Water Quality Tests

Total Organic Carbon
and
Water Quality

Organic contaminants (natural organic substances, insecticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals) enter waterways in rainfall runoff. Domestic and industrial wastewaters also contribute organic contaminants in various amounts. As a result of accidental spills or leaks, industrial organic wastes may enter streams. Some of the contaminants may not be completely removed by treatment processes; therefore, they could become a problem for drinking water sources. It is important to know the organic content in a waterway.

Methodology: Total organic carbon (TOC) provides a speedy and convenient way of determining the degree of organic contamination. A carbon analyzer using an infrared detection system is used to measure total organic carbon. Organic carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide.

The CO2 produced is carried by a "carrier gas" into an infrared analyzer that measures the absorption wavelength of CO2. The instrument utilizes a microprocessor that will calculate the concentration of carbon based on the absorption of light in the CO2. The amount of carbon will be expressed in mg/L. Two other test methods that offer organic contamination information are biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). However, TOC provides a more direct expression of the organic chemical content of water than BOD or COD.

Environmental Impact: By using TOC measurements, the number of carbon-containing compounds in a source can be determined. This is important because knowing the amount of carbon in a freshwater stream is an indicator of the organic character of the stream. The larger the carbon or organic content, the more oxygen is consumed. A high organic content means an increase in the growth of microorganisms which contribute to the depletion of oxygen supplies. The source of this organic material could be a wastewater treatment plant releasing treated sewage into the stream. Both the plant effluent and the stream must be monitored for organic levels. Industrial waste effluent may contain carbon-containing compounds with various toxicity levels. Both of these situations can create unfavorable conditions for aquatic life, such as the depletion of oxygen and the presence of toxic substances.

Criteria: No criteria is provided.

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Water Quality Tests

Total Organic Carbon and Water Quality

Total Organic Carbon
and
Water Quality