Wastewater Laboratory Training Manual for Treatment Plant Operators
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State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality LABORATORY TRAINING MANUAL FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS 2010 This manual has not been revised since 2010. Make sure you are using current approved testing methods. Prepared by: Operator Training Program Staff TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1-1 LABORATORY SAFETY ........................................................................................................10-1 LABELING...............................................................................................................................20-1 PERIODIC CHART OF THE ELEMENTS..............................................................................30-1 ILLUSTRATIONS OF LABORATORY APPARATUS ............................................................40-1 OPERATION OF THE ANALYTICAL BALANCE...................................................................45-1 LABORATORY WATER .........................................................................................................50-1 METRIC SYSTEM...................................................................................................................60-1 CONCENTRATION - VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS ...............................................................70-1 EPA APPROVED PROCEDURES.........................................................................................75-1 SAMPLE PRESERVATION....................................................................................................80-1 LABORATORY QUALITY ASSURANCE...............................................................................90-1 DISSOLVED OXYGEN.........................................................................................................110-1 Winkler Titration Method ..........................................................................................111-1 Electrode Method .....................................................................................................113-1 BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND....................................................................................120-1 Procedure For Analysis ............................................................................................121-1 BOD Blank Depletion Troubleshooting.....................................................................122-1 Glucose / Glutamic Acid BOD Standard...................................................................124-1 SOLIDS DISCUSSION .........................................................................................................130-1 Total Suspended and Volatile Suspended Solids ....................................................131-1 Total and Volatile Sludge Solids ..............................................................................132-1 Total Dissolved Solids ...............................................................................................134-1 page i Table of Contents pH DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................210-1 pH Determination ......................................................................................................211-1 BUFFERS..............................................................................................................................212-1 ALKALINITY DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................214-1 Alkalinity Procedure...................................................................................................215-1 VOLATILE ACIDS AND TOTAL ALKALINITY (Titration Method)..................................................................................................................221-1 CARBON DIOXIDE, CO2 IN DIGESTER GAS.....................................................................223-1 BACTERIAL MONITORING DISCUSSION .........................................................................231-1 Fecal Coliform (Membrane Filter Method) ...............................................................232-1 Bacterial Counting and Reporting.............................................................................233-1 Fecal Coliform in Biosolids........................................................................................235-1 Fecal Coliform (Multiple Tube Fermentation Method) .............................................237-1 E-Coli Discussion ......................................................................................................238-1 E-Coli (Membrane Filter Method)..............................................................................239-1 GEOMETRIC MEAN.............................................................................................................240-1 CHLORINE DISCUSSION....................................................................................................242-1 Ion Selective Method.................................................................................................243-1 CHLORIDE............................................................................................................................251-1 Argentometric Method ..............................................................................................252-1 Ion Selective Electrode Method ...............................................................................254-1 HARDNESS (EDTA Titrimetric Method) ..............................................................................256-1 SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE ................................................................................................258-1 OIL AND GREASE Hexane Extraction Method........................................................................................261-1 page ii Table of Contents COLORIMETRY....................................................................................................................310-1 PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL DISCUSSION .........................................................................320-1 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS Ascorbic Acid Single Reagent Method .....................................................................331-1 Ascorbic Acid Two Reagent Method.........................................................................335-1 NITROGEN DETERMINATIONS Ammonia Nitrogen ....................................................................................................343-1 Distillation Procedure.....................................................................................345-1 Titrimetric Method .........................................................................................351-1 Ion Selective Electrode .................................................................................354-1 Ion Selective Electrode, Known Addition Method.........................................356-1 Ammonia Distillation Comparison .................................................................357-1 Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Total ............................................................................................360-1 Semi-Micro Kjeldahl Nitrogen Method .....................................................................372-1 Nitrite Nitrogen (Diazotization Method) ....................................................................380-1 Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen (Cadmium Reduction Method) ...........................................390-1 Nitrate Ion Selective Electrode Method ...................................................................395-1 APPENDIX Conversion Factors & Useful Information.................................................................. A1-1 Conversion Factors .................................................................................................... A2-1 INDEX.........................................................................................................................................I-1 page iii INTRODUCTION The role of the wastewater treatment plant operator has become very important in the prevention of environmental degradation in Michigan. The operator is expected to optimize treatment to obtain the highest quality effluent possible as well as to demonstrate that the effluent is indeed within the set standards. The laboratory, of course, is essential to the operator in providing the data to meet these two goals. This manual was prepared by the MDNRE Operator Training and Certification Unit as a training tool to be used by those attending laboratory training courses presented by this unit. Included are procedures that meet governmental regulations for effluent monitoring as well as procedures to provide reliable data that can be used to make decisions in the day-to-day control of the treatment facility. Also included are a number of analytical methods that may be used to monitor influent levels of contaminants that would have a negative impact on treatment and the environment. This manual is not intended to replace other more extensive methods manuals but to be a clarification of many of the procedures specifically applicable to the wastewater treatment field. The procedures are presented in a step by step "cookbook" style. This provides an easy to follow and understandable format but any unusual conditions or applications may require reference to the other more general manuals. Many of the procedures meet the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (NPDES)