What does a high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicate?

A high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) indicates a high level of organic matter in water. BOD measures the amount of oxygen that microorganisms will consume while decomposing organic matter. When organic materials such as plant debris, sewage, or food waste are present in significant quantities, microorganisms use more oxygen to break them down, resulting in a higher BOD value. This is important because a high BOD can lead to oxygen depletion in the water, which negatively affects aquatic life, such as fish and other organisms that rely on dissolved oxygen for survival.

The context surrounding BOD emphasizes the relationship between organic pollution and oxygen levels in water systems, making it a crucial parameter in assessing water quality and determining the effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes.