1. EO TP3
SAMPLING WASTE
DISPOSAL SYSTEMS

2. REFERENCES
C-98-15W-002/MG-007 (A179) Waste Water Collection Systems and Treatment Plants, March 2006
Guidelines for Effluent Quality and Wastewater Treatment at Federal Establishment, April 1976
C-98-15W-002/MG-007 (A179) Waste Water Collection Systems and Treatment Plants, March 2006
Guidelines for Effluent Quality and Wastewater Treatment at Federal Establishment, April 1976

3. GENERAL
Treatment systems should be designed and operated so that the effluent quality discharged to receiving waters shall be IAW DAOD 4003–0, Environmental Protection and Stewardship
Most stringent standards established by the federal government, the province, territory or municipality should apply
Treatment systems should be designed and operated so that the effluent quality discharged to receiving waters shall be IAW DAOD 4003–0, Environmental Protection and Stewardship
The most stringent standards established by the federal government, the province, territory or municipality should apply

4. GENERAL
Existing treatment systems should be monitored by means of sampling and analytical procedures that are in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods (For The Examination of Water and Wastewater) as published by the American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation 
In general, compliance with the numerical limits should be based on 24-hour composite samples with the exception of those parameters, which require grab sampling
Existing treatment systems should be monitored by means of sampling and analytical procedures that are in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods (For The Examination of Water and Wastewater) as published by the American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation
In general, compliance with the numerical limits should be based on 24-hour composite samples with the exception of those parameters, which require grab sampling

5. GRAB SAMPLES Taken by sampling wastewater at one time at one point
Cannot give much information about average conditions of the wastewater throughout the day but show the momentary condition for immediate control purposes
Grab samples are those taken by sampling wastewater at one time at one point.
They cannot give much information about average conditions of the wastewater throughout the day but show the momentary condition for immediate control purposes. Some tests require grab samples because changes occur if the time between sampling and testing is long.

6. GRAB SAMPLES Grab samples are taken for the following tests:
Chlorine demand
Residual chlorine (FAC)
Settleable solids
Bacteriological analysis pH
Temperature
Dissolved oxygen (DO)
Grab samples are taken for the following tests:
chlorine demand
residual chlorine (FAC)
settleable solids
bacteriological analysis pH
temperature
dissolved oxygen (DO)

7. COMPOSITE SAMPLES
A 24-hour composite sample consists of several effluent portions (usually one per hour) collected in a 24-hour period and composited according to flow
A 24-hour composite sample consists of several effluent portions (usually one per hour) collected in a 24-hour period and composited according to flow

8. COMPOSITE SAMPLES
Composite samples are taken for the following determinations:
Suspended solids
BOD & COD
Total and volatile solids of sludge
Phenols
Oils and greases
Phosphorous
Composite samples are taken for the following determinations:
Suspended solids
BOD
Total and volatile solids of sludge
Phenols
Oils and greases
Phosphorous
Total solids are the sum of suspended solids and dissolved solids. Total solids analyses are important for assessing wastewater treatment processes such as digester efficiencies and sludge cake processing parameters. These tests are commonly performed on sludge samples when the concentration of solids is greater than 10,000 mg/L or 1%, thus making them very difficult to filter.
The total solids are composed of two components, volatile and fixed solids. The volatile solids are organic compounds of animal or plant origin. Biological processes can treat these. When volatile solids are referred to in this manual, we are actually referring to the volatile total solids, or the portion of the total solids that are volatile. The fixed solids are things such as sand, gravel, and salt.
Microorganisms such as bacteria are responsible for decomposing organic waste.  When organic matter such as dead plants, leaves, grass clippings, manure, sewage, or even food waste is present in a water supply, the bacteria will begin the process of breaking down this waste.  When this happens, much of the available dissolved oxygen is consumed by aerobic bacteria, robbing other aquatic organisms of the oxygen they need to live.  Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the oxygen used by microorganisms to decompose this waste.  If there is a large quantity of organic waste in the water supply, there will also be a lot of bacteria present working to decompose this waste.  In this case, the demand for oxygen will be high (due to all the bacteria) so the BOD level will be high.  As the waste is consumed or dispersed through the water, BOD levels will begin to decline.  
COD is often measured as a rapid indicator of organic pollutant in water. It is normally measured in both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants and gives an indication of the efficiency of the treatment process. COD is measured on both influent and effluent water. The efficiency of the treatment process is normally expressed as COD Removal, measured as a percentage of the organic matter purified during the cycle.
Phenol is mainly a man-made chemical, although it is found in nature in animal wastes and organic material. The largest single use of phenol is to make plastics, but it also is used to make caprolactam (used to make nylon 6 and other man-made fibers) and bisphenol A (used to make epoxy and other resins). It also is used as a slimicide (a chemical that kills bacteria and fungi found in watery slimes), as a disinfectant, and in medical products. Phosphate will stimulate the growth of plankton and aquatic plants which provide food for larger organisms, including: zooplankton, fish, humans, and other mammals.   Plankton represent the base of the food chain.  Initially, this increased productivity will cause an increase in the fish population and overall biological diversity of the system.  But as the phosphate loading continues and there is a build-up of phosphate in the lake or surfacewater ecosystem, the aging process of lake or surface water ecosystem will be accelerated.  The overproduction of lake or water body can lead to an imbalance in the nutrient and material cycling process (Ricklefs, 1993). Eutrophication (from the Greek - meaning "well nourished")  is enhanced production of primary producers resulting in reduced stability of the ecosystem.  Excessive nutrient inputs, usually nitrogen and phosphate, have been shown to be the main cause of eutrophication over the past 30 years. This aging process can result in large fluctuations in the lake water quality and trophic status and in some cases periodic blooms of cyanobacteria.

9. REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES
Sampling must be representative of the entire body of waste water
Representative samples are difficult to obtain due to:
stratification of solids in conducting channels
rapid changes of waste water character caused by intermittent pumping
diverse character of waste water
Wastewater samples shall be as representative as possible of the entire body of wastewater. Errors in sampling often nullify the accuracy of laboratory tests.
Representative samples are difficult to obtain because of stratification of solids in conducting channels, rapid changes of wastewater character caused by intermittent pumping, and the diverse character of wastewater.

10. SETTLEABLE SOLIDS TEST
This test indicates the amount of settleable solids that can be removed by sedimentation
This test is taken daily on:
raw waste water
aeration tanks
final effluent
Settling is important in determining the ability of the solids to separate from the liquid in the final clarifier.
The settleable solids test indicates the amount of settleable solids that can be removed by sedimentation
This test is taken daily on:
raw waste water
aeration tanks
and the final effluent

11. SUSPENDED SOLIDS (MIXED LIQUOR)
The purpose of the suspended solids tests is to determine the weight per unit volume of solids in the wastewater at various points in the treatment process
The purpose of the suspended solids tests is to determine the weight per unit volume of solids in the wastewater at various points in the treatment process

12. SLUDGE VOLUME INDEX (MIXED LIQUOR)
The ratio of the settleable solids test to the suspended solids test gives an index which indicates the character of the sludge in the waste water tested
SVI = settled sludge volume (mL/L) X 1000
  suspended solids (mg/L)
                                                                                            
The ratio of the settleable solids test to the suspended solids test gives an index which indicates the character of the sludge in the waste water tested
SVI = settled sludge volume (mL/L) X 1000
  suspended solids (mg/L)

13. DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO)
Test is used to monitor the biological treatment process
Testing should be carried out at least once a day, preferably during the maximum flow period
The test is used to monitor biological treatment process and as part of the oxygen uptake rate procedure. For activated sludge plants, the sample is obtained from the aeration tank with the aeration mechanism operating. For bio-filtration plants, the sample is obtained from the filter effluent. For rotating biological contactor plants, the sample is obtained at the end of the last stage.
This test should be carried out at least once a day, preferably during the maximum flow period.

14. BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
Decomposition of organic matter is accelerated by the exhaustion of available oxygen;
Prevention of putrefaction and the associated nuisance odours, depends upon the adequate supply of atmospheric oxygen to facilitate the development of aerobic organisms to oxidate organic matter
The biochemical oxygen demand of wastewater, wastewater effluent, polluted waters, or industrial wastes is the oxygen in mg/L required during stabilization of the decomposable organic matter by aerobic action
Decomposition of organic matter is accelerated by the exhaustion of available oxygen; < O2 = > decomposition
Prevention of putrefaction and the associated nuisance odours, depends upon the adequate supply of atmospheric oxygen to facilitate the development of aerobic organisms to oxidate organic matter
The biochemical oxygen demand of wastewater, wastewater effluent, polluted waters, or industrial wastes is the oxygen in mg/L required during stabilization of the decomposable organic matter by aerobic action

15. BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
Incubation for five days at 20° C is the standard procedure BOD amounts to determining the loss, or depletion, of oxygen on a sample incubated at 20° C for five days
All wastewater treatment processes have a principal objective: the reduction of BOD
More emphasis is placed upon the results of this test than on any other test at wastewater treatment plants
Incubation for five days at 20° C is the standard procedure BOD amounts to determining the loss, or depletion, of oxygen on a sample incubated at 20° C for five days
All wastewater treatment processes have a principal objective: the reduction of BOD
More emphasis is placed upon the results of this test than on any other test at wastewater treatment plants.

16. pH
The pH in waste water is used to regulate the amount and type of treatment required
The range for normal plant operation is from 6.8 to 7.2
It is good practice to operate with a pH on the alkaline side, above 7
The test is taken daily on raw waste water digester supernatant and plant effluent before chlorination
The concentration of hydrogen ions, or the pH value, in wastewater is used to regulate the amount and type of treatment required. The pH value that gives the best results for the treatment of wastewater is subject to considerable variation as the composition of the wastewater varies. In order to obtain data for determining the changes required to produce the optimum pH value at any time, it is desirable to make routine tests at the plant.
The range for normal plant operation is from 6.8 to 7.2
It is good practice to operate with a pH on the alkaline side, above 7
The test is taken daily on raw waste water digester supernatant and plant effluent before chlorination

17. QUESTIONS