UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

WATER UTILISATION DIVISION

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

WQB 780

2016 SEMESTER TEST

14 April 2016

Examiner: Prof. E. M. N. Chirwa Time: 150 minutes

Date & Time: 8:00 AM Maximum: 100 points

Instructions: 1. This is a CLOSED BOOK test. Consultation among candidates and reference
to material not supplied by the examiner and invigilator will result in
expulsion from the examination room and a failing grade for this test.
2. This test contains 6 questions. Please answer ALL questions in Part I and
Choose One question in Part II of the test.
3. Write your answers in the answer book provided.
4. Write your name and student number on all submitted materials.
 PART I: Questions 1 to 4, Answer all questions.

Q1 (a) State the principle(s) from the Roman Water Law that formed the basis of the judgement in the
case Retief vs. Louw, 1856. State with supporting arguments from the Roman Water Law and
related edicts from the Roman era, how the judgement might have read if the Roman Water Law
was applied in its entirety. ( 6 pts )

(b) Describe the difference between Archaebacteria and Eubacteria. Provide at least two examples
of each. ( 4 pts )

  kt  3 

(c) Explain how the Taylor series expension of the terms Lo 1  e  kt

and Lo kt1    were
  6  
used in the linearization of the BOD test data by Harold A. Thomas (1937) in the so called
Thomas Slope Method. ( 8 pts )

(e) Define the Null Hypothesis as used in the comparison of two means of two sets of data
theoretically belonging to the same population. ( 4 pts )

[ 22 points ]
Q2 A BOD5 test was conducted using wastewater with a strong BOD as seed in a standard BOD5 test
where the values of initial DO and the DO at day 5 were 8.6 and 2.6 mg/L, respectively. A volume
of 2.8 mL was used in the BOD test on the seed wastewater.

In the test on the target wastewater – a treated wastewater from the secondary clarifiers – the test
was seeded with 0.15 mL of the seed wastewater above. The test was conducted on 45 mL of
sample. The initial DO reading in the test on the actual sample was 7.8 mg/L and final DO reading
was 3.8 mg/L. Assuming no significant oxygen demand by dilution water used to fill up the bottles,

(a) Determine the rough BOD5 value of the effluent from the secondary clarifiers (sample) based
on the above information. ( 4 pts )

(b) If a blank of nutrient rich dilution water only has initial and final DO values of 8.8 and 7.8
mg/L, respectively, adjust the BOD5 value obtained in (a) above to correct for the oxygen
demand of the dilution water. ( 4 pts )

(c) If degradation rate coefficient kd_C is equal to 0.27 d-1 (base e), determine the approximate
CBODu (Lo_C) of the secondary clarifier effluent. ( 2 pts )

(d) Further analysis of the effluent sample shows that the actual measured BOD values at 8, 10,
12, 14, 16 and 18 days are as shown in the Table (below). Using this information and the
parameters Lo_C and kd_C from ‘c’ above, determine the nitrogenous degradation rate
coefficient (kd_N) and ultimate nitrogenous oxygen demand (Lo_N) of the system. ( 8 pts )

Time (d) 8 10 12 14 16 18
BOD (mg/L) 23 29 28.5 33.5 34.1 35.0

(e) Using the information in ‘c’ and ‘d’, determine the computed NBOD value at day 14. ( 4 pts )

[ 22 points ]
Q3 (a) Explain the terms accuracy, precision and detection limit as they are used during data analysis.
Explain the significance of each term to the quality of the analysis performed. ( 4 pts )

(b) An ion-selective electrode method was compared with a standard iodometric method for
determining the concentration of dissolved sulphide in groundwater with the following results.

Sample A B C D E F G H I J
Electrode 130 14 182 4 127 13 154 14 192 154
Iodometric 126 13 136 1 130 13 169 13 218 142

If the iodometric test is known to be accurate enough towards a certain true mean, state whether
the results of the electrode method can be relied upon. ( 10 pts )

[ 14 points ]
Q4 (a) In terms of the National Water Act 36, 1998, explain the difference between a "General
Authorisation" and an "Entitlement" to water use. ( 4 pts )

(b) Where a water use has been made permissible under a license under the National Water Act, for
how long is the issued license valid? ( 2 pts )

(c) The International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulates the international trade practices and is
involved in legal aspects contracts across borders. Naturally, there is variations in legal
implications as they are formulated to protect the rights of citizens and safeguarding the future
of societies for which the laws are drafted. In the case of South Africa, there are legal
requirements that all entities operating within the borders of South Africa will need to fulfil
under the SA National Water Act and Water Service Act.

(i) State at least 4 of the “performance requirements” in the context of SA that may not be
catered for under the ILO structures and policies. ( 4 pts )

(ii) State at least 3 administrative measures that can be implemented to facilitate unhindered
participation of foreign entities in creative water infrastructure investments in an
economically friendly environment while protecting the political goals of the South
African society. ( 8 pts )

[ 18 points ]
 PART II: Choose one question (either Q5 or Q6).

Q5 A river flowing at 1.40 m3/s with an ambient ultimate CBOD5 = 5 mg/L receives an input of 144
L/s with an ultimate CBOD of 280 mg/L and DO of 6 mg/L (at Point A). The river is only 85%
saturated with oxygen due to high dissolved solids concentration in the water. The river flows at an
average depth of 1.524 m (5 ft) and a velocity of 0.1524 m/s. Assume Kr = Kd = 0.18/day (base 10).

Suppose, right at the point where the DO deficit is worst (at Point B somewhere downstream of A),
a wastewater flow of 0.72 m3/s containing CBOD = 100 mg/L and DO = 5.0 mg/L is charged into
the river. And assuming the velocity of the stream does not change because of this flow, estimate
the concentration of the stream DO at a point 16 km downstream of the 0.72 m3/s loading.

The temperature throughout is 20oC. (Use DOsat = 8.5 mg/L, assume NBOD is insignificant).
( 28 pts )

3
0.72 m /s
CBODu = 100 mg/L, DO = 5.0 mg/L

Q = 1.40 m3/s
DO = ?
CBODu = 5 mg/L
DO = 85% DOsat

144 L/s
CBODu = 280 mg/L, 16 km
DO = 6 mg/L
A B C

Note

Kd = degradation rate coefficient associated with rate of BOD removal by microorganisms

Kr = de-oxygenation rate coefficient associated with the rate at which O2 is removed from
solution ~ in most cases Kd is not necessarily equal to Kr.

Ka = re-aeration rate coefficient which determines the rate at which oxygen is reintroduced in the
water. It is estimated by an empirical equation as a function of stream velocity and depth,
for stream conditions at 20oC, standard atmospheric pressure:

K a , 20o C 
DLU 1/ 2 (hr-1) (base 10), empirically calculated from U (ft/h) and H (ft)
3/ 2
H DL = 0.000081 ft2/h

[ 28 points ]
Q6 (a) Describe the procedure followed to establish the accuracy and sensitivity of a new method
proposed for measurement of a certain compound in a laboratory. State how the method is
verified nationally and internationally. ( 3 pts )

(b) Describe the five prevailing types of detection limits and state how each is established. Provide
the ranking of the detection limits relative to each other in terms of detection level and state the
importance of the rank towards quality control. ( 5 pts )

(c) There are ten basic rules for establishing a successful water quality assessment programme. List
at least eight of these basic rules including an indication of what is NOT allowed during
assessment programme development. ( 4 pts )

(d) Several governments around the world have adopted the principle of “polluter pays” by
introducing hefty taxes for polluters and credits for companies that introduce environmental
conservation measures. In the context of the water sector, explain:

(i) the merits of the system described above. ( 3 pts )

(ii) the demerits of this system. ( 2 pts )

(e) With the aid of a diagram, describe how power generation using coal affects the local and global
water quality. Utilise your knowledge of the hydrological cycle, pathways of pollution, and
chemistry involved at key points to illustrate impact. Also state some of the passive intervention
processes that may be used to counter the impacts of pollution and their possible advantages and
disadvantages. ( 7 pts )

(f) State the underlying principles of the most current amendment of the South African National
Water Resources Strategy (NWRS) and using supporting arguments and relevant edicts from
the Roman era, how these principles are founded upon the Roman Water Law. ( 4 pts )

[ 28 points ]

TOTAL POINTS ..................................................................................................................... [ 100 pts ]

 APPENDIX 1

BOD in batch

dL
  kd L
dt

L  Lo e  kd t

Using Strong Wastewater as Source of Microorganisms

D 0  D t  - (So  St ) f
BOD t 
P

where D0 = measured initial DO for sample+strong wastewater experiment, mg/L

Dt = measured DO at time t for sample+strong wastewater experiment, mg/L
P = dilution factor, Vsample/300
S0 = measured initial DO in bottle with strong wastewater only no sample, mg/L
St = measured DO at time t in bottle with strong wastewater only no sample, mg/L
f = ratio of seed-used/volume in seed test
are measured, Vseed-in-maintest/Vwastewater-in-seedtest.

Correction for BOD imposed by dilution Water

The difference in oxygen concentration from day one to day five in the seeded sample test before
correction for BOD of dilution water is calculated as:

DOseeded = (Do – Dt) – (So-St)f, with values as defined above

The BODt corrected for the effects of BOD in dilution water is:

D seeded - (1 - P)(Bo  B t )
BOD t 
P

where P = dilution factor, Vsample/300

B0 = measured initial DO in blank (dilution water only), mg/L
Bt = measured DO at time t in blank (dilution water only), mg/L
STREETER-PHELPS EQUATIONS (Base e)

Critical time of travel

1 k  k  k 
tc  ln  2 1  D0 2 1 
k 2  k1  k1  k1 L0 

Critical Deficit

D
k1 L0
k 2  k1
 
e k1tc  e k2tc  D0 e k2tc

Sometimes simplified to:

k1
Dc  L0e k1tc
k2

Deficit at any point t

D
k2  k1
e  ek2t   D0ek2t
k1L0 k1t

Log conversion, 10K = e2.303×K

i.e.

k(base e) = 2.303 × K(base 10) or K(base 10) = 0.434 × k(base e)

STREETER-PHELPS EQUATION (Base 10)

Log 10 computations

Critical time of travel

1 K  K  K 1 
tc  log 10  2 1  D0 2 
K 2  K1  K1  K1 L0 

Critical Deficit

D
K1 L0
K 2  K1
 
10  K1t  10  K 2tc  D0 10  K 2tc

Sometimes simplified to:

K1
Dc  L0 10  K1tc
K2

Deficit at any point t

D
K1 L0
K 2  K1
 
10  K1t  10  K 2t  D0 10  K 2t

K(base 10) = 0.434 × k(base e) or k(base e) = 2.303 × K(base 10)

Paired t-test Expanded form:

T-statistic table

Testing of hypothesis or decision making: After calculating the parameter, we will compare the
calculated value with the table value. If the calculated value is greater than the table value, then we
will reject the null hypothesis for the paired sample t-test. If the calculated value is less than the
table value, then we will accept the null hypothesis and say that there is no significant mean
difference between the two paired samples.