Conclusion

In conclusion, COD is the estimation of the oxygen consumed chemically (nonliving

organism) in the water, BOD is the amount of oxygen consumed by living organisms
such as bacteria and fungi. High BOD and COD lower the diffused oxygen (DO) level
in the water.
The amount of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water also affects the DO level.
Nitrate and phosphate are important in the growth of algae. High level of TN and TP
leads to high growth of algae which consumes a lot of DO in the water that
ultimately affects the aquatic life.
The pH level is also vital in keeping the water suitable for aquatic life and public
distribution. Besides that, hard metal such as zinc and copper are tested in water.
High level of metal in water might lead to serious health issues such as the blue
baby syndrome and metal poisoning.
Finally, the amount of solid in the water (suspended or dissolved) is a vital factor in
determining the suitability of the water, whether it is safe to be released back into
the river, further distributed for agricultural purposes or human and animal
consumptions.

References

Metcalf & Eddy, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse, 4th Ed.,
McGraw-Hill York, USA, 2003.
A.A. Esener, J.A. Roels, & N.W.F. Kossen, The bioenergetic correlation of COD
to BOD. Biotechnology Letters 3(4), 193-196, 1981.