The impact of BOD levels on wastewater

Biochaical Oxygen Daand (BOD) is one of the important indicators for measuring the organic matter content in wastewater. The BOD value reflects the content of biochaical organic matter in wastewater and is also an important parameter for evaluating the degree of pollution of wastewater to the water environment.


BOD refers to the amount of oxygen required by organisms to decompose organic matter under aerobic conditions over a certain period of time. Organic compounds in wastewater can be utilized by microorganisms as energy and carbon sources for biochaical degradation. Therefore, the higher the BOD value in wastewater, the higher the content of organic matter in wastewater, which means that the pollution level of wastewater to water is also more severe.


Wastewater with high BOD values will have the following impacts on the water environment:


1. Deterioration of water quality: The release of wastewater with high BOD values into the water body can lead to an increase in oxygen consumption, thereby reducing the dissolved oxygen content in the water body. This will hinder the survival and reproduction of aquatic organisms, and have a negative impact on aquatic ecosystas.


2. Causing eutrophication of water bodies: High BOD wastewater is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. When wastewater enters the water body, these nutrients can promote the growth of algae and other plants. Excessive algae and plants can lead to eutrophication of water bodies, causing algal blooms, reducing the transparency of water bodies, and affecting the survival of aquatic organisms.


3. Water hypoxia: After high BOD value wastewater enters the water, due to the need for a large amount of oxygen for microbial decomposition of organic matter, the dissolved oxygen in the water will be quickly depleted. This will lead to insufficient oxygen in the water, making it difficult for aquatic organisms to breathe normally, and even leading to large-scale death of fish and other aquatic animals.