Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Q1: What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand and its importance?
BOD signifies the oxygen needed for bacteria to break down organic material in water. Discharging organic material into natural waters accelerates microorganism growth, depleting oxygen essential for other aquatic life.
Q2: What is the normal range of BOD?
Drinking water typically maintains a BOD level of 1-2 ppm. Water with a BOD value between 3-5 ppm is considered moderately clean, while polluted water falls within the range of 6-9 ppm, indicating the presence of organic waste.
Q3: What are the disadvantages of BOD?
The five-day test for BOD uses discrete samples, but it has poor reproducibility and can be affected by toxic chemicals, leading to measurement inhibition. Short-term BOD determinations amplify errors and still demand relatively long sample periods.
Q4: Why is BOD harmful?
Higher BOD values indicate a faster depletion of oxygen in the stream, reducing availability for higher forms of aquatic life. Elevated BOD leads to the same consequences as low dissolved oxygen: stress, suffocation, and death among aquatic organisms.
Q5: Why is BOD high in wastewater?
BOD measures the organic matter in water, rising with the addition of decaying plants, human or animal waste, and other organic compounds.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand – Affecting Factors and Significance
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) stands for biochemical oxygen demand, and it refers to the amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to break down organic matter in water. In the field of environmental science, one principal factor that helps us in measuring water quality is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). BOD helps us to understand the level of pollution and its effects on aquatic life. This article covers Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), the significance of BOD, Measurement of BOD, Factors Affecting BOD, Effects of High BOD, and Methods to Reduce BOD in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)?
- Importance of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- How BOD is measured?
- Factors Affecting Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Effects of High Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Methods to Reduce Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- Significance of BOD
- Sources of BOD