Streeter Phelps Equation

𝑘1 𝐿0
𝐷= 𝑒 −𝑘1 𝑡 − 𝑒 −𝑘2 𝑡 + 𝐷0 𝑒 −𝑘2 𝑡 D-Oxygen deficit at time t after the discharge
𝑘2 − 𝑘1
x-Distance along the stream
𝑥
𝑡= u-Stream velocity
𝑢
k1-BOD rate constant
𝑘1
𝐷𝑐 = 𝐿0 𝑒 −𝑘1 𝑡𝑐 k2-Reaeration rate constant
𝑘2
L0- Ultimate BOD
1 𝑘2 𝑘2 − 𝑘1 D0-Oxygen deficit at the point of discharge at
𝑡𝑐 = ln 1 − 𝐷0
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 𝑘1 𝑘1 𝐿0 time t=0
Dc- Critical deficit
tc- Critical time
A municipal wastewater-treatment plant discharges secondary effluent to a surface stream. The worst
conditions are known to occur in the summer months when stream flow is low and water temperature is high.
Under these conditions, measurements are made in the laboratory and in the field to determine the
characteristics of the wastewater and stream flows. The wastewater is found to have a flow rate of 15,000
m3/day, BOD5 at 200C of 40 mg/L a dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 mg/L, and a temperature of 250C. The
stream (upstream from the point of wastewater discharge) is found to have a flow rate of 0.5 m3/s, a BOD5 at
200C of 3 mg/L, a dissolved oxygen concentration of 8 mg/L, and a temperature of 220C. Complete mixing of
the wastewater and stream is almost instantaneous, and the velocity of the mixture is 0.2 m/s. From the flow
regime, the reaeration constant is estimated to be 0.4 day-1 for 200C conditions. Determine the critical deficit
and the location of critical deficit occurrence from the point of discharge.

Stream A B

Cs,A Qs,A Cs,B Qs,B

Wastewater Cw, Qw
Determine characteristics of wastewater-stream mixture
𝑚3 1𝑑 1ℎ 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑄𝑤 = 15,000 × × 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 ×
𝑑 24 ℎ 60 𝑠

𝑚3
= 0.17
𝑠

𝑚3
𝑄𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 0.17 + 0.5 = 0.67 𝑠

8 × 0.5 + 2 × 0.17
𝐷𝑂𝑚𝑖𝑥 =
0.67

= 6.5 mg/L

22 × 0.5 + 25 × 0.17
𝑇𝑚𝑖𝑥 =
0.67

= 22.80 𝐶
BOD
𝐵𝑂𝐷𝑠 𝑄𝑠 + 𝐵𝑂𝐷𝑤 𝑄𝑤
𝐵𝑂𝐷𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 𝑄𝑠 + 𝑄𝑤

3×0.5+40×0.17
= 0.67

= 12.4 mg/L

Convert to ultimate BOD (Assume 𝑘1 = 0.23 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑥𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 )

𝐵𝑂𝐷
𝐿0 = 1−𝑒 −𝑘1.𝑡

12.4
= 1−𝑒 −0.23×5

= 18.2 mg/L
 Correct reaction constants for temperature.

BOD reaction rate

𝑘22.8 = 𝑘20 1.04722.8−20

= 0.23 × 1.14

𝑘22.8 = 0.26 𝑑 −1 = 𝑘1

Stream reaeration rate

𝑘22.8 = 𝑘20 1.01622.8−20

= 0.4 × 1.05
𝑘22.8 = 0.42 𝑑 −1 = 𝑘2

Determine initial oxygen deficit 𝑫𝟎

At T=22.8, the equilibrium concentration of oxygen in fresh water is 8.7; therefore

𝐷0 = 8.7 − 6.5 = 2.2 𝑚𝑔/𝐿

 Determine the critical deficit and its location

1 𝑘2 𝑘2 − 𝑘1
𝑡𝑐 = 𝑙𝑛 1 − 𝐷0
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 𝑘1 𝑘1 𝐿0

1 0.42 0.42 − 0.26

= 𝑙𝑛 1 − 2.2
0.42 − 0.26 0.26 0.26 × 18.2

𝑡𝑐 = 2.5 𝑑

𝑘1
𝐷𝑐 = 𝐿0 𝑒 −𝑘1𝑡𝑐
𝑘2

0.26 DO at critical point

= 18 𝑒 −0.26×2.5
0.42 =8.7-5.9=2.8 mg/L
= 5.9 𝑚𝑔/𝐿
This condition will occur at a distance of

𝑥 = 0.2 𝑚/𝑠 × 86,400 𝑠/𝑑 × 2.5 𝑑

= 43.2 km downstream from the point of discharge

Problem: What will be the equilibrium DO concentration in water at 20 °C and 1
atm pressure?
Ans:
𝐾𝐻 =0.73 atm. m3 /mol
𝑃𝑔𝑎𝑠
𝐾𝐻 =
𝐶𝑒𝑞
𝑃𝑔𝑎𝑠 = 0.21 𝑎𝑡𝑚
Eqm DO=0.288 mol/L
=(0.288)(32,000)/1000
=9.2 mg/L