Question

Which parameter measures the oxygen consumed by microbes during the decomposition of waste in water?

Options

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

• Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

• Coliform Count

• pH level

Answer 1

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) measures the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms as they decompose organic waste in water. High BOD indicates high pollution levels, as more oxygen is being depleted by decomposing organic matter, which threatens aquatic life and indicates the presence of significant pollution from sewage and industrial discharge.