BOD-The amount of oxygen required by aerobic
microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in a sample of
water, such as that polluted by sewage. It is used as a measure
of the degree of water pollution.
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of the capacity
of water to consume oxygen during the decomposition of
organic matter and the oxidation of inorganic chemicals such as
ammonia and nitrite. COD measurements are commonly made
on samples of waste waters or of natural waters contaminated
by domestic or industrial wastes. Chemical oxygen demand is
measured as a standardized laboratory assay in which a closed
water sample is incubated with a strong chemical oxidant under
specific conditions of temperature and for a particular period of
time. Chemical oxygen demand is related to biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD), another standard test for assaying the
oxygen-demanding strength of waste waters. However,
biochemicaloxygen demand only measures the amount of
oxygen consumed by microbial oxidation and is most relevant to
waters rich in organic matter. It is important to understand that
COD and BOD do not necessarily measure the same types of
oxygen consumption. For example, COD does not measure the
oxygen-consuming potential associated with certain dissolved
organic compounds such as acetate.
Effluent: something that flows out: as a : an outflowing branch of
a main stream or lake b : waste material (as smoke, liquid
industrial refuse, or sewage) discharged into the environment
especially when serving as a pollutant
pH- An expression for the effective concentration of hydrogen
ions in solution. The pH of water determines the solubility
(amount that can be dissolved in the water) and biological
availability (amount that can be utilized by aquatic life) of
chemical constituents such as nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen,
and carbon) and heavy metals (lead, copper, cadmium, etc.).
Quantitative measure of the strength of the acidity or alkalinity
(see acid, base) of a solution.
A stabilization pond is a large shallow excavation that receives
sewage from a sewer system, the sewage so that biological
processes can destroy most of the disease-causing organisms,
and discharges the effluent as treated. Sometimes two or more
ponds are constructed and connected by pipes. Constructing
stabilization ponds requires the services of an experienced
construction supervisor and surveyor. Construction involves
assembling labor, materials, and tools; preparing the site;
staking the pond, embankment, and pipe locations; excavating
the pond; building embankments; laying pipes; and finishing
embankments.
TREATED SEWAGE - The liquid that flows out of a stabilization
pond or series of ponds; treated sewage is safer than settled
sewage and may be used to irrigate crops not intented for
human comsumption.
TSS- The amount of particles that suspend in a sample of water
is called total suspended solids (TSS). TSS can be estimated
from measurements of turbidity or transparency, but an accurate
TSS measurement involves carefully weighing the amount of
suspended material from a water sample. Total suspended
solids (TSS) gives a measure of the turbidity of the water
Dissolved Oxygen (DO or O2):
The concentration of free (not chemically combined) molecular
oxygen (a gas) dissolved in water, usually expressed in
milligrams per liter, parts per million, or percent of saturation.
Adequate concentrations of dissolved oxygen are necessary for
the life of fish and other aquatic organisms and the prevention of
offensive odors. DO levels are considered the most important
and commonly employed measurement of water quality and
indicator of a water body's ability to support desirable aquatic
life. Levels above 5 milligrams per liter (mg O 2/L) are considered
optimal and most fish cannot survive for prolonged periods at
levels below 3 mg O2/L. Levels below 1 mg O2/L are often
referred to as hypoxic and when O2 is totally absent anoxic
(often called anaerobic which technically means without air).
Secondary and advanced wastewater treatment systems are
generally designed to degrade organic matter to ensure
adequate dissolved oxygen in waste-receiving waters
Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in
quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste
discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties,
industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of
potential contaminants and concentrations.
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): a laboratory
measurement of wastewater that is one of the main indicators of
the quantity of pollutants present; a parameter used to measure
the amount of oxygen that will be consumed by microorganisms
during the biological reaction of oxygen with organic material
secondary treatment: a type of wastewater treatment used to
convert dissolved and suspended pollutants into a form that can
be removed, producing a relatively highly treated effluent.
Secondary treatment normally utilizes biological treatment
processes (activated sludge, trickling filters, etc.) followed by
settling tanks and will remove approximately 85% of the BOD
and TSS in wastewater. Secondary treatment for municipal
wastewater is the minimum level of treatment required by the
Clean Water Act.
primary treatment: the first stage of wastewater treatment that
removes settleable or floating solids only; generally removes
40% of the suspended solids and 30-40% of the BOD in the
wastewater
Rhizodegradation is the breakdown of an organic contaminant
in soil through microbial activity that is enhanced by the
presence of the root zone. Rhizodegradation is also known as
plant-assisted degradation, plant-assisted bioremediation, plant-
aided in situ biodegradation, and enhanced rhizosphere
biodegradation. Root-zone biodegradation is the mechanism for
implementing rhizodegradation.
Reeds are perennial grasses which are classically distinguished
by having hollow stems and broad leaves. These grasses
typically grow in wetlands, and they can be found throughout the
temperate and tropical regions of the world, with some reed
types growing in colder environments. Humans have been
utilizing reeds for a variety of tasks from roofing to papermaking
for centuries.