|
View Ontology
Name: | Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
Acronym: | BOD |
Description: | The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) measures the amount of organic pollution is in the water on the basis of the amount of dissolved oxygen that is used up due to the breakdown of organic pollutants over a certain number of (usually five) days. Raw sewage has a BOD of 40 to 150 milligrams per litre whereas drinking water has a BOD of less than 0.5 milligrams per litre. This index is used to represent how healthy the water is. Oxygen is needed in the water to sustain aquatic life forms such as fish and plants. In natural systems oxygen is replenished from the atmosphere and enhanced by aeration. If the depletion exceeds the aeration then the water becomes hypoxic meaning there is a deficiency or a absence of oxygen molecules. Under these conditions the water cannot support life. |
Type: | Noun |
Term is: | EV, Variable | Term has: | Unit | Term unit: | g/m^3 | |