Application - Wastewater Chemistries - Sludge Management

Parameter	Purpose of Test	Method
BOD5	Provides a relative measure of "food" available, the degree of stabilization of the wastewater and to estimate the effect of the effluent on the receiving water body. Used for plant loading/design, discharge rate for industrial facilities, and EPA NPDES reporting. 5 day test is too long for process control — many plants use COD or TOC as early estimate. Used to calculate % removal.	8043 8215 8229
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
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
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
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 ortho-, poly-, and organic forms.	8048 8178 10209
Alkalinity	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
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
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
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 ortho-, poly-, and organic forms.	8190 10209 10210

Parameter	Purpose of Test	Method
Coliforms, Fecal E.Coli	Monitor and Quantity of microbial concentrations in the effluent. NPDES reporting requirement for some facilities.
Volatile Acids	Measured to monitor performance of sludge digesters. Closely tied to alkalinity in controlling methane production.	8196 8218 8291
Nitrogen, Total	Total of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and organic nitrogen forms.	10071 10072 10208
TKN Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen	Total of organic and ammonia forms of nitrogen.	8075
Nitrate, LR	Indicative of the stage of conversion of ammonia and organic nitrogen forms to nitrate by the aerobic biological treatment steps (nitrification).	8192
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.
TOC Total Organic Carbon	Used as a surrogate for BOD or COD, as a measure of organic content.	10128 10129 10173