Table 26.3 - Per capita contribution to wastewater characteristics

Source: Arceivala, 1981, in Meybeck et al, 1989

Measurement Per capita contribution
(grammes per day)
BOD51 45­54
COD2 1.6­1.9 x BOD5
Total solids 170­220
Suspended solids 70­145
Nitrogen
- Total (as N) 6­12
- Organic around 0.4 x total N
- Free ammonia around 0.6 x total N
- Nitrate around 0.0­0.05 x total N
Phosphorous
- Total (as P) around 0.6­4.5
- Organic around 0.3 x total P
- Inorganic (ortho- and polyphosphates) around 0.7 x total P

Notes:

  1. BOD5: biological oxygen demand (over a 5-day period).
  2. COD: chemical oxygen demand.