In Situ measurement of Power of Hydrogen (pH), Electroconductivity (EC)

and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of Batangas State University Sewage

Treatment Plant’s Wastewater
Aldrin Alano, Alona Gaba, Angelika Laylo, Joanne Medrano, Marielle Recaña

ABSTRACT
This laboratory report aims to assess the wastewater quality of the Sewage Treatment Plant of Batangas State
University Main 1 Campus. The wastewater is assessed in terms of pH, electric conductivity and dissolved oxygen
using multiparameter. The STP contains 6 chambers, and every chamber the wastewater is measured with
corresponding depth, 1 ft and 3 ft. The measured temperature for both depth in all chambers are stable.

Keywords: pH, EC, DO, wastewater, multiparameter

1. INTRODUCTION is used to determine the dissolved oxygen, pH and

As time passes, as the world becomes modernized
water treatment and the sanitation has been
important part of the development. As the
population increases, the demand for clean water
increases and the volume of waste water generated
rises. In order to meet the set standards before
discharging the waste water into receiving bodies
and in order to meet the need of clean water, the
sewage or wastewater treatment plant becomes an
answer. A sewage treatment plant consists of
chemical, physical and biological process that
removes contaminants or reduces the impurities of
wastewater. Sewage treatment plants consist of
different chambers where the processes undergo.
In Batangas State University Main 1 Campus, the
sewage treatment plant consists of three chambers
which are equalization chamber, aeration chamber
and chlorine contact chamber. Equalization tank is
designed for the minimization and control of
inconsistencies of wastewater. It also designed to
deliver constant rate of flow and contaminant on the
next treatment processes. It is followed by the
Aeration chamber or known as secondary treatment.
Aeration is a process of adding air into the
wastewater. Aeration provides oxygen to bacteria
for treating and stabilizing wastewater and that
oxygen is needed by the bacteria to allow
biodegradation to occur. The last is the chlorine
contact chamber, in this chamber the processed
wastewater is disinfected by adding chlorine. After
the chlorination the treated water is now ready to
dispose into the near receiving water.1
In order to know the quality and the present
impurities in the wastewater or to know if the
treatment process is effective a physical or chemical
test is can be used. In our experiment multiparameter
electroconductivity of wastewater in each chamber.
2. OBJECTIVES
The objective of this experiment is to assess the
wastewater quality of the BatStateU STP’s WW in
terms of pH, electric conductivity and dissolved
oxygen with respect to depth.
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The following are the materials used in the
experiment: Multiparameter, masking tape, camera,
tissue or rag, wash bottle, and distilled water.
3.1 Preparation of the instrument
The multiparameter has been calibrated before the
day of the experiment. The probe’s chord was
connected to the instrument. Using masking tape,
the chord was marked from the probe with a depth
of one (1) and three (3) feet.
3.2 Experiment procedure
The multiparameter’s probe was dipped into the
wastewater chamber in two (2) sampling point in a
depth of one (1) feet and three (3) feet from water
surface. The probe was slightly moved until the
readings were stable. This was done both for the two
depths. The data was then jotted down and captured.
After reading, the probe was cleaned using wash
bottle with distilled water and some tissue or rag to
dry the probe. The procedure was repeated in other
chambers.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
For chamber 1 – 1st sampling point, the result of the Table 4. Results in Chamber 1 – 2nd sampling
measurement in pH, EC and DO is shown in Table point
1. Depth
Parameters
1 ft 3 ft
Table 1. Results in Chamber 1 – 1st sampling Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 2.10 2.31
point C (us/cm) 1160.67 965.00
Depth Power of Hydrogen (A/S
Parameters 7.87 7.92
1 ft 3 ft pH)
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 14.645 13.85
C (us/cm) 1201 1200.5 Chamber 1 – 2nd sampling point has a dissolved
Power of Hydrogen (A/S oxygen is 2.10 mg/L in 1 ft and 2.31 mg/L in 3ft. It
8.38 8.37
pH) has an electroconductivity of 1160.67 us/cm in 1 ft
and 965 us/cm in 3 ft and has a pH of 7.87 in 1ft and
Chamber 1 – 1st sampling point has a dissolved 7.92 in 3ft, it is considered as neutral.
oxygen is 14.645 mg/L in 1 ft and 13.85 mg/L in 3ft. In chamber 2 – 2nd sampling point, the result of
It has an electroconductivity of 1201 us/cm in 1 ft measurement in pH, EC and DO is shown in Table
and 1200.5 us/cm in 3 ft and has a pH of 8.38 in 1ft 5.
and 8.37 in 3ft, it is considered as base.
In chamber 2 – 1st sampling point, the result of Table 5. Results in Chamber 2 – 2nd sampling
measurement in pH, EC and DO is shown in Table point
2. Depth
Parameters
1 ft 3 ft
Table 2. Results in Chamber 2 – 1st sampling Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 6.3 6.225
point 1186 1188.5
C (us/cm)
Depth Power of Hydrogen (A/S
Parameters 7.935 7.94
1 ft 3 ft pH)
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 5.21 4.74
C (us/cm) 1080.5 1081 Chamber 2 – 2nd sampling point has a dissolved
Power of Hydrogen (A/S oxygen is 6.3 mg/L in 1 ft and 6.225 mg/L in 3ft. It
7.665 7.63
pH) has an electroconductivity of 1186 us/cm in 1 ft and
1188.5 us/cm in 3 ft and has a pH of 7.93 in 1ft and
Chamber 2 – 1st sampling point has a dissolved 7.94 in 3ft, it is considered as base.
oxygen is 5.21 mg/L in 1 ft and 4.74 mg/L in 3ft. It In chamber 3 – 2nd sampling point, the result of
has an electroconductivity of 1080.5 us/cm in 1 ft measurement in pH, EC and DO is shown in Table
and 1081 us/cm in 3 ft and has a pH of 7.665 in 1ft 6.
and 7.63 in 3ft, it is considered as neutral.
In chamber 3 – 1st sampling point, the result of Table 6. Results in Chamber 3 – 2nd sampling
measurement in pH, EC and DO is shown in Table point
3. Depth
Parameters
1 ft 3 ft
Table 3. Results in Chamber 3 – 1st sampling
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 5.9 5.9
point
C (us/cm) 1221.5 1221.5
Depth
Parameters Power of Hydrogen (A/S
1 ft 3 ft 8.2 8.2
pH)
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 1.485 1.415
C (us/cm) 1111 1111 Chamber 3 – 2nd sampling point has a dissolved
Power of Hydrogen (A/S oxygen is 5.9 mg/L in 1 ft and in 3ft. It has an
7.5 7.51
pH) electroconductivity of 1221.5 us/cm in 1 ft and in 3
ft and has a pH of 8.2 in 1ft and in 3ft, it is considered
Chamber 3 – 1st sampling point has a dissolved as base.
oxygen is 1.485 mg/L in 1 ft and 1.415 mg/L in 3ft.
It has an electroconductivity of 1111 us/cm in 1 ft
and in 3 ft and has a pH of 7.5 in 1ft and 7.51 in 3ft, 5. CONCLUSION
it is considered as neutral. Based on the results of the experiment, the
In chamber 1 – 2nd sampling point, the result of conclusions are as follows:
measurement in pH, EC and DO is shown in Table 5.1 The dissolved oxygen of wastewater is higher in
4. chamber 1, 2, 3 in first sampling point and 2 - 2nd
sampling point with a depth of 1 ft than with a depth
of 3ft. It means that in 3 ft depth, there are more
microorganisms that consume the oxygen. For
chamber 1 – 2nd sampling point, the dissolved
oxygen in 1 ft depth is lower than with a depth of 3
ft. And for chamber 2 – 2nd sampling point, the result
for dissolved oxygen is very stable in both 1 ft and 3
ft depth. This is due to the uppermost part of water
is way better exposed in the atmosphere where the
oxygen is abundant4. There also diference in the
value of DO oxygen in each chamber. Chambers
with aeration process has larger value of DO caused
by the aeration process of diffusers3.

5.2 For electric conductivity, the depth of 1 ft in all

chambers has the highest value or concentration than
the depth of 3 ft. The deeper the depth means that
there are less chemicals dissolved in the water.

5.3 The value of pH levels in chamber 1 and 2 in first

sampling point are higher in 1 ft than 3 ft depth. And
for chamber 3 – 2nd sampling point, chamber 1 and
2 in second sampling point, 3 ft depth has the higher
value than the 1 ft depth. pH values of the
experiment ranges from 7.5 to 8.35 and it means that
the microorganisms live well as it live in pH values
of 6.5 to 8.5. The value of pH from the first chamber
up to the last chamber tend to neutralize since the
main goal of the STP is to stabilize the quality of
wastewater2.

6. RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the results and conclusion, the following
recommendations are presented:
6.1 Stabilize the concentration of dissolved oxygen.
The concentrations of dissolved oxygen are very
high.

7. REFERENCES
Environmental Business Specialist. (2019).
Retrieved from EBS Biowizard:
https://www.ebsbiowizard.com/ph-testing-in-
wastewater-treatment-964/