The nature of wastewater is described by its flow and quality characteristics.

In addition, wastewater
discharges are classified based on whether they are from municipalities or industries. Flow rates and
quality characteristics of industrial wastewater are more variable than those for municipal wastewater.

Flow Rates

Municipal wastewater is comprised of domestic (or sanitary) wastewater, industrial wastewater,

infiltration and inflow into sewer lines, and stormwater runoff. Domestic wastewater refers to
wastewater discharged from residences and from commercial and institutional facilities (Metcalf and
Eddy, Inc. 1991). Domestic water usage, and the resultant wastewater, is affected by climate,
community size, density of development, community affluence, dependability and quality of water
supply, water conservation requirements or practices, and the extent of metered services. Metcalf and
Eddy, Inc. (1991) provide details on the influence of these factors. Additional factors influencing water
use include the degree of industrialization, cost of water, and supply pressure (Qasim 1985). One result
of the combined influence of these factors is water use fluctuations. Table 7.1.1 summarizes such
fluctuations (Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. 1991). About 60 to 85% of water usage becomes wastewater, with
the lower percentages applicable to the semiarid region of the southwestern United States (Metcalf and
Eddy, Inc. 1991). Environmental engineers can use unit flow rate data to develop estimates for
wastewater flow rates from residential areas, commercial districts, and institutional facilities. Tables
7.1.2 through 7.1.4 depict data for these use categories, respectively. Industrial wastewater flow rates
vary and are a function of the type and size of industry. For estimation purposes, typical design flows
from industrial areas that have little or no wet-process-type industries are 1000 to 1500 gal/acre per day
(9 to 14 m3/hazd) for light industrial developments and 1500 to 3000 gal/acre per day (14 to 28
m3/hazd) for medium industrial developments (Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. 1991). Better estimates for
industries can be developed with industry-specific information. Wastewater volume generated in a
municipality depends on the population served, the per capita contribution, and other nondomestic
sources such as industrial wastewater discharges. Environmental engineers may need to use population
forecasting to project future rates of wastewater generation in the service area of a wastewater
treatment plant. Some mathematical or graphical methods used to project population data to a design
year include (Qasim 1985):

 arithmetic growth
 geometric growth

1
 decreasing rate of increase
 mathematical or logistic curve fitting
 graphical comparison with similar cities
 ratio method
 employment forecast
 birth cohort
Water usage exhibits daily, weekly, and seasonal patterns; and wastewater flow rates can also
exhibit such patterns. Figures 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 show typical hourly, daily, and weekly wastewater
flow rates, respectively (Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. 1991). Wide variations of wastewater flow rates
can occur within a municipality. For example, minimum to maximum flow rates range from 20 to
400% of the average daily rate for small communities with less than 1000 people, from 50 to
300% for communities with populations between 1000 and 10,000, and up to 200% for
communities up to 100,000 in population (Water Pollution Control Federation and American
Society of Civil Engineers 1977). Large municipalities have variations from 1.25 to 1.5 average
flow. When storm water runoff goes into municipal sewerage systems, the maximum flow rate is
often two to four times the average dry-weather flow (Water Pollution Control Federation and
American Society of Civil Engineers 1977).

2
3
©

Wide variations of wastewater flow rates can occur within a municipality. For example, minimum to maximum
flow rates range from 20 to 400% of the average daily rate for small communities with less than 1000 people,
from 50 to 300% for communities with populations between 1000 and 10,000, and up to 200% for communities

4
up to 100,000 in population (Water Pollution Control Federation and American Society of Civil Engineers 1977).
Large municipalities have variations from 1.25 to 1.5 average flow. When storm water runoff goes into municipal
sewerage systems, the maximum flow rate is often two to four times the average dry-weather flow (Water Pollution
Control Federation and American Society of Civil Engineers 1977).

Flow rate information needed in designing a wastewater treatment plant includes (Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. 1991):
AVERAGE DAILY FLOW—The average flow rate occurring over a 24-hr period based on total annual flow rate
data. Environmental engineers use average flow rate in evaluating treatment plant capacity and in developing
flow rate ratios.
MAXIMUM DAILY FLOW—The maximum flow rate occurring over a 24-hr period based on annual operating data. The
maximum daily flowrate is important in the design of facilities involving retention time, such as equalization basins
and chlorine-contact tanks.
PEAK HOURLY FLOW—The peak sustained hourly flow rate occurring during a 24-hr period based on annual operating
data. Data on peak hourly flows are needed forthe design of collection and interceptor sewers, wastewater pumping
stations, wastewater flowmeters, grit chambers, sedimentation tanks, chlorine-contact tanks, and conduits or
channels in the treatment plant.
MINIMUM DAILY FLOW—The minimum flow rate that occurs over a 24-hr period based on annual operating data.
Minimum flow rates are important in sizing conduits where solids deposition might occur at low flow rates.
MINIMUM HOURLY FLOW—The minimum sustained hourly flow rate occurring over a 24-hr period based on annual
operating data. Environmental engineers need data on the minimum hourly flow rate to determine possible process
effects and size wastewater flow meters, particularly those that pace chemical-feed systems.
SUSTAINED FLOW—The flow rate value sustained or exceeded for a specified number of consecutive days based on
annual operating data. Data on sustained flow rates may be used in sizing equalization basins and other plant
hydraulic components.