Environmental

Engineering class
Water Pollution
(part 02)
D. Chemisana, Chr. Lamnatou

1-10-2018
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water

Deoxygenation: caused by microbial decomposition of organic wastes

Rate of deoxygenation = kd Lt = kd Lo e-kd t

Reaeration: oxygen dissolved into river  reaeration is the process of

oxygen exchange between the atmosphere and a water body

Rate of reaeration = ka D

Lo = ultimate BOD at the point of discharge

Lt = BOD remaining after time t
kd = deoxygenation rate constant, d-1
ka = reaeration rate constant, d-1
D = oxygen deficit

Rate of increase of the Oxygen deficit = Rate of Deoxygenation - Rate of Reaeration

Sources: www.ust.hk, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology; http://www.ecy.wa.gov/: Dept. of Ecology State of Washington
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Deoxygenation rate constant, kd
kd = k + (u ñ / H) Empirical equation

kd = deoxygenation rate constant at 20ºC, d-1

k = BOD rate constant determined in laboratory at 20ºC, d-1
u = average stream velocity, m/s
H = average depth of stream, m
ñ = bed-activity coefficient (0.1 - 0.6)
ñ = 0.1 for stagnant or deep water
ñ = 0.6 for rapidly flowing streams
Temperature correction:
kd,T = kd,20 × θT-20 where θ = 1.135 (or 1.047: University of Massachusetts-Amherst http://www.ecs.umass.edu )

Reaeration rate constant, ka

3.9 u 0.5
ka  O´Connor – Dobbins formula
H 1.5
ka = reaeration rate constant at 20ºC, d-1
u = average stream velocity, m/s
H = average depth, m
Temperature correction:
ka,T = ka,20 × θT-20 where θ = 1.024
Source: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Deoxygenation rate constant, kd
Ranges of kd at 20oC
(d-1)

Reaeration rate constant, ka

Water-body ranges of ka at 20°C

Small ponds and backwaters 0.1-0.23

Sluggish streams and large lakes 0.23-0.35
Large streams of low velocity 0.35-0.46
Large streams of normal velocity 0.46-0.69
Swift streams 0.69-1.15
Rapids and waterfalls Greater than 1.15
Source: Peavy, H.S., D.R. Rowe, & G. Tchobanoglous. 1985. Environmental Engineering.
Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill.

Additional source: Chin D. A. (2006), Water-Quality Engineering in Natural Systems, John Wiley and Sons, NJ.
 Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Initial mixing of waste stream and river

Qr = volumetric flow rate of the river, m3/s

Qw = volumetric flow rate of wastewater, m3/s
Qo = volumetric flow rate of the river after mixing, m3/s
Cr = dissolved oxygen concentration in the river, mg/l
Cw = dissolved oxygen concentration in the wastewater, mg/l
Co = dissolved oxygen concentration in the river after mixing, mg/l
Lr = ultimate BOD of the river, mg/l
Lw = ultimate BOD of the wastewater, mg/l
Lo = ultimate BOD of the river after mixing, mg/l
Tr = temperature of the river, ºC
Tw = temperature of the wastewater, ºC
To = temperature of the river after mixing, ºC
Source: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Initial mixing of waste stream and river

Mass balance  mass in = mass out

For C,
Qw Cw + Qr Cr = Co (Qw + Qr)

Qw C w  Qr C r 
Co 
Qw  Qr 

For L,
Qw Lw + Qr Lr = Lo (Qw + Qr) For T,

Lo 
Qw Lw  Qr Lr  QwTw  QrTr 
Qw  Qr  To 
Qw  Qr 

Source: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University

Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Streeter-Phelps Model / Oxygen Sag formula
The method most widely used for assessing the oxygen resources in streams and rivers
subjected to effluent discharges, is the Streeter – Phelps oxygen Sag formula

Assumptions of Streeter-Phelps model

Several assumptions, among these:

-cross-sectional area and velocity are constant
-the plug is instantaneously mixed throughout its
volume «plug flow» condition
∆x = thickness of the cross-section
u = velocity of the river
A = cross-section of the flow
Under these conditions, the only
processes which affect oxygen BOD-containing waste is
content are: deposited into this plug
deoxygenation and reaeration
(reoxygenation) If we were to watch a single point in the river, the
concentration of the substance of interest would not
change. A steady state exists at each point in the river,
but the concentration changes as we move downstream

Sources: Lin S. (2001), Water and wastewater calculations manual, McGraw – Hill, NY; Benoit (2007), Modeling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water, Three Rivers Community College, CT
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

The transfer of oxygen from the atmosphere to a river is driven by an oxygen deficit in the
water (DO less than saturated). The process can be modelled as first order in that deficit

If we define D (oxygen deficit) = DOsat – DO, then the rate of reaeration is described by:

dD
 k a D Eq. (I)
dt

D = DO deficit, mg/l
After integration of Eq. (I)  D  Do e  k a t Do = DO deficit at x=0, mg/l
ka = reaeration rate costant
at 20oC, d-1

Sources: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University; Three Rivers Community College, CT; Lin S. (2001), Water and wastewater calculations manual, McGraw – Hill, NY
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Oxygen Demand
Organic matter (or other oxygen demand) will deoxygenate the water that contains it, provided
that there are organisms to consume it. This deoxydation is first order in organic matter
concentration L:

dD dL
   k d L Eq. (II)
dt dt
After integration of Eq. (II)  L  Lo e  k d t
This model assumes that there is sufficient oxygen present to permit the decomposition from
Lo to L. In a volume of water that contains oxygen-demanding substrate and that is in contact
with the air, both deoxygenation and reaeration (reoxygenation) will occur 
Combination of Eqs. (I) and (II):

dD
 kd L ka D
dt
This equation applies to a well-mixed, fixed volume (moving plug)
Source: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University; Benoit (2007), Modeling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water, Three Rivers Community College, CT
 Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water

From the previous eq. for dD k a k d Lo 

kd x
t=x/u (dt=dx/u) and  D e u

L = Lo e -kd t dx u u
dy
Stardard form of first order, linear differential equation:  P( x) y  Q( x)
dx

General solution: ye  P ( x ) dx 
   Q( x) e  P ( x ) dx
dx   C
 
Thus, for the initial eq.: dy/dx is dD/dx; P(x) is ka/u; y is D; Q(x) is
k d Lo  k d ux
e
u
k k
k d Lo  dx  ax
D e u c e u k d Lo
At x=0, D=Do  c  Do 
ka  kd  k a  k d 
Source: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University; Benoit (2007), Modeling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water, Three Rivers Community College, CT
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water

From the last two equations the Streeter-Phelps Model is derived:

or with x/u
instead of t

Streeter-Phelps equation describes the oxygen deficit downstream from a

point where a river receives BOD-containing waste. The graph of such a
deficit vs. the distance downstream (or vs. time) is called Sag Curve
D = dissolved oxygen deficit in river water after exertion of BOD at time t, mg/l
Do = initial deficit after river and wastewater have mixed, mg/l
Lo = initial ultimate BOD after river and wastewater have mixed, mg/l
kd = deoxigenation rate constant, d-1
ka = reaeration rate constant, d-1
t = time of travel of wastewater discharge downstream, d

Sources: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University; Benoit (2007), Modeling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water, Three Rivers Community College, CT
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Examples of Sag Curves:

Sources: Benoit (2007) Modeling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water, Three Rivers Community College, CT; Steinmetz and Krauß (2009), Water Quality Management, Universität Stuttgart
 Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Using the DO Sag equation
Fishes aren't interested in the deficit: they want to know the concentration.
This can be calculated by using Streeter-Phelps model:

C = Cs – D = Cs –

C= dissolved oxygen concentration (DO); Cs= DO concentration at saturation

When this equation is plotting with typical values, the following curve is generated:

Source: Derivation of the Dissolved Oxygen Sag Equation, California State University, Sacramento
 Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water

The DO Sag eq. can be used to find the concentration (at any point downstream
of a waste discharge) as long as we know the travel time to that point which is
easy to calculate if the stream velocity is known

In order to protect the fishes, engineers often want to know the

min. oxygen concentration that can be expected as a result of a
waste discharge  this is the
CRITICAL POINT
(critical from the point of view of the fishes)

DO less than 5 mg/L is problematic for aquatic organisms: reduced growth rates,
mortality and other negative impacts
(http://www.uky.edu/OtherOrgs/KRWW/Educational%20Resources/Water%20Quality%20Data%20Explained.html)

Source: Derivation of the Dissolved Oxygen Sag Equation, California State University, Sacramento
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Streeter-Phelps oxygen-sag curve
Pollution
Velocity, u

x=0
t=0

Initial deficit, Do
Saturation DO, Cs

Co
Deficit, D
Dc
Critical point

DOmin
Dissolved oxygen, DO or C
Cc

xc ot tc
Distance or time downstream
D = Cs – C; Do = Cs – Co; Dc = Cs – Cc

D = dissolved oxygen deficit, mg/L; Cs = saturation concentration of dissolved oxygen, mg/L

C = actual concentration of dissolved oxygen, mg/L; Do = initial DO deficit, mg/L(=DO deficit at t = 0)
Dc = critical (max) DO deficit, mg/L; Cc= Critical DO, mg/L; Co = starting DO concentration, mg/L
Source: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (http://home.ust.hk) ; http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University; Steinmetz and Krauß (2009), Universität Stuttgart
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Critical Point
A valuable information to be obtained from Streeter-Phelps model is the maximum oxygen
deficit (= critical oxygen deficit, Dc), for a given wasteload, and the location downstream where
this critical deficit occurs  to get the Dc we look for a maximum in the function D(t):

kd Dc: Critical
dD
 kd L ka D For dD/dt =0  Dc  Lo e kd tc oxygen deficit
dt ka
or with xc/u
instead of tc
Rate of deoxygenation (kd L) = Rate of reaeration (ka Dc)

Dc = point of maximum oxygen deficit = critical oxygen deficit

Cmim (min. dissolved oxygen concentration) = Cc = Cs - Dc

Sources: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University; http://www.csus.edu/ California State University, Sacramento
Modelling Oxygen Depletion in Running Water
Critical Point
To get the critical distance xc, we plug eq. of Dc into Streeter-Phelps eq.:

xc: Critical
distance

To find the critical time tc, from Streeter-Phelps eq.  dD/dt = 0:

tc: Critical time

tc = xc / u

Sources: http://www.isu.edu/ Idaho State University