The Palintest Sewage Effluent Kit provides a simple means of checking the quality of sewage effluents. It is used extensively for control testing at small sewage works. Based on simplified methods of sewage effluent testing, the kit contains tests for the essential quality control checks required for the day-to-day operation of sewage effluent treatment plants.

Increasing attention is being paid to the quality of sewage effluents. This is coupled with the imposition of more stringent quality standards. It is important that the condition of sewage effluent discharges be checked to ensure they conform to consent limits. Similarly, the importance of regular testing by sewage works operators as a check on the efficiency of the works is widely recognised.

Palintest Sewage Effluent Tests have been developed to meet this need. Each of the tests is performed simply without the use of complicated equipment and are suitable without formal training in water testing and analysis.

Palintest Sewage Effluent Tests are based on those recommended by the Department of the Environment and the Water Research Centre, and accord generally with the methods laid down in “Analysis of Raw, Potable and Waste Waters” published by The Stationery Office.

Permanganate Value

The Palintest Permanganate Value test is a simplified version of the standard AO test for indicating the general quality of final effluents. The test enables the Permanganate Value (PV) to be determined and the effluent classified as to its acceptability for discharge.

pH Test

Chemical and biological reactions at sewage works are profoundly influenced by pH. A regular check on the sewage effluent is therefore essential. A pH test will also check, for example, on the effect of acid or alkaline trade wastes in the effluent flow. The pH test is carried out using a Universal pH test tablet in conjunction with a printed colour strip.

Turbidity and Suspended Solids

The Turbidity Test is designed to give a measure of the suspended solids content of the final effluent. It is also useful in following the day-to-day variation in the quality of sewage and effluent. The Palintest Turbidity Test uses a specially calibrated plastic tube. This provides the simplest possible method of performing this important test. Test kit SP 302 includes a tube graduated at 30 to 500 turbidity units. A double length tube with additional graduations from 5 to 25 turbidity units is optionally available.

Probable BOD, COD and TOC

It is possible to derive an indication of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) from the result of the Permanganate Value test. This is based on the relationship between these measures of organic pollution obtained experimentally for domestic sewage and effluents.

Temperature

A check should be maintained on the temperature of effluent discharges and these should always be close to ambient temperatures. A check is particularly important on industrial effluents where heated processes are involved. Kit SP 304 comes complete with a -10° to +50° thermometer complete in a brass protecting case (PT 684). Replacement thermometers are available in the event of breakage (PT 683).