Canadian ABC Formula/Conversion Table

for Water Treatment, Distribution and Laboratory Exams

(Titrant Volume, mL) (Acid Normality) (50,000)

Alkalinity, as mg CaCO3/L =
Sample Volume, mL

Volts
Amps =
Ohms

Area of Circle = (0.785) (Diameter2) or (Π) (Radius2)

Area of Cone (lateral area) = (Π) (Radius) Radius 2 + Height 2

Area of Cone (total surface area) = (Π) (Radius) (Radius + Radius 2 + Height 2 )

Area of Cylinder (total outside surface area) = [Surface Area of End #1] + [Surface Area of End #2] +
[(Π) (Diameter) (Height or Depth)]

Area of Rectangle = (Length) (Width)

(Base) (Height)
Area of a Right Triangle =
2

Sum of All Terms

Average (arithmetic mean) =
Number of Terms

Average (geometric mean) = [(X1) (X2) (X3) (X4) (Xn)] 1/n The nth root of the product of n numbers

(Desired Flow) (100%)

Chemical Feed Pump Setting, % Stroke =
Maximum Flow

(Flow, m 3 /day) (Dose, mg/L)

Chemical Feed Pump Setting, mL/min =
(Chemical Feed Density, g/cm 3 ) (Active Chemical, %)(1,440)

Circumference of Circle = (Π) (Diameter)

(Instantaneous Flow) (Total Sample Volume)

Composite Sample Single Portion =
(Number of Portions) (Average Flow)

Degrees Celsius = [(Degrees Fahrenheit - 32) (5/9)] or

( F − 32)
o

1.8

Degrees Fahrenheit = [(Degrees Celsius) (9/5) + 32] or [(Degrees Celsius) (1.8) + 32]

Volume
Detention Time = Note: Units must be compatible.
Flow
Electromotive Force (E.M.F), volts = (Current, amps) (Resistance, ohms) or E =IR
(Dosage, mg/L) (Flow Rate, m 3 /day)
Feed Rate, kg/day =
(Purity, Decimal Percentage) 1,000

(Plant capacity,litre/min) (Dosage, mg/L)

Feed Rate, litre/min (Fluoride Saturator) =
(18,000 mg/L )
Effective January 12, 2009
 Water Rise, cm
Filter Backwash Rise Rate, cm/min =
Time, minute

Water Drop, m
Filter Drop Test Velocity, meter/min =
Time of Drop, minute

Flow, L/sec
Filter Flow Rate or Backwash Rate, L/m2 sec =
Filter Area, m 2

(Solids Concentration, %)(Sludge Feed Rate, L/hr)(10)

Filter Yield, kg/m2 hr =
(Surface Area of Filter, m 2 )

Flow Rate, m3/sec = (Area, m2) (Velocity, m/sec) or Q = AV where: Q = flow rate, A = area, V= velocity
Force, Newton = (Pressure, pascals) (Area, m2)

Volume of Water Produced, L/day

Litres/Capita/Day =
Population

(Titrant Volume, mL) (1,000)

Hardness, as mg CaCO3/L = Only when the titration factor is 1.00 of EDTA
Sample Volume, mL

(Flow, gpm) (Head, ft)

Horsepower, Brake (bhp) =
(3,960) (Decimal Pump Efficiency)

(Flow, gpm) (Head, ft)

Horsepower, Motor (mhp) =
(3,960) (Decimal Pump Efficiency) (Decimal Motor Efficiency)

(Flow, gpm) (Head, ft)

Horsepower, Water (whp) =
3,960

Total Flow Applied, m 3 /day

Hydraulic Loading Rate, m3/m2 day =
Area, m 2

(Chlorine Required, Kg) (100)

Hypochlorite Strength, % =
(Hypochlorite Solution Needed, Kg)

Volume, L
Leakage, Lpd =
Time, days

(Volume, m 3 )(Concentration, mg/L)

Mass, kg =
1,000

(Volume, m 3 / day)(Concentration, mg/L)

Mass Flux, kg/day =
1,000

Milliequivalent = (mL) (Normality)

Moles of Solute
Molarity =
Litres of Solution

Effective January 12, 2009

 Number of Equivalent Weights of Solute
Normality =
Litres of Solution
Total Weight
Number of Equivalent Weights =
Equivalent Weight

Total Weight
Number of Moles =
Molecular Weight

(Flow, L/sec) (Head, m)(9.8)

Power, kW =
1,000

(Original Flow - Reduced Flow) (100%)

Reduction in Flow, % =
Original Flow

(In − Out) (100)

Removal, % =
In

Drop or Rise
Slope, % = x 100
Distance

(Dry Solids, grams) (1,000,000)

Solids, mg/L =
Sample Volume, mL

Weight, mg
Solids Concentration, mg/L =
Volume, L

Specific Weight of Substance, kg/L

Specific Gravity =
Specific Weight of Water, kg/L

Flow, Lpd
Surface Loading Rate, Lpd/m2 =
Area, m 2

Three Normal Equation = (N1 x V1) + (N2 x V2) = (N3 x V3), where V1 + V2 = V3

Two Normal Equation = N1 x V1 = N2 x V2, where N = concentration (normality), V = volume or flow

Flow Rate, m 3 / sec Distance, m

Velocity, m/second = 2
or
Area, m Time, second

Volume of Cone = (1/3) (0.785) (Diameter2) (Height)

Volume of Cylinder = (0.785) (Diameter2) (Height)
Volume of Rectangular Tank = (Length) (Width) (Height)
Watts (DC circuit) = (Volts) (Amps)

Watts (AC circuit) = (Volts) (Amps) (Power Factor)

Flow, Lpd
Weir Overflow Rate, Lpd/m =
Weir Length, m

Effective January 12, 2009

 Water Horsepower, HP
Wire-to-Water Efficiency, % = x 100
Power Input, HP or Motor HP

(Flow, gpm) (Total Dynamic Head, ft) (0.746 kw/hp) (100)

Wire-to-Water Efficiency, % =
(3,960) (Electrical Demand, kilowatts)

Alkalinity Relationships:
Alkalinity, mg/L as CaCO3
Result of Hydroxide Carbonate Bicarbonate
Titration Alkalinity Alkalinity Concentration
as CaCO3 as CaCO3 as CaCO3
P=0 0 0 T
P < ½T 0 2P T – 2P
P = ½T 0 2P 0
P > ½T 2P – T 2(T – P) 0
P=T T 0 0
*Key: P – phenolphthalein alkalinity; T – total alkalinity

Conversion Factors:
1 acre = 4046.9 square metres
1 cubic metre = 1,000 kilograms
1 cubic metre = 1,000 litres
1 cubic metre = 219.97 Imperial gallons
1 cubic metre per second = 19.01 MIGD
1 foot = 0.305 metre
1 gallon = 3.79 litres
1 hectare = 10,000 square metres
1 horsepower = 0.746 kW or 33,000 foot-pounds/min
1 metre head = 9.8 kPa
1 pound = 0.454 kilograms
1 pound per square inch = 6.89 kPa
1 square metre = 1.19 square yards
1% = 10,000 mg/L
Π or pi = 3.14159

Abbreviations:
cm centimetres mL millilitre
DO dissolved oxygen MLD million litres per day
g grams ppb parts per billion
kPa kilopascals ppm parts per million
kg kilograms psi pounds per square inch
kW kilowatt Q flow
L litres SS settleable solids
Lpd litres per day TTHM Total trihalomethanes
Lpm litres per minute TOC total organic carbon
m metres TSS total suspended solids
mg/L milligrams per litre VS volatile solids
MIGD million Imperial gallons per day

Effective January 12, 2009