Application - Wastewater Chemistries - Pretreatment

Parameter	Purpose of Test	Method
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand	Used as a correlative/ early indicator of BOD levels. Some NPDES permits include COD as a surrogate for BOD; however, BOD is the standard reportable parameter for oxygen demand in municipal wastewater. COD provides a measure of organic "food" available to biological treatment steps and to estimate the effect of the effluent on the receiving water. (Note: Can be correlated to BOD on a plant-by-plant basis, if influent characteristics are constant.)	8000 10067
Turbidity	Surrogate measurement for solids concentration. Often used to indicate solids carry-over from secondary clarifiers.	Turbidimeter (2100xx) See instrument manual
Ammonia	Monitor conversion of ammonia and organic nitrogen forms to nitrite and nitrate during the WW treatment process. Provices information on process conditions in biological treatment stages. At high concentrations an pH, ammonia can be toxic to sludge digestion microbes.	8038 10031 10205
Phosphate, Reactive LR	Phosphorus effluent concentrations are often controlled by discharge permits, to limit addition of nutrients to the receiving body. Phosphate is removed via biological nutrient removal prcesses and/or chemical precipitation. Reactive (ortho) phosphate is the phosphorus form that is most available to biological species. Total Phosphate includes orth-, poly-, and organic forms.	8048 8178 10209
Nitrate, HR	Indicative of the stage of conversion of ammonia and organic nitrogen forms to nitrate by the aerobic biological treatment steps (nitrification).	8039 10020 10206
pH	Maintain proper (narrow) pH range for optimal biological processes — especially nitrification. Can indicate plant upsets by industrial discharges or development of anaerobic conditions within the plant. Important condition for methane formation and avoiding ammonia toxicity in sludge digesters.	pH meter & electrode - see instrument manual
Phosphate, Total LR	Maintain buffering to mediate effects of acidic industrial discharges. Control nitrification conditions in secondary treatment processes. Maintain proper bacterial conditions in sludge digester.	8203 8221
Phosphate, Total LR	Phosphorus effluent concentrations are often controlled by discharge permits, to limit addition of nutrients to the receiving body. Phosphate is removed via biological nutrient removal prcesses and/or chemical precipitation. Reactive (ortho) phosphate is the phosphorus form that is most available to biological species. Total Phosphate includes orth-, poly-, and organic forms.	8190 10209 10210
Solids	Most commonly measured and regulated parameter on NPDES permits. Used to measure mixed liquor suspended solids concentration, return activated sludge/waste activated sludge concentration, influent suspended solids concentration, effluent suspended solids concentration, and % removal.	8006

Parameter	Purpose of Test	Method
Metals	Nickel, Molybdenum, Lead, Mercury, Zinc, Chromium, Copper, Arsenic — Measure heavy metal concentrations in effluent waters and ensure compliance with NPDES permit. Of concern in effluents and land-applied biosolids due to potential toxicity.
Nitrogen, Total	Total of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and organic nitrogen forms.	10071 10072 10208
Nitrate, LR	Indicative of the stage of conversion of ammonia and organic nitrogen forms to nitrate by the aerobic biological treatment steps (nitrification).	8192
TKN Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen	Total of organic and ammonia forms of nitrogen.	8075
Flow	Measure standard in-pipe flow rate for NPDES permit requirements and to establish concentrations/total presence of key analytes.
Oil and Grease	Present in wastewater from both animal and petroleum sources. Can affect settlability of solids in waste treatment processes.	10056