Dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the most important indicators of water quality. It is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. Oxygen dissolves in surface water due to the aerating action of winds. Oxygen is also introduced into the water as a byproduct of aquatic plant photosynthesis.Dissolved oxygen is considered an important measure of water quality as it is a direct indicator of an aquatic resource's ability to support aquatic life. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is added to the aeration basin to enhance the oxidation process by providing oxygen to aerobic microorganisms so they can successfully turn organic wastes into inorganic byproducts. In order to metabolize food and reproduce, each microorganism must have at least 0.1 to 0.3 mg/L DO. These parameters are relevant not only to surface water studies of the ocean, lakes and rivers, but to groundwater and industrial processes as well. Water quality monitoring can help researchers predict and learn from natural processes in the environment and determine human impacts on an ecosystem.
The BOD is an important parameter for assessing water quality. It deals with the amount of oxygen consumption (mg O2 L− 1) by aerobic biological organisms to oxidize organic compounds. Sewage with high BOD can cause a decrease in oxygen of receiving waters, which in turn can cause the death of some organism. Dissolved oxygen is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. Oxygen dissolves in surface water due to the aerating action of winds. Oxygen is also introduced into the water as a byproduct of aquatic plant photosynthesis. When dissolved oxygen becomes too low, fish and other aquatic organisms cannot survive. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a relative measure of the amount of oxygen (O2) dissolved in water. Oxygen gets into the water by diffusion from the atmosphere, aeration of the water as it tumbles over rocks and waterfalls, and as a product of photosynthesis. While raw wastewater often contains some amounts of oxygen, aeration systems can increase dissolved oxygen (DO), mixing, and the suspension of microbes through mechanical agitation or diffused aeration. Aerobic microorganisms use this oxygen to breakdown organic waste into inorganic byproducts. The higher the BOD value, the greater the amount of organic matter or “food” available for oxygen consuming bacteria. If the rate of DO consumption by bacteria exceeds the supply of DO from aquatic plants, algae photosynthesis or diffusing from air, unfavourable conditions occur. Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) concentration has a significant effect upon ground water quality by regulating the valence state of trace metals and by constraining the bacterial metabolism of dissolved organic species. Dissolved oxygen (DO) describes the amount of oxygen (O2) molecules that are dissolved in water. Oxygen is an essential element for all forms of life; therefore, dissolved oxygen plays an important role from the survival of aquatic organisms, to determining water quality for safe human use.