Running Head: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

The University of Technology, Jamaica

The Department of Chemical Engineering

Module: Wastewater Treatment (CHE4018)

Laboratory Report on the Constituents of Wastewater

Authors:
Richardo Wright ID#1604258
Garfield Smith ID#:1600948

Submitted on: September 30, 2019

Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

Abstract

This report presents the analysis of the wastewater present at Elleston Flats wastewater

treatment plant. The results were compared to standards established by the National Environment

Protection Agency (NEPA). A one-day old sample was taken from the influent stream of the

treatment plant using the grab and composite sampling methods. The sample then underwent

several laboratory tests and the results compared to that of the agency.

The parameters that were analyzed stemmed from four categories which the act outlines.

These categories included: Organics (Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)), the solids (Total

Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Solids (TS)), the physical

properties (turbidity, pH and temperature) and the biological components (Total coliforms and

faecal coliforms). It was found that tested constituents of the wastewater did not meet the

standards as established by NEPA. Therefore, the raw sewage will need to be treated before it is

at the standard to be discharged into a Class I water body.

Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

List of Symbols

Acronyms and Abbreviations used throughout the report

BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand

DO Dissolved Oxygen

DOi Initial Dissolved Oxygen

DOf Final Dissolved Oxygen

EFWWTP Elleston Flats Wastewater Treatment Plant

MPN Most Probable Number

TSS Total Suspended Solids

WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant

Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

Introduction

Wastewater is water that has been contaminated due to domestic, industrial or a

combination of both activities. And it is this wastewater which is being treated and discharged

into rivers, lakes and other natural water bodies. Therefore, it is increasingly vital that the

components be known in order to ensure the management of the wastewater does not have a

negative impact on the environment. This can be achieved from the analysis of the wastewater

constituents, which can be generally categorized as the physical, chemical and biological

characteristics.

The physical characteristics are the physical properties of the wastewater such as the

total suspended solids (TSS), temperature, turbidity and colour. The chemical characteristics are

separated into organic and inorganic, examples of these include the Biological Oxygen Demand

(BOD), free chlorine, phosphates and nitrates. Biological characteristics refer to the

microorganisms present in the wastewater such as coliform organisms (Pearlman, 2016). Since

the sample is taken from the inlet of the plant the TSS, BOD, COD and faecal coliforms are

expected to be the largest (at maximum), as the wastewater is untreated.

The Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are particles that are larger than 2 microns found in

the water column. Anything smaller than 2 microns) is considered a dissolved solid. The BOD

refers to the amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all the organics in one litre of water

were oxidized by bacteria and protozoa over a 5 day period (Pearlman, 2016). Coliform bacteria

originates as organisms in soil or vegetation and in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals

(fecal coliform). This group of bacteria has long been an indicator of water contamination and

possible presence of intestinal parasites and pathogens. Coliform bacteria are relatively simple to
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

identify, are present in much larger numbers than more dangerous pathogens, and react to the

natural environment and treatment processes similarly to pathogens. By observing coliform

bacteria, the increase or decrease of many pathogenic bacteria can be estimated (Treyens, 2009).

Objectives:

Characterize in as far as is possible the two wastewater samples that were collected in week 1;

the composite sample and a grab sample.

The following parameters are to be tested for each type of sample;

a) pH

b) BOD, COD

c) Fecal Coliform Bacteria

d) TS, TDS and TSS

f) Total Nitrogen, phosphates

Method:
A sample of one-day influent was retrieved from the Elleston Flats Waste Water Treatment Plant

(EFWWTP). The test for the characteristics listed above were carried out.

COD Test

➢ 2ml of wastewater from sample was added to a vial which was then inverted

➢ The vial was placed in a CSTR for 2 hours and allow to cool for 30 minutes before

removing
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

➢ Finally, the vial were placed in a spectrophotometer from which COD readings were

recorded

Faecal Coliform Test

➢ Three (3) containers each comprising of a 3*5 (i.e. row*column) was used to hold the

15 vials for each sample.

➢ 1ml, 0.1ml and 0.01ml of each sample was added to each of the 5 vials in row 1, 2

and 3 respectively.

➢ Samples were then inverted and placed in an incubator for 2 days minimum

➢ The bacteria were then transferred to a new set of vials which was incubated for a

minimum of 1 day.

➢ After the incubation period, the vials were checked uniquely for bubbles in order to

determine the MPN as shown in table 1.

BOD test

➢ 2ml of sample was diluted.

➢ With the aid of a multiprobe dissolved oxygen meter, the initial dissolved oxygen

reading for each sample was recorded.

➢ The sample was then placed in an incubator for five days after which the final

dissolve oxygen was recorded and tabulated.

TSS test

➢ Water was used as a reference in the spectrophotometer for calibration (i.e. zeroing the

machine).

➢ A portion of the sample was placed in cuvettes and inserted in the machine.

➢ The total suspended solids (TSS) concentration was recorded and tabulated.
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

pH

 A pH probe was used to determine the pH of the sample.

 Sample was collected in a container and the probe was placed in it.

 The pH was recorded and tabulated.

Results:
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

Table 1. showing the measured parameters from the analysis of one-day influent wastewater

Parameter Result NEPA Standards

Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) 263 ˂150

Physical

Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) 790 1000

Total Solids (mg/L) 1053

pH 8.34 6.5-8.5

Nitrogen (mg/L) 1.6 10

Phosphorous (mg/L) 4.27 5

Chemical

Chemical Oxygen Demand 535 ˂100

(mg/L)

Biological Oxygen Demand DOi 8.59 ˂30

(mg/L)
DOf 7.21

BOD5 138

Faecal coliform 16000 MPN index/100mL 1000 MPN/100mL

Biological
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

Sample Calculation:

BOD Test for Sample A:

𝐷𝑂𝑖 −𝐷𝑂𝑓
where P = ratio of the volume of sample used to the total volume of the container
𝑃

used.

8.59𝑚𝑔/𝐿−7.21𝑚𝑔/𝐿
2
𝑚𝑙
300

0.48
=
0.00667

= 138 mg/L

Coliform Test:

From the MPN table:

For volumes of 10ml, 1ml and 0.1 ml with an MPN of 5, 5 and 5 respectively, the coliform is

≥1600.

Discussion:

The sample of wastewater used, represents influent collected at the Elleston Flats

wastewater treatment plant. Various tests were carried out on different volumes of effluent. Test

were done to determine the different physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the

influent waste water such as total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total nitrogen and

phosphates, pH, faecal coliform, COD, and BOD. All of these characteristics are not independent

of each other but contribute and are related to each other.

Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

As it relates to the physical constituent of the wastewater, TSS is one of the most visible

indicators of water quality. Total solids is a measure of the suspended and dissolved solids in

water. Suspended solids are those solids, which remain floating in sewage. Dissolved solids are

those, which remain dissolved in wastewater just as salt in water. The wastewater tested

appeared to have a strong concentration of total solids since its concentration was greater than

1000 mg/L (Prash, 2017). Additionally, this high concentration of TS will also have an effect on

temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO). Suspended particles will absorb heat from solar

radiation and transfer this heat to the surrounding water. Warmer water will not contain as much

DO as colder water (Perlman, 2016). It was also noticed that a TDS level of 790 mg/L was

recorded which is lower than that of the standard 1000mg/L. The sample also had a higher than

standard TSS recording of 263 mg/L. These values can be attributed to the fact that the sample

was taken from the inlet of the plant. This represented untreated wastewater. Regardless of this,

the wastewater tested was not up to standard as it relates to these physical characteristics.

The pH value of sewage indicates the negative log of hydrogen ion concentration present

in sewage.

i.e. pH= - log H+; or H+ = (10)-pH

It is, thus, an indicator of the alkalinity of sewage. If the pH value is less than 7, the sewage is

acidic, and if the pH value is more than 7, the sewage is alkaline. The determination of pH value

of sewage is important, because of the fact that efficiency of certain treatment methods depends

upon the availability of a suitable pH value. In waste water treatment, pH is an important

measure for the coagulation process which is turbidity removal, disinfection, water softening and

corrosion control (Mandal, 2014). Acidic waters will usually contain toxic heavy metals.

According to NEPA the most aquatic organisms have a narrow pH tolerance range of 6 –9. As a
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

result, it is important that the wastewater not have a neutral to slightly basic pH. For this

experiment, the pH was recorded to be 8.34 which is acceptable.

The presence of nitrogen in sewage indicates the presence of organic matter. This test

was also done as a determination of the chemical characteristics of wastewater. High levels of

nitrate in water may indicate biological wastes in the final stages of stabilization, or run-off from

heavily fertilized fields. Nitrate-rich effluents discharged into receiving waters can degrade water

quality by encouraging excessive growth of algae (Nitrogen, Nitrate, 2010). Drinking waters

containing excessive amounts of nitrates can cause infant methemoglobinemia (blue babies). For

this reason, a maximum concentration level in drinking water has been established by NEPA. A

concentration of 1.6 mg/L was recorded for the sample which id a lot lower than the standard 10

mg/L. This can mean that not a lot of organic matter was present in the wastewater or that the

wastewater did not originate from agricultural sources. A test for phosphorous was also

conducted. This test revealed a concentration of 4.27 mg/L. This was also below the standard and

can be indicate that the wastewater did not contain a lot of organics.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are two of the

most important parameters to characterize wastewater. BOD, the biological demand for oxygen a

source of water has, is the amount of oxygen used by microorganisms to break down organic

substances. It is measured via a delicate and time-consuming biological process, which depends

on temperature. The standard measurement is performed at 20°C for 5 days and is called BOD5.

In general terms, the greater the pollution, the higher the BOD. A BOD5 of 138 mg/L was

recorded for the sample. This indicates that the wastewater was moderately polluted. Generally,

wastewater with a BOD5 over 500 mg/L would be considered highly polluted. COD, the

chemical demand for oxygen a source of water has, is the amount of oxygen required to break
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

down organic substances chemically and convert them to CO2 and H2O. The higher the COD,

the more polluted the water is. However, this test only takes about 3 hours, so much less time is

needed for a result than for a BOD test. A COD of 535 was recorded for this experiment. The

main difference between BOD and COD is that COD measures all organic material, while BOD

only measures organic material which is or can be biologically degraded. Therefore, for a given

water sample, the COD is always greater than the BOD, and the second result (COD), as the

complete chemical oxidation of the sample, can be considered to include the first.

The presence of faecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicates that the water

has been contaminated with the faecal material of humans or other animals. High levels of faecal

contamination can pose many health risks. It is therefore important to measure the faecal

coliform bacteria present in the influent so that appropriate measures can be taken to treat the

water before it is sent out in to the environment. For the sample collected, the fecal coliform was

16000 MPN. According to the NRCA act, the limit for faecal coliform is 1000 MPN. What is

expected is that as water moves down the process and undergoes secondary and tertiary

treatment, the fecal coliform level would decrease. This, however, would not be noticeable in the

sample since it was taken prior to these treatment methods.

Grab sample as the name suggest is a simple scoop of the wastewater being sampled and

are appropriate where conditions are constant or well mixed and slow to change. On the other

hand, composite samples are either amalgamated (from one source) or made up of smaller sub

samples. The composite sampling is further divided into two groups, time proportional and flow

proportional composite. For the testing of the influent carried out in the laboratory specific

constituents were analyzed for a particular moment of time, hence the grab sampling method was

the most suitable choice.

 Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

In order to reduce the high levels of the various constituents (dissolved solids and

organic/inorganic compounds) within the raw sewage, it is necessary for the wastewater to

undergo preliminary, primary, secondary and tertiary treatment. Below is a process flow diagram

of the suggested method to get the raw sewage to a high quality with low quantities of the

constituents.

Preliminary Primary Secondary

Primary Aeratio Secondary

Raw Grit
Screen sedimentatio n tank Sedimentatio
Sewage Chambe
n tank n tank
r

RECYCLED SLUDGE

TERTIARY
FINAL
Gas (CH4, CO2)
EFFLUENT

SECONDARY SLUDGE

SLUDGE
DIGESTIO
N TANK

Supernatant SLUDGE
DISPOSAL

Figure1. Process Block Diagram of the Treatment of Raw Sewage

The preliminary treatment involves the removal of floating materials (leaves, papers, rags) and

inorganic solids (sand, grit), besides oily substances (fats, oils, greases) that are able to

settle. Primary treatment is aimed at the removal of fine suspended organic solids that cannot be
Lab 1: THE CONSTITUENTS OF WASTEWATER

removed in the preliminary treatment. Primary treatment basically involves the process of

sedimentation or settling.

Biological or secondary treatment of sewage is required for the removal of dissolved and fine

colloidal organic matter. This process involves the use of microorganisms such as bacteria, algae,

fungi, protozoa, or nematodes that decompose the unstable organic matter to stable inorganic

forms

Following the conventional primary and secondary treatments, tertiary treatment or advanced

treatment is sometimes needed for the removal of suspended and dissolved substances. In

general, the effluent of the sewage obtained after secondary treatment can be conveniently

disposed without causing any nuisance (Kumar, 2015)

Conclusion

For this experiment inconsistencies in the results obtained and the standards outlined by

NEPA were noticed. It must be stated, however, that the wastewater sample was taken from the

inlet of the treatment facility and as such the necessary treatment methods were not yet done to

bring the wastewater up to standard. Treatment from the preliminary stage through to the tertiary

is necessary to make the water be safe for discharge into Class I water bodies.

References:

Fundamentals of Environmental Measurements.(n.d).Retrieved from

http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-
quality/turbidity-total-suspended-solids-water-clarity/#Turbid1
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Kumar, P. (2015). Processes of Waste Water Treatment: 4 Process (With Diagram). Retrieved
October 3, 2016, from http://www.biologydiscussion.com/waste-management/waste-
water-treatment/processes-of-waste-water-treatment-4-process-with-diagram/10989
Oram, P. M. (n.d.). Total coliform bacteria are a collection of relatively harmless
microorganisms that live in large numbers in the intestines of man and warm- and cold-
blooded animals. Retrieved October 01, 2016, from http://www.water-
research.net/index.php/e-coli-in-water

Perlman, U. H. (2016) Water properties: Dissolved oxygen. Retrieved October 08, 2016, from
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/dissolvedoxygen.html
Treyens C.(2009).Bacteria and Private Wells; Information Every Well Owner Should Know.
Retrieved from
http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/pdf/dw/publications/ontap/magazine/OTWI09_features/Bacteri
aAndPrivateWells.pdf