that also produces
scale in hot-water pipes, heaters, & boilers;
it is caused by divalent metallic cations such as calcium &
magnesium.
Hardness is expressed in mg/l of equivalent calcium carbonate.

eg Ca = 200 mg/L ;
mol wt of CaCO3 = 100 mg/L; mol wt of Ca = 40
equiv. Wt of Ca = 40/2 = 20
equiv. Wt of CaCO3= 100/2 = 50
Ca = 200/20 *50 = 500 mg/L as CaCO3

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Alkalinity
Measure of the capacity of a water to neutralize acids or
capacity to accept protons;
In natural waters, the alkalinity is related to the bicarbonate,
carbonate, and hydroxide concentration.
It is primarily caused by HCO3-, CO32-, and OH- alkalinity.
Total alkalinity is usually expressed in terms of equivalent
calcium carbonate in mg/l or meq/l.
Carbonate hardness is that part of the total hardness that is
chemically equivalent to the bicarbonate and carbonate
alkalinities.
Noncarbonate hardness (NCH) is equal to the total hardness
(TH) minus the carbonate hardness (CH).

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Conductivity
Determined by measuring its electrical resistance between two
electrodes and comparing this resistance with the resistance
of a standard solution of potassium chloride at 25C.
Most waters, TDS (mg/l) = 0.55~0.7 x conductivity (s/cm at
25C)

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Iron and Manganese

Iron and manganese either dissolved or suspended in any
oxidation state.

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Chlorides
dissolved in water from top soil and deeper formations; also
come from ocean water and from domestic and industrial
wastewaters

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Sulfates
a major anion in natural waters, it can cause cathartic effect
upon humans and can form hard scales in boilers when it is
present in excessive amounts.

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Fluorides
can cause dental cavities if too high; if too low, may be added
to water for prevention of cavities

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Nitrogen
essential to growth of prostita and plants; too little N will inhibit
biological treatment, too much can cause O2 demand and
excessive algae growth in receiving stream

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen = Organic N + Ammonia N

Ammonia N :

toxic to fish
O2 demand
Eutrophication

Nitrite N
Nitrate N

stimulates algal & aquatic growth

Blue babies syndrome (methemoglobenemia)

Phosphorus
essential to growth of microorganisms; necessary
nutrient for biological treatment; too much can cause
eutrophication

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Nitrogen and Phosphorus

From fertilizer, laundry detergent etc.

Excess nitrate in drinking water can

cause BLUE BABY SYNDROME.

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus can

cause EUTROPHICATION or ALGAE
BLOOM.

Eutrophication is
apparent as
increased turbidity
in the northern part
of the Caspian Sea,
imaged from orbit.

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Eutrophication

Note the bright green colour caused

by algae stimulated by the
experimental addition of nutrient for
the 26th consecutive year. The lake
in the background is unfertilized.
Source : www.bbc.co.uk

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Trace metals

Affect flora and fauna through bioaccumulation

Affect human organs

Arsenic mutagen and carcinogen
Cadmium carcinogen, accumulates in liver and kidney
Chromium carcinogen, corrosive and skin sensitizer
Lead brain and kidney damage

Mercury highly toxic, damage to nervous system

Selenium weakness, depression and red staining
Silver grey colouration of skin

But minute amount of heavy metal is essential for human health

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Single Organics Priority Pollutants

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www.epa.gov/NE/npdes/permits/generic/prioritypollutants.pdf

Single Organics

Priority pollutants - based on their known or suspected

carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, tetratogenicity or high acute toxicity.

Volatile organic carbons (VOC) - some are listed as priority

pollutants. In total they cause a great concern because:
in vapour state, they are much more mobile and more likely to be

released to the environment

the presence of some VOC may pose significant public health

risk
they contribute to a general increase in reactive hydrocarbons in

the atmosphere, which lead to the formation of photochemical

oxidants.

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Single Organics

Disinfection byproducts - some are known or suspected potential

human carcinogens such as trihalomethanes (THMs), haloactic
acids (HAAs), trichlorophenol and aldehydes.

Pesticides and Agricultural Chemicals - most are toxic to many

organisms.

Emerging Organic Compounds - veterinary and human antibiotics,

industrial and household wastewater products, human prescription
and non-prescription drugs and sex and steroidal hormones.

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Typical Pollutants by Industry Sector

Refining
Water as % product

Hydrocarbons

Other pollutants

Desalter

56%

50 150 mg/l

NaCl, phenols, sulphides

Catalytic Crackers

6 10 %

100 150 mg/l

Sulphides, mercaptans,
NH4+, phenols

Condensates

2 2.5 %

50 mg/l

NH4+, phenols

Vac Condensates

1 1.5 %

150 mg/l

NH4+, phenols

Desulpurization

NaOH, phenols, sulphides

Steam Cracking

Ethylene, propylene,
butadiene

Hydrocarbons

Other pollutants

Phenols, organic acids, other

hydrocarbons

Sulphides

Source: Degremont Water Treatment Handbook

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Typical Pollutants by Industry Sector

Reforming

Methanol, Ammonia, Urea

Hydrocarbons

Other pollutants

Methanol, heavy alcohols

Ammonia, Urea

Hydrocarbons

Other pollutants

Derivatives

MTBE
Ethylene Oxide

Methanol, isobutene
Ethylene Glycol, CO2, acetaldehyde,
hydrocarbons

Acetic Acid

Formic acid, acetates, acetone

Acidic water, iodides,

rhodium

Vinyl Chloride

Dichloroethane, hydrocarbons

HCl, NaCl

Polyethylene
PVC

Oil, TSS, catalysts

Methanol, acetates
Source: Degremont Water Treatment Handbook

Acidic water, TSS

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