Autonomous underwater vehicle provides high-resolution observations of water quality and much more. Photo (c) Peter Berrini, HDR, Inc., used by permission.

Noteworthy

National & Regional Science:

• Fact Sheet: Integrated Synoptic Surveys Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and Manned Boats
• Press Release: Decades-old Nitrate Found to Affect Stream Water Quality
• Circular 1383-G: USGS Water Science Strategy – Observing, Understanding, Predicting, and Delivering Water Science to the Nation
• OFR 2013-1054: User's Manual for the National Water Information System of the USGS
• Press Release: New water-quality test for preventing unnecessary beach closures

Local Science Features:

• New Hampshire: Concentrations of Chloride and Sodium in Groundwater in New Hampshire From 1960 Through 2011
• Arkansas:
  • –Press Release: No Contamination from Fayetteville Shale Exploration Found in Sampled Wells
  • –USGS Report: Shallow Groundwater Quality and Geochemistry in the Fayetteville Shale Gas-Production Area, North-Central Arkansas, 2011
  • –Journal Article: Geochemical and isotopic variations in shallow groundwater in areas of the Fayetteville shale development, north-central Arkansas 

Past listings...

Water Quality Data

National Water Information System (NWIS)

NWIS provides current and historical water-quality data.

Today's Water Conditions

Water-Quality Watch provides continuous real-time water-quality measurements.

Water-Quality Web Services

Web services automate the sharing of USGS and USEPA water-quality monitoring data.

For More Data

Additional water-quality data resources are available.

USGS in Your Area

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Chapter A7. Biological Indicators

National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (TWRI Book 9)

7.0 Five-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (11/2003) [3.71 KB PDF]

By G.C. Delzer and S.W. McKenzie

This report is in pdf format. Download a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.

Abstract

The presence of a sufficient concentration of dissolved oxygen is critical to maintaining the aquatic life and aesthetic quality of streams and lakes. Determinng how organic matter affects the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in a stream or lake is integral to water-quality management. The decay of organic matter in water is measured as biochemical or chemical oxygen demand. This report describes the field protocols used by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel to determine the five-day test for biochemical oxygen demand.

Contents

7.0 - Five-day biochemical oxygen demand

7.0.1 - Equipment and supplies

7.0.2 - Sample collection and storage

7.0.3 - Five-day test for biochemical oxygen demand

7.0.4 - Calculations

7.0.5 - Troubleshooting

7.0.6 - Reporting

Comments/Errata page

Return to Chapter A7 Biological Indicators Table of Contents

Return to Field Manual Table of Contents

Citation for Section 7.0

Delzer, G.C., and McKenzie, S.W., 2003, Five-day biochemical oxygen demand: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A7, section 7.0, November, accessed __list date__ from http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A/.