Reliability Analysis of BOD Kinetics in a Small Southern Stream Governed by the Discharge of an Oxidation Pond

摘要

Nineteen sets of observed biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) data were collected from a low-flow southern stream which received an oxidation pond effluent. These data were used to assess the predictive reliability of a modified BOD model (Dobbins) for the stream environment. A strong correlation was found between chlorophyll-a (an indicator of algal productivity) and BOD, indicating that most of the BOD was in the form of algae from the upstream pond discharge. It was concluded that probabilistic models of BOD in streams are better suited for use in making water quality management decisions.