Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a chemical process for determining the amount of dissolved oxygen required for aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down (disintegrate) organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period. It is also strong indicate for the pollution level of effluent. The treated effluent quality limit & safe disposal is standardised by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What are the standards for BOD in different countries.
For drinking water BOD has to be less than 5 mg/L and for treated wastewater to be disposed of in the water bodies it is 30 mg/L, 100 mg/L if treated waste water is discharged into the sewerage system in India.
50 mg/L of BOD and 250 mg/L of COD is the Permissible limits further treating Wastewater...
Different countries prescribe different discharge limits. Malaysia, for example, has BOD limit of 20 and 50 mg/L for Standard A and Standard B respectively. You probably have to search different regulatory agencies for their limits.
Dear Prof. Mohamed Hasnain Isa thanks for your informative answer.
In my country, Iraq, the allowable level of BOD for disposal equal 40 mg/l.
Dear احلام زكي قصاب باشي thanks for your sharing information regarding Iraq.
According to Pakistan National Environmental Quality Standards (Pak- NEQS) the maximum limit for BOD5 is 80 mg/l. I think it is the relexed most standard.
Dear Nafees Mohammad thanks for your informative answer regarding Pakistan.
Dear Dr. Muhammad Saad Khan thank you very much for your valuable comment.
It depends on the country. This is the Quick Reference Guide to Relevant Industrial Standards of Sri Lanka.
https://www.researchgate.net/project/Strategies-to-overcome-inhibition-caused-by-long-chain-fatty-acids-in-anaerobic-digestion-process/update/5cc8bc83cfe4a7df4aed4f71
Dear Kasun Thivanka Samarasiri thanks for update regarding Sri Lankan standards.
Dear Andrea Straub appreciate your update regarding German Waste Water standards.
@ Andrea Staub's mention on discharge of treated waste water on charge into surface water or ground water is a welcome information.
As in Indian scenario, there is no distinct information on charging parameters of remedied waste water into aquifers / ground water.
In both recharge mechanism , flows into surface water and aquifers undergo certain treatment due retention time and natural treatment happening naturally.
In soil the water flows would go thruogh SAT ie Soil Aquifer Treatment
Well wishes.
Dear Ajit Seshadri appreciate your update on Indian waste water standards.
Nice discussion
Note that BOD permit to measure the amount of biodegradable organics and not all the all the organics present in water
In India, the limit for BOD is 30mg/L as per Central Pollution Control Board.
In Jordan, the limit for BOD is 60mg/L. for more information please see table enclosed. http://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa1184.pdf
Dear Pratik Lawhale thanks for your update. Would you please enlighthen us about the region?
Dear Marco Lazaro thanks for providing update on Brazilian standards.
Depends on the type of wastewater and type of discharge (in land, sewage or sea). For Pakistan it ranges from 80 -250 mg/L. dt too for BOD(5) at 20c.
Dear Dr Danial Qadir appreciate your update on Pakistani standards.
According to WHO for drinking water BOD limit is less than < 5.0 mg/l at this limit BOD will not cause any harmful impacts on human body,
wastewater sewage must has BOD around 80 ppm and COD 200 ppm for discharge in see.
Dear Muhammad Shoukat Hussain appreciate your update regarding international standards (WHO) for drinking water and discharge water.
For drinking water BOD has to be less than 5 mg/L and for treated wastewater to be disposed of in the water bodies it is 30 mg/L, 100 mg/L if treated waste water is discharged into the sewerage system in India.
Dear Dr K N Sheth thanks for your update regarding BOD standards in India across the different streams .
Dear Dr. MSK.
The wording of the question is suggested to be - what is the permissible limit of BOD in waste water.. Etc.
If you say 'permeable limit' it has a different meaning.
However in a water/"waste water treatment BOD is improved upon given some more HRT-hydraulic retention time ,
This could relate to permeable limit , ie given more time for process , BOD is improved upon, can be termed as autolysis process, ie improved upon naturally.
Well wishes
I recommend dear Dr. Muhammad Shoukat Hussain for your answer "
According to WHO for drinking water BOD limit is less than < 5.0 mg/l at this limit BOD will not cause any harmful impacts on human body,
wastewater sewage must has BOD around 80 ppm and COD 200 ppm for discharge in see".
Dear Ajit Seshadri appreciate your valuable comment accordingly I updated the question...
For Sao Paulo/Brazil State Standard, BOD of the treated liquid waste should be lower than 60 ml/liter or minimum efficiency BOD removal of 80% for a WWTP.
Marco Lazaro.
According to WHO for drinking water BOD limit is less than < 5.0 mg/l at this limit BOD will not cause any harmful impacts on human body,
wastewater sewage must has BOD around 80 ppm and COD 200 ppm for discharge
Dear Omar Ali Al-Khashman appreciate your response on global drinking water standards.
Dear Marco Lazaro thanks for updating us on Brazilian standards of wasterwater treatments.
It depends on the dilution factor and the receiving waterbody. That is the basis of deciding permissible pollutant levels.
Dear Amila Abeynayaka appreciate your response on the permissible water discharge.
Dear Muhammad,
BOD is the biochemical oxygen demand and one of the most significant pollution indicator that shows organic load in wastewater and its removal is complex in nature and more expensive. It depends on various factors such as nature and composition of wastewater (domestic, mixed, industrial, heavy industrial zone etc.), wastewater treatment cost, treatment efficiency, resources recovery, downstream ecosystem, water uses of receiving water body, treated wastewater use, settlements, surrounding environment etc.
Treated Wastewater Effluent BOD standard is varies from 15 mg/l (EU, Canada, USA etc.) and up to 50 mg/l in South Asian countries. It is recommended that 30 mg/l Wastewater Effluent standard will be more optimal and practical for developing countries.
Best Regards,
Dr. Chet
Dear Chet Bahadur Pariyar appreciate your update on BOD standards EU, USA, Canada and South Asian countries.
I would like to thank all of you who dedicate part of your free time to my question. Your answers stimulate my thinking on the subject. I am also glad to get information from people from various countries of the world.
Useful Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135413008920
Dear Omar Ali Al-Khashman appreciates your valuable addition to the topic.
As per Indian Govt rule, it is 20mg/L for discharging to natural water body.
Dear Nadeem Ahmad Khan appreciate your update for BOD standards in India.
Very attractive explanations by Dr C.Bahadur Pariyar, it is appreciable.
Dear @Phani B Ghosh Sir.
Truly @Dr Chet Bahadur Pariyar has explained the importance of BOD loading in waste water.
BOD loading indicates the cost of wwt plants, its treatmnt and other associated pollutants.
It is needed to upgrade BOD, the main principal constituent to permissible level as per local EPA/ PCB rules Etc.
Well wishes.
Dear Ajit Seshadri and Phani Bhusan Ghosh appreaciate your reading to this discussion.
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