INTRODUCTION

The environment can be defined as the surroundings in which we live. These

surroundings may be living (biotic) or non living (abiotic). There is a dynamic equilibrium
between biotic and abiotic environment. We are influenced in our day to day activities by the
environment. We in turn affect the environment by our activities, by consuming its natural
resources and producing pollution. Pollution is the mixing of undesirable elements in any of the
natural resources. For example when we mix the human excreta with water and produce
sewage and dispose it in the river we pollute the river. There are many indices of designating
and measuring this pollution like Biochemical Oxygen Demand, etc. Now this pollution
degrades the quality of water. Water, fit for drinking is the second most important requirement
(first is the air) for human beings. It must have some useful ingredients and must not have the
pollutants.
Actually Environmental Engineering is a very broad subject, but its basic knowledge is
compulsory for every engineer. Some of the knowledge can be obtained by doing some simple
experiments to judge the quality of water and wastewater and that is why the laboratory
analysis of Environmental Engineering has been recommended for the first year students of all
branches in Engineering in the esteem Technical University of Rajasthan.
This manual covers the syllabus of Rajasthan Technical University. This laboratory
Manual has been designed to cater the fundamental knowledge of a part of environmental
engineering i.e. water and waste water. To understand the significance of the experiment some
theory has been included before the experiment. Then the comments give the overall aspect and
in the end the student has to critically comment on the results of the experiment that why this
result is there and what is the meaning of it. This is the most important part of the experiment
and the evaluator must evaluate the work in light of this.
The requirement of the apparatus and the reagents etc. and how to make them in the laboratory,
simplifies the work of the institution. The students are advised to prepare the solutions by
themselves afresh to have the complete knowledge and good results.
Though there are so many tests for examination of water and wastewater actually Total
dissolved solids, Chlorides, Fluorides and Nitrates are the main chemical examinations for
acceptance or rejection of a water source as source of supply for a community. As disinfection is
a must, so microbiological examination is done after the treatment of water to be supplied. The
microbiological examination is difficult, time taking and beyond the scope of this primary level
of First year B.Tech students. However the test of residual chlorine makes it possible indirectly. If
there is required amount of residual chlorine then it is assumed that there are no bacteria.
Determination of sulfate is necessary to find whether the water is fit for construction (concrete)
purpose or not.
The dissolved oxygen in sewage directly leads to the determination of BOD of sewage.
The determination of dissolved and settleable solids gives idea about the design of grit chamber
and the offensiveness of the sewage. So the manual on Environmental Engineering Laboratory

provides a sufficient basic tool for the examination of water and wastewater for first year
students of every branch of B.Tech /B.E degree and any body engaged in this profession It has
been taken into consideration that the method of measurements is simple as they are meant for
preliminary examination of water and waste water at a primary level.

General Instructions:
1. This laboratory manual is for reference and use for those using the
environmental engineering laboratory.
2. Discussion after each experiment should be based on the following points:
(i) Limit prescribed for that constituent in drinking water standards.
(ii) The suitability of the sample for drinking purpose with respect to that
particular constituent.
3. Users may refer the following for writing the discussion after each
experiment:
(i) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water,
American Public Health Association, 1015, 15 th Street, N.W., Washington
D.C., 2005.
(ii) Chemistry for Environmental Engineers, Sawyer and McCarty, Tata
Mc-Graw Hill.
(iii) Manual of Standards of Quality for Drinking Water Supplies, Indian
Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.
(iv) International Standards for Drinking Water World Health
Organisation.
(v) IS 2490 - 1981, IS 3306 - 1974, IS 3307 - 1977, IS 7968 - 1976, IS
2296 - 1974, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.