SIGNIFICANT PARAMETERS

WATER ANALYSIS

Filed by
Leonardo C. Sawal, MSSE
leosawal0810@gmail.com

Why do we need to analyze water?

If water is badly polluted-like raw sewage--- it might
be obvious from its
appearance or odor.
It might be colored or turbid
(cloudy), or have solids, oil
or foam floating on it.
It might have a rotten odor,
or smell like industrial
chemicals.

 A lot of dead fish floating on the surface of

a lake would be a clear sign that something
was wrong.
But many harmful-- and beneficial-materials in water are invisible and
odorless.
In order to go beyond the obvious, to
determine what materials are in the water,
and how much, we need to be able to
conduct chemical or microbiological
analyses.

Significant Wastewater Parameters

pH
Color
Total Solids (TS)
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Significant Wastewater Parameters

Salinity
Conductivity
Turbidity
Temperature

Significant Wastewater Parameters

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
5-Day Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD5)
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Phenols
Oil and Grease

Significant Air Parameter

Total Suspended Particulate

(TSP)

Water Classification
by Beneficial Use
Source: DENR Administrative Order
No. 34 series of 1990 and DENR
Administrative Order No. 97-23

I. Fresh Surface Water (Rivers, Lakes, Reservoirs, etc.)

Classification Beneficial Use

Class AA:
Public Water
Supply
Class A:
Public Water
Supply
Class B:
Recreational
Water

Waters that require disinfection

to meet the National Standards
for Drinking Water (NSDW)
Waters that require complete
treatment to meet the NSDW
Waters for primary contact
recreation (e.g. bathing,
swimming, skin diving, etc.)

Classification
Class C:

Class D:

Beneficial Use

Waters for fishery production

Recreational Water Class II

(boating, etc.)

Industrial Water Supply Class I

For agriculture, irrigation,
livestock watering

Industrial Water Supply Class I

Other inland waters

II. Coastal and Marine Water (as amended by DAO 97-23)

Classification Beneficial Use

Water suitable for the fishery
production

Class SA:

National marine parks and

marine reserves

Coral reef parks and reserves

Tourist zones and marine
reserves

Class SB:

Recreational Water Class I

Fishery Water Class I for milk

fish

Classification Beneficial Use

Recreational Water Class II (e.g.
boating)

Class SC:

Fishery Water Class II

(commercial)

Marshy and/or mangrove areas

declared as fish and wildlife
sanctuaries
Industrial Water Supply Class II
(e.g. cooling)

Class SD:

Other coastal and marine waters

DENR Effluent Standards

Class SD and Other Coastal Waters

not yet Classified (DAO 34)

Parameters
BOD5, mg/L
Color
Chemical Oxygen
Demand, mg/L
Dissolved
Oxygen, mg/L
Oil and Grease,
mg/L

DENR Class C
Standard
10

No abnormal
discoloration

5.0
2.0

Parameters
pH

DENR Class C
Standard
6.5-8.5

Phenols, mg/L

0.02

Temperature, 0C

3 0C rise in RBW

Total Suspended
Solids

Not more than 30 mg/l

increase (dry season)

Unit of Measurements
Samples are usually measured by volume
using a volumetric pipet, therefore it is
convenient to express results in terms of
mg/l

=
=

milligrams per liter

weight-volume relationship

mg/l = g/m3
mg/l x 10-3 = kg/m3

Unit of Measurements
Parts-per notation is a measure of
concentration that is used where low
levels of concentration are significant.
These types of measurement units are
also known as mixing ratios.
This is often used to denote the relative
abundance of trace elements in the
Earth's crust, trace elements in
forensics or other analyses, or levels of
pollutants in the environment.

Unit of Measurements
Parts per million ('ppm') denotes one
particle of a given substance for every
999,999 other particles. This is roughly
equivalent to one drop of ink in a 150 litre
(40 gallon) drum of water, or one second per
280 hours. 1 part in 106.
Parts per billion ('ppb') denotes one particle
of a given substance for every 999,999,999
other particles. This is roughly equivalent
to one drop of ink in a canal lock full of
water, or one second per 32 years. 1 part in
109.

Parts per Million

ppm
- is a weight -to-weight ratio
Its use was more or less universal and
unquestioned when analysis was
principally concerned with water,
because a liter of water weighs
approximately
1000 g or 1 000 000 mg
1 mg/l = 1 ppm
1 microgram per liter = 1 parts per
billion

Method of Analysis

PARAMETER
BOD5
Color
Dissolved
Oxygen
Chemical
Oxygen Demand

METHOD OF ANALYSIS
Azide Modification
(Dilution Technique)
Visual Comparison Method
(Platinum Cobalt Scale)
Azide Modification
(Winkler Method),
Membrane Electrode
(DO Meter)
Open Reflux Method

PARAMETER
Oil and Grease
Phenolic
Substances
pH
Total Suspended
Solids
Temperature

METHOD OF ANALYSIS
Gravimetric Method
(Petroleum Ether Extraction)
Chloroform Extraction
Method
Glass Electrode Method
Gravimetric Method
Use of Mercury-Filled
Thermometer

Sampling and Handling

Requirements

PARAMETER

BOD5

P, G

SAMPLE
SIZE,
mL
1,000

COD

P, G

100

Color

P, G

500

G, widemouth
calibrated

1,000

Oil and
Grease

CONTAINER

PRESERVATIONS HOLDING
TIME
Refrigerate,
storage at 4
degree Celsius
Analyze
immediately; or
refrigerate and
add H2SO4 to

pH<2
Refrigerate,
storage at 4
degree Celsius
Add HCl or H2SO4
to pH<2;
refrigerate

6 hours

7 days

48h

28 days

PARAMETER

Oxygen,
dissolved

pH
Phenolics

CONTAINER

G, BOD
bottle

P, G

SAMPLE
SIZE,
mL
300

50

Solids

P, G

200

Temperature

P, G

1,000

PRESERVATIONS HOLDING
TIME
Analyze
immediately;
titration may be
delayed after
acidification
Analyze
immediately

0.25
hour

Refrigerate,
storage at 4
degree Celsius
Refrigerate

24 hours

Analyze
immediately

0.25
hour

0.25
hour

7 days

5-DAY BIOCHEMICAL
OXYGEN DEMAND
Azide Modification
(Dilution Technique)

What is BOD5?
The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed
in five days by biological processes breaking
down organic matter.
The results are expressed in terms of mg/L
of dissolved oxygen which microorganisms,
principally bacteria, will consume while
degrading the organic matter.

BOD5 Analysis

BOD Bottles

Significance
As the biochemical oxygen demand increases,
more dissolved oxygen is removed from the
stream, leaving less for fish and other aquatic
life.
The idea of the analysis is that in polluted
water there is an oxygen demand caused by
micro-organisms. The required oxygen
demand was used to measure the extent of
the pollution.
Oxygen demand increases as temperature and
time of reaction increases.

COLOR
Visual Comparison Method
(Platinum Cobalt Scale)

What is Color?
Color in water may result from the presence of
natural metallic ions such as iron and manganese,
humus and peat materials, plankton, weeds, and
industrial wastes.
The term color used in laboratory analysis is the
apparent color which includes not only color due
to substances in solution, but also that due to
suspended matter. The term true color, is the
color of water from which turbidity has been
removed.
Apparent color is determined on the original
sample without filtration or centrifugation.

Color Analysis

Nessler Tube

Significance
Color is determined by visual comparison of the
sample with known concentrations of colored
solutions.
Color is removed to make water suitable for
general and industrial applications. Colored
industrial wastewaters may require color
removal before discharge into watercourses.
Color intensity generally increases with increase
in pH and solid content of wastewater.

CHEMICAL OXYGEN
DEMAND
Open Reflux Method

What is COD?
COD is a measure of the oxygen equivalent of
organic matter content of a sample that is
susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical
oxidant (potassium permanganate and
potassium dichromate) in an acidic medium.
The COD-analysis may be carried out
automatically and relatively fast (1-2 hours)
and the measured COD-values give a good
picture of the total content of organic matter.

COD Analysis

Reflux Apparatus

Significance

The contamination level is determined by

measuring the equivalent amount of oxygen
required to oxidize organic matter in the sample.
COD differs from BOD in that it measures the
oxygen demand to digest all organic content, not
just that portion which could be consumed by
biological processes.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Azide Modification (Winkler Method)
Membrane Electrode (DO Meter)

What is Dissolved Oxygen?

Dissolved oxygen analysis measures the amount of
gaseous oxygen (O2) dissolved in an aqueous solution.
Oxygen gets into water by diffusion from the
surrounding air, by aeration (rapid movement), and as
a waste product of photosynthesis.
When performing the dissolved oxygen test, only grab
samples should be used, and the analysis should be
performed immediately.

Therefore, this is a field test that should be

performed on site.

Dissolved Oxygen Analysis

DO Meter

Significance

Adequate dissolved oxygen is necessary for

good water quality.
Oxygen is a necessary element to all forms of
life. It is essential for fish to breathe. Many
microbial forms require it, as well.
Natural stream purification processes require
adequate oxygen levels in order to provide for
aerobic life forms.

 As dissolved oxygen levels in water

drop below 5.0 mg/l, aquatic life is put
under stress.
The lower the concentration, the
greater the stress. Oxygen levels that
remain below 1-2 mg/l for a few hours
can result in large fish kills.

OIL & GREASE

Gravimetric Method
(Petroleum Ether Extraction)

What is Oil and Grease?

It is a variety of organic substances
including hydrocarbons, fats, oils, waxes
and high molecular weight fatty acids.
Oil and grease can clog sewers, causing
blockages and backups. Petroleum products
can be toxic and flammable, and can coat
surfaces and interfere with biodegradation
by microorganisms in wastewater treatment
plants.

What is Oil and Grease?

They are mostly biodegradable,
especially biological oils and greases,
but are a problem due to forming a
separate phase from the water.

Oil and Grease Analysis

Significance
If present in excessive amounts, they
may interfere with aerobic and
anaerobic biological processes and
lead to decrease wastewater
treatment efficiency.
When discharged in wastewater or
untreated effluents, they may cause
surface films and shoreline deposits
leading to environmental degradation.

Oil slicks in
surface water

pH
Glass Electrode Method

What is pH?
The pH measurement, for water and soil,
is measuring whether the water is more
acid (lower pH) or basic (higher pH), with
a reading of 7.0 as neutral.
It is a measurement of hydrogen-ion
concentration and is expressed as the
negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion
concentration.

pH Analysis
pH Meter

Significance

A pH range of 6.0 to 9.0 appears to provide

protection for the life of freshwater fish and
bottom dwelling invertebrates.
Although there are some microorganisms
which can function at extreme pH's, most
living things require pH's close to neutrality.
Many enzymes and other proteins are
denatured by pH's which differ much from
pH7, which disrupts the functioning of the
organism and may kill it.

Significance
Besides the harm to aquatic life in natural waters,
pH imbalances can inhibit or completely wipe out
biological processes in wastewater treatment plants,
resulting in incomplete treatment and pollution of
the receiving waters.
Low (acidic) pH's also cause corrosion in sewers
systems and increase the release of toxic and foulsmelling hydrogen sulfide gas. (This gas has been
responsible for the deaths of numerous sewer
workers.)

Low pH's also increase the release of metals , some

toxic, from soils and sediments.

PHENOLIC
SUBSTANCES
Chloroform Extraction Method

What is Phenol?
A caustic, poisonous, white
crystalline compound, C6H5OH,
derived from benzene.
Phenols are produced as waste in oil
refineries, coke plants, and in some
chemical manufacturing plants.

Phenol Analysis

Significance
Phenol and substituted phenols are
common and are priority pollutants
because
they
are
suspected
carcinogens as well as being
extremely toxic to aquatic life and
imparting a strong taste and bad
odor to water, particularly after
chlorination.

TEMPERATURE

Use of Mercury-Filled Thermometer

Temperature

Significance
Temperature of water is very important
parameter because of its effect on chemical
reactions and reaction rates, aquatic life and the
suitability of the water for beneficial uses.
High water temperatures stress aquatic
ecosystems by reducing the ability of water to
hold essential dissolved gasses like oxygen.
Sudden change in temperature can result in
high rate of mortality of aquatic life.
Abnormally high temperatures can foster the
growth of undesirable water plants and
wastewater fungus.

Significance
Good temperatures are dependent on the type of
stream you are monitoring. Lowland streams,
known as "warm water" streams, are different
from mountain or spring fed streams that are
normally cool.
In a warm water stream temperatures should
not exceed 89 degrees (Fahrenheit). Cold water
streams should not exceed 68 degrees
(Fahrenheit).

Often summer head can cause fish kills in

ponds because high temperatures reduce
available oxygen in the water.

CONDUCTIVITY

Conductivity

Significance
Electrical conductivity (EC)
estimates the amount of total
dissolved salts (TDS), or the
total amount of dissolved ions
in the water.

SALINITY

Salinity

Significance
Salinity is the presence of soluble salts in soils
or waters.
It is a general term used to describe the
presence of elevated levels of different salts such
as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium
sulfates and bicarbonates, in soil and water.
The electrical conductivity of water surrogate
measure of total dissolved solids (TDS)
concentration.

TURBIDITY

Turbidity

Significance
Turbidity is the measure of water
clarity.
The more suspended solids in the
water, the murkier it becomes.
The increased turbidity of water can
reduce the diversity of life in three
ways:

 Suspended particles absorb heat from sunlight

and warm the water. Warmer water holds less
oxygen and organisms begin to suffer. Also,
some organisms can not live in the warmer
water.
Particles also block sunlight. Plants and algae
grow less and release less oxygen from
photosynthesis.
Particles also settle on the bottom and can
cover and suffocate fish eggs and insect larvae.

TOTAL SOLIDS

What is Total Solids?

Total Solids are the total of all
solids in a water sample.
They include the total suspended
solids, total dissolved solids, and
volatile suspended solids.

TOTAL DISSOLVED
SOLIDS

What is Dissolved Solids?

"Dissolved solids" refer to any
minerals, salts, metals, cations or
anions dissolved in water. This
includes anything present in water
other than the pure water (H20)
molecule and suspended solids.

What is Dissolved Solids?

Total Dissolved Solids are those
solids that pass through a filter with
a pore size of 2.0 micron. or smaller.
They are said to be non-filterable.
After filtration the filtrate (liquid) is
dried and the remaining residue is
weighed and calculated as mg/l of
Total Dissolved Solids.

TOTAL SUSPENDED
SOLIDS
Gravimetric Method

What is Total Suspended

Solids
(TSS)?
Suspended solids are undissolved matter
in effluent. A parameter to evaluate the
strength of wastewaters.

Total suspended solids (TSS) include all

particles suspended in water which will
not pass through a filter.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Analysis

Significance
As levels of TSS increase, a water body
begins to lose its ability to support a
diversity of aquatic life.
Suspended solids absorb heat from
sunlight, which increases water
temperature and subsequently decreases
levels of dissolved oxygen (warmer water
holds less oxygen than cooler water).

Significance

Photosynthesis also decreases, since less light

penetrates the water. As less oxygen is
produced by plants and algae, there is a further
drop in dissolved oxygen levels.

TSS can also destroy fish habitat because

suspended solids settle to the bottom and can
eventually blanket the river bed.

Suspended solids can smother the eggs of fish

and aquatic insects, and can suffocate newlyhatched insect larvae.

Significance

Suspended solids can also harm fish directly by

clogging gills, reducing growth rates, and
lowering resistance to disease.

Changes to the aquatic environment may result

in a diminished food sources, and increased
difficulties in finding food.

Natural movements and migrations of aquatic

populations may be disrupted.

Sources:
Wastewater Engineering
(Treatment, Disposal and Reuse) by
Metcalf and Eddy, 3rd ed.
Chemistry for Environmental
Engineering by Sawyer and
McCarty, 3rd ed.

THANK
YOU