Characteristics

of Wastewater
 Wastewater Characteristics

Wastewater characteristics can be divided

into 3 parts:
➢ Physical characteristics

➢ Chemical characteristics

➢ Biological characteristics
Physical characteristics-
The physical characteristics of wastewater
include those items that can be detected using
the physical senses. They are
✓ Solids.
✓ Odor,
✓ Temperature,
✓ Density,
✓ Color,
✓ Turbidity.
Physical characteristics-Solids

Wastewater is normally 99.9 percent water and

0.1 percent solids.

The most common types are dissolved,

suspended, settleable, floatable, colloidal, organic
(volatile), and inorganic solids (fixed).

Total solids
All the matter that remains as residue upon
evaporation at 103oC to 105oC.
Suspended solids:
Those solids that are not dissolved in wastewater
are called suspended solids.
Dissolved solids
Dissolved solids pass through a fine mesh filter.

Floatable solids
When suspended solids float, they are
called floatable solids.
Settleable solids
Those suspended solids that settle are called
settleable solids, grit, or sludge.
 How to Measure Solids—TS

Where
M= Mass of residue (mg)
V= Volume of sample (l)
How to Measure Solids—TSS

Where, A = mass of SS + filter

B = mass of filter
V = Volume of sample (l)
 How to Measure Solids—DS
DS Can be determined by filtration as follows:
DS = TS - TSS
Where,
TS = total solids
V = total suspended solids
Or by taking the filtrate and dry at 103- 105º C
if, mDS : mass of residue (mg)
 How to Measure Solids—VS
VS Can be determined as follows:

Where,
A = mass of residue + dish after drying at 105º C
(total solids)
B =mass of residue +dish after burring at 550º C
V = Volume of sample (l)
 Suspended Solids (mg/L)

Wt. of Solids (grams) 1000 mg 1000 mL

X X
Sample Volume (mL) 1 gram 1 Liter

Wt. of Solids (grams)

X 1,000,000
Sample Volume (mL)

-
Wt. of Cruc. & Solids Wt. of Cruc. (grams)
X 1,000,000
Volume of Sample (mL)
 Volatile Suspended Solids (mg/L)

Wt. of Volatile (grams) 1000 mg 1000 mL

X X
Sample Volume (mL) 1 gram 1 Liter

Wt. of Volatile (grams)

X 1,000,000
Sample Volume (mL)

-
Wt. of Cruc. & Solids Wt. of Cruc. & Ash (grams)
X 1,000,000
Volume of Sample (mL)
 SUSPENDED SOLIDS EXAMPLE PROBLEM

Calculate suspended and volatile suspended solids in mg/L

given the following data:

Sample Volume = 25 mL
Weight of Crucible = 18.1450 grams
Weight of Crucible & Dry Solids = 18.1482 grams
Weight of Crucible & Ash = 18.1456 grams

Wt. Dry Solids, grams

Suspended Solids, mg/L = X 1,000,000
Sample Volume, mL

= 18.1482 g - 18.1450 g
X 1,000,000
25 mL
0.0032 g
= X 1,000,000
25 mL

= 128 mg/L
 SUSPENDED SOLIDS EXAMPLE PROBLEM

Calculate suspended and volatile suspended solids in mg/L

given the following data:

Sample Volume = 25 mL
Weight of Crucible = 18.1450 grams
Weight of Crucible & Dry Solids = 18.1482 grams
Weight of Crucible & Ash = 18.1456 grams

Wt. Volatile Solids, grams

Volatile Sus. Solids, mg/L = X 1,000,000
Sample Volume, mL

= 18.1482 g - 18.1456 g
X 1,000,000
25 mL

0.0026 g
= X 1,000,000
25 mL

= 104 mg/L
 SUSPENDED SOLIDS PRACTICE PROBLEM
Calculate suspended and volatile suspended solids in mg/L
given the following data:
Weight of Crucible = 21.0256 grams
Weight of Crucible & Dry Solids = 21.0301 grams
Weight of Crucible & Ash = 21.0263 grams
Volume of Sample Filtered = 50 mL

Wt. Dry Solids, grams

Suspended Solids, mg/L = X 1,000,000
Sample Volume, mL
21.0301 g - 21.0256 g
= X 1,000,000
50 mL
0.0045 g
= X 1,000,000
50 mL

= 90 mg/L
 SUSPENDED SOLIDS PRACTICE PROBLEM

Calculate suspended and volatile suspended solids in mg/L

given the following data:
Weight of Crucible = 21.0256 grams
Weight of Crucible & Dry Solids = 21.0301 grams
Weight of Crucible & Ash = 21.0263 grams
Volume of Sample Filtered = 50 mL

Volatile Sus. Solids, mg/L = Wt. Volatile Solids, grams X 1,000,000

Sample Volume, mL

21.0301 g - 21.0263 g
= X 1,000,000
50 mL

= 0.0038 g X 1,000,000
50 mL
= 76 mg/L
 SUSPENDED SOLIDS (mg/L)

Wt. Of Dry Solids (grams)

X 1,000,000
Volume of Sample (mL)

VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS (mg/L)

Wt. Of Vol. Sus. Solids (grams)

X 1,000,000
Volume of Sample (mL)
Physical characteristics-Odor
Odor is produced by gas production due to the
decomposition of organic matter or by substances added to
the wastewater.

Detection of odor: Odor is measured by special

instruments such as the Portable H2S meter which is used
for measuring the concentration of hydrogen sulfide.
Physical characteristics-Temperature
Temperature of wastewater is commonly higher
than that of water supply. Depending on the
geographic location the mean annual
temperature varies in the range of 10 to 21oC
with an average of 16oC

Importance of temperature:-Affects chemical

reactions during the wastewater treatment
process. Affects aquatic life (Fish, ……).

Oxygen solubility is less in worm water than cold

water.
Optimum temperature for bacterial activity
is in the range of 25°C to 35
Aerobic digestion and nitrification stop when the
temperature rises to 50 oC. When the
temperature drops to about 15°c, methane
producing bacteria become in active.
Nitrifying bacteria stop activity at about 5°c.
Density:-
Almost the same density of water when the
wastewater doesn't include significant amount of
industrial waste.
Color:-
Fresh waste water light brownish gray.
With time dark gray
More time black (septic).

Some times pink due to algae or due to industrial

colors.
Turbidity:-
It's a measure of the light –transmitting
properties of water.
Chemical characteristics of wastewater:-
Points of concern regarding the chemical
characteristics of wastewater are:
-Organic matter
-Measurements of organic matter
-Inorganic matter
–Gases
-pH

Organic matter:
75% SS organic. (Suspended Solids)
40% FS organic. (Filtered Solids)
Organic mater is derived from animals &
plants and man activities.

Proteins (40-60%).
Carbohydrates (25-50%).
Fats, Oils, and Grease (10%).
Measurements of organic matter:-
Many parameters have been used to measure the
concentration of organic matter in wastewater.

The following are the most common used

methods:

The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a

measure of the quantity of dissolved organic
pollutants that can be removed in biological
oxidation by the bacteria. It is expressed in mg/l.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5)
BOD determines the amount of dissolved
oxygen needed by aerobic organisms in a water
body to break the organic material present in the
given water sample at certain temperature over a
specific period of time,

Usually time is taken is 5 days,

The temperature is 20 0C.

Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
It is the oxygen equivalent of organic matter. It is
determined by measuring the dissolved oxygen used
during the chemical oxidation of organic matter in
3 hours.
The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
measures the quantity of dissolved organic
pollutants than can be removed in chemical
oxidation, by adding strong acids.
It is expressed in mg/l.
 The BOD/COD gives an indication of the
fraction of pollutants in the wastewater that is
biodegradable.
Total organic carbon (TOC)
This method measures the organic carbon existing in the
wastewater by injecting a sample of the WW in special
device in which the carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide
then carbon dioxide is measured and used to quantify
the amount of organic matter in the WW. This method is
only used for small concentration of organic matter.
Theoretical oxygen (ThOD)

If the chemical formula of the organic matter

existing in the WW is known the ThOD may be
computed as the amount of oxygen needed to
oxidize the organic carbon to carbon dioxide and
other end products.
Inorganic Matter
The following are the main inorganic materials
of concern in wastewater treatment:

1. Chlorides:-
• High concentrations indicate that the water
body has been used for waste disposal.
•It affects the biological process in high
concentrations.
2. Nitrogen:-
This element is essential for the growth of
microorganisms, plant and animals. Nitrogen and
phosphorus are, in most cases, the major nutrients
of importance.
3. Phosphorus:-
Phosphorous is also essential for the growth of
algae and other biological organisms.

•Municipal waste contains (4-15 mg/l).

5. Sulfur:-
Sulfate exists in waste and necessary for
synthesis of proteins.

5. Toxic inorganic Compounds:-

Copper, lead, silver, chromium, arsenic, boron.

6. Heavy metals:-
Nickels, Mn, Lead, chromium, cadmium, zinc,
copper, iron, mercury.
pH:-The hydrogen-ion concentration is an
important quality parameter in both natural
waters and wastewaters. It is a very important
factor in the biological and chemical wastewater
treatment. Water and wastewater can be
classified as neutral, alkaline or acidic according
to the following ranges:

PH = 7 neutral.
PH > 7 Alkaline.
PH < 7 Acidic.
For treated effluents discharged to the
environment the allowable pH range usually
varies from 6.5 to 8.5

Typical meter used for the measurement of pH

Biological Characteristics:-
The environmental engineer must have considerable
knowledge of the biological of waste water because it
is a very important characteristics factor in wastewater
treatment.
The Engineer should know:-
[Link] principal groups of microorganisms found in
wastewater.
[Link] pathogenic organisms.
[Link] organisms (indicate the –presence of pathogens).
[Link] methods used to amount the microorganisms.
[Link] methods to evaluate the toxicity of treated wastewater
Main groups of Microorgani[Link]
The main microorganisms of concern in wastewater
treatment are Bacteria, Fungi, Algae, Protozoa,
Viruses, and pathogenic microorganisms groups.

Bacteria:-
Types: Spheroid, curved rod,
spiral, filamentous. Some
important bacteria:-
Zoogloea:-
helps through its slime production
in the formation of flocs in the
aeration tanks.

Sphaerotilus natuns:
Causes sludge bulking in the
aeration tanks.
Acinetobacter:
Store large amounts of
phosphate under aerobic
conditions and release it under
an –anaerobic condition so,
they are useful in phosphate
removal.
Nitrosomonas:
transform NH4 into NO2 -

Nitrobacter:
transform NO2-to NO3-

Pseudomonas:-
reduce NO3 to N2, So it is very
important in biological nitrate
removal in treatment works.
Coliform bacteria:-
The most common type is E-Coli
or Echerichia Coli, (indicator for
the presence of pathogens).
E-Coli is measured in
(No/100mL)
Fungi:
•Important in decomposing organic
matter to simple forms.

Algae:
• Useful in oxidation ponds.
(positive effect) •. (negative effect)
Cause taste and problems when
decayed

Protozoa: •Feed on bacteria so

they help in the purification of
treated waste water.
•Some of them are pathogenic.
Viruses:
Viruses are a major hazard
to public health. Some
viruses can live as long as
41 days in water and
wastewater at 20 oC. They
cause lots of dangerous
diseases.

Pathogenic organisms:
The main categories of pathogens are:-
Bacteria, Viruses, protozoa, helminthes
Wastewater treatment standards
The most common WWT standards are set for the
secondary treatment effluent. The main effluent
parameters are: BOD5, TSS, pH and CBOD5.:
(Carbonaceous BOD, from organic compounds and
oxidation of inorganic compounds such as ferrous iron)
The standards for the removal of nitrogen and
phosphorus (N,P) are not included in this table
because (N) and (P) need tertiary treatment.
Removal of the coliform bacteria is also regulated
according to reuse purpose:
-Fecal coliforms < 500/100 ml (disposed
into recreational waters) < 1000/100 ml
(for irrigations)
 Interrelationships of Constituents
Type of wastewater BOD/COD
Untreated 0.3 – 0.8
After primary settling 0.4 – 0.6
Final effluent 0.1 -0.3

BOD/COD > 0.5 - wastewater easily treated

by biological processes.
0.3 < BOD/COD < 0.5 - biological treatment
possible; probable presence of inhibitors; need
for biomass acclimatizatio
BOD/COD < 0.3 – biological treatment difficult
without pre-treatment
Characteristics of Municipal Wastewater
Thank you