Wastewater Engineering Module

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Wastewater Engineering
WASTEWATER ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONS
BOD COMPUTATIONS
BOD Unseeded
𝐷𝑂𝑖 − 𝐷𝑂𝑓
𝐵𝑂𝐷 (𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑) = 𝑥 𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

BOD Seeded
If the BOD sample has been exposed to conditions that could reduce the number of healthy, active microorganisms, the
sample must be seeded with microorganisms. Seeding requires the use of a correction factor to remove the BOD
contribution of the seed material.
Seed – added inoculum of microorganisms
𝑚𝑔
𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 ( ) 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑚𝐿)
𝑆𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐿
𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

[𝐷𝑂𝑖 − 𝐷𝑂𝑓 − 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛]

𝐵𝑂𝐷 (𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑 = 𝑥 𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
Sample size (%)
The ratio of undiluted sample to diluted sample and usually expressed as percentage.
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒
𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 % = 𝑥 100
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒
Dilution Factor
The inverse relationship of sample size.
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 100
𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 % = =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 %

BOD 7-Day Moving average

Because the BOD characteristic of wastewater varies from day to day (even every hour), operational control of the
treatment system is most often accomplished based on trends in data rather than individual data points. A new average is
calculated each day by adding new day’s value and the six previous days’ values.
∑71 𝐵𝑂𝐷
7 − 𝐷𝑎𝑦 𝐴𝑣𝑒. 𝐵𝑂𝐷 =
7
Population Equivalent (PE) or Unit Loading Factor
It is sometimes used in estimating the total waste loadings to be treated especially when data are often unavailable. It is
based on the BOD contribution of every discharger in computing the loading placed upon the wastewater treatment
system in terms of equivalent number of people.
𝑙𝑏 𝑘𝑔
𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ( 𝑜𝑟 )
𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑦
𝑃𝐸 (𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒) =
𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦

Note: It is normally assumed that the BOD contribution per person is 0.17 lb BOD/day
Sample Problems:
1. A new industry wishes to connect to a city’s collection system. The industrial discharge will contain an average
BOD concentration of 389 mg/L and the average daily flow will be 72,000 gallons per day. What is the population
equivalent of the industrial discharge? Answer: 1,372 persons
2. A BOD test has been completed. First bottle of the test has dissolved oxygen of 7.1 mg/L at the start of the test.
After 5 days, first bottle had a DO of 2.9 mg/L. First bottle contained 120 mL of sample. The bottle volume is 300
mL. Compute the BOD5. Answer: 10.5 mg/L
3. Using the data provided below, determine the seed correction and BOD in mg/L:
Dilution
BOD of seed material 90 mg/L
Seed material 3 mL
Sample 100 mL
Initial DO 7.6 mg/L Answer: 0.90 mg/L and 12 mg/L
Final DO 2.7 mg/L
BOD bottle volume 300 mL
4. A 15 mL wastewater sample is placed in a standard 300 mL CBOD bottle, and the bottle is filled with dilution
water. The bottle had an initial DO concentration of 8 mg/L and a final DO of 2 mg/L. A blank (a BOD bottle filled

Wastewater Engineering Computation Prepared by: Engr. M.Taguba Page 1

 Wastewater Engineering Module
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Wastewater Engineering
with dilution water) run in parallel showed no change in DO over the 5-day incubation period. The BOD reaction
rate coefficient for the waste is 0.40/day. Calculate the 5-day BOD and the ultimate BOD concentration of the
wastewater. Answers: 120 mg/L and 138.8 mg/L
5. The BOD of a wastewater sample is estimated to be 180 mg/L. What volume of undiluted sample should be
added to 300 mL bottle? Compute the actual sample size and dilution factor using this volume? Assume that 4
mg/L BOD can be consumed in the BOD bottle. Answers: 7mL; 2.33% and 42.86
6. Calculate the BOD 7-day moving average with the following primary effluent BOD test results: 200 mg/L; 210
mg/L; 204 mg/L; 205 mg/L; 222 mg/L; 214 mg/L and 218 mg/L. Answer:210.4 mg/L

SEDIMENTATION
➢ It is the process in which the majority of the particles will settle by gravity within reasonable time and be removed.
➢ Particles with densities greater than 1,000 kg/m3 will eventually settle, and particles with densities less than1,000
kg/m3 will float to water surface.
➢ Types of settling are: Discrete(Type I), Flocculant(Type II), Hindered(Type III) and Compression (Type IV)
Discrete Particle Settling
➢ Occurs when the particles are discrete and do not interfere w/ one another as they settle.
➢ Movement of a particle in water is determined by a balance of a downward gravitational force, an upward
buoyancy force, and an upward drag force.
➢ Settling velocity of particles in a liquid can be described by either Stoke’s law or Newton’s law.
Determination of Settling velocity of Particles
Applicable Law Settling velocity(Vs) Drag coefficient (Cd) Applicability
Stoke’s Law For Laminar flow: Applicable for spherical
𝑔 (𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌𝑓 )𝑑𝑝 2 24 particles when the
𝑉𝑆 = 𝐶𝑑 =
18𝜇 𝑁 𝑅 Reynold’s number ≤ 1
Has limited application in
water treatment because
conditions in most treatment
facilities are not laminar.
Newton’s Law For the transition regime: Applicable for particles
24 3 when the Reynold’s number
4𝑔(𝜌𝑝 − 𝜌𝑓 )𝑑𝑝 𝐶𝑑 = + + 0.34
𝑉𝑠 = √ 𝑁𝑅 √𝑁𝑅 >1
3𝐶𝑑 𝜌
Drag Force
𝑉2
𝐹𝐷 = 𝐶𝐷 𝛾𝐴 where A=cross-sectional or projected area of particles at right angles to V, V=particle velocity
2𝑔

𝑉𝑠 𝑑𝑝 𝜌𝑉𝑠 𝑑𝑝
Where Reynold’s number (NR) = = where dp= particle diameter; g = acceleration due to gravity
𝑣 𝜇
𝜌𝑝 = density of particle ; 𝜌𝑓 = density of fluid; 𝜇= absolute or dynamic viscosity (Pa-sec); 𝑣= kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
Sample Problem:
1. Calculate the terminal settling velocity for a sand particle that has a diameter of 100𝜇m and a density of 2,650
kg/m3. The water temperature is 10°C. The density of water (𝜇 = 1.307 x 10-3 Pa-sec) at this temperature is 999.7
kg/m3. Answer: 24.77 m/hr
2. Determine the drag force on a 100 mm diameter particle submerged in water having a terminal velocity of 12 m/s.
Drag coefficient equal to 0.40. Answer:226.20 N
Process Loading Computations:
BOD or COD or SS Loading: When calculating BOD, COD or SS loading on an aeration process (or any other treatment
process), it is usally expressed as lb/day or kg/day.
𝑘𝑔 𝑙𝑏 𝑚𝑔
𝐵𝑂𝐷 𝑙𝑎𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 ( 𝑜𝑟 ) = 𝐵𝑂𝐷 ( ) 𝑥 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑄
𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝐿
𝒎𝒈
𝑩𝑶𝑫 𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝑶𝑫 𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝑺 𝑳𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 = 𝒙 𝑴𝑮𝑫 𝒙 𝟖. 𝟑𝟒 𝒍𝒃/𝒈𝒂𝒍
𝑳

Food to Microorganism Ratio - It is a process control test/calculation based on maintaining a specified balance between
available food materials (BOD or COD) in the aeration tank influent and the aeration tank MLVSS concentrations.
𝑭 𝑩𝑶𝑫 𝒙 𝑸 𝑩𝑶𝑫 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈
= =
𝑴 𝑽 𝒙 𝑴𝑳𝑽𝑺𝑺 𝑽 𝒙 𝑴𝑳𝑽𝑺𝑺

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MCRT (Mean Cell Residence Time) Or Sludge Residence Time or Sludge Retention Time (SRT)
➢ The average time that a given unit of cell mass stays in the activated sludge aeration tank. It is usually calculated
as the total mixed liquor suspended solids in the aeration tank divided by the wastage rate.
𝒎𝒈
𝑴𝑳𝑽𝑺𝑺 𝑽𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑴𝑳𝑺𝑺 ( ) 𝒙 (𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒌 + 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆)
𝑴𝑪𝑹𝑻 = 𝒍
𝑴𝑪𝑹𝑻 = 𝒎𝒈
𝑸𝒘 𝑿𝒘 + 𝑸𝒆 𝑿𝒆 (𝑾𝑨𝑺 𝒙 𝑸 𝑾𝑨𝑺) + (𝑻𝑺𝑺 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒙 𝑸𝒆)
𝒍

𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒌 (𝒍𝒃)

𝑴𝑪𝑹𝑻 =
𝒍𝒃
𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒅𝒂𝒚 ( )
𝒅𝒂𝒚
MCRT of about 6 to 15 days result in the production of stable, high-quality effluent and a sludge with excellent settling
characteristics (et.al. Metcalf & Eddy)
Sample Problem:
1. A conventional activated sludge basin is 6 m wide, 25 m long and 4 m deep. The influent flow is 4,315 m 3/day
containing 500 mg/L BOD5 concentration.
a. Compute the BOD loading. (Ans: 2,157 kg BOD/day)
b. Aeration period (Ans: 3.34 hrs)
c. Compute for F/M ratio if MLVSS = 3654 mg/L (Ans: 0.984/day)
2. The aeration tank influent BOD is 145 mg/L and the aeration tank influent rate is 1.6 MGD. What is the F/M ratio if
the MLVSS is 2300 mg/L and the aeration tank volume is 1.8 MG? (Ans: 0.056/day)
3. If the influent BOD5 is 300 mg/L and flow rate of 500 m3/day. The MLVSS to MLSS ratio is 0.88. The F/M ratio is
assumed at 0.20/day and the MLSS is 4000 mg/L. The industry is to comply with DAO 35 Standards Class C
inland water. Determine the volume of the reactor. Note: Subtract the maximum allowable effluent BOD
concentration from the substrate.(Ans: 178 m3)
4. If the required retention time is 24 hrs. Using the 500 m3/day flow rate and 300 mg/L BOD concentration,
a. Determine the BOD loading (Ans:150 kg/day)
b. Determine the air required per minute if 1 kg BOD requires 94 m 3 of air. (Ans: 9.79m3/min)
c. How many diffusers are needed if the capacity of 1 diffuser is 0.28 m 3/minute? (Ans: 35 diffusers)
5. Compute for the MCRT if the aeration tank has a volume of 1 million gallons while clarifier has 600,000 gallons.
The suspended solids in the aeration tank are 2500 mg/L and the flow rate is 5 MGD. The waste rate is 0.085
MGD and the concentration of the Waste is 6,400 mg/L. Assume that the TSS in the effluent is 14 mg/L. (Ans:
6.51 days)
6. The BOD concentration of the wastewater entering an aerator is 210 mg/L. If the flow to the aerator is 1,550,000
gpd, what is the BOD loading in lb/day?

Settleability Testing:
➢ 30 minutes of settling of a liter sample of mixed liquor in a graduated cylinder.

𝒎𝒍 𝑺𝑽
𝑺𝑽𝑰 ( ) = 𝒙 𝟏, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝒈/𝒈
𝒈 𝑴𝑳𝑺𝑺
Sample Problem:
1. What is the sludge volume index of a mixed liquor suspended solid recorded at 2500 ppm and a volume of settled
sludge of 350 ml/L? What is the settling characteristic of the sludge?

Wastewater Engineering Computation Prepared by: Engr. M.Taguba Page 3