WASTEWATER OPERATOR’S FORMULA SHEET 2022

CONVERSION FACTORS
π = Pi ≈ 3.14 1% = 10,000 mg/L 1 liter (L) = 1,000 milliliters (ml) & [1.0 ml water = 1.0 gm]
1 cubic foot (ft3) = 7.48 gallons 1 pound = 0.454 kilograms (kg)
1 gallon = 8.34 pounds (lbs) of water = 1,000,000 gallons/day (gpd)
1 MGD
1 acre = 43,560 square feet (ft2) = 694.4 gallons/minute (gpm)
1 PSI = 2.31 feet of water GPD = (gpm)(1,440 minutes/day)
= 7.48 gallons/second (gps) A change of 1 ° C = 1.8 ° F change
1 cubic foot/second
(CFS) or (ft3/sec) = 450 gallons/minute (gpm) °C = [( ° F)-32][5/9]
= 646,272 gallons/day (gpd) °F = [(9/5)(° C)]+32
specific gravity = Ratio of a substances mass to water 1 ton = 2,000 pounds (lbs)
(water sp.gr. = 1.0 g/ml)

COMMONLY USED FORMULAS

[pounds formula] Percent
(in − out)
Daily Loading, = (Concentration, mg/L)(Flow, MGD)(8.34, lbs/gal) (%) = [ ] [100]
(lbs/day) Removal in

Detention
Population Daily Loading, lbs (Tank Volume, ft 3 )(7.48 gal.⁄ft 3 )(24 hrs⁄day)
= Time, =
Equivalent, (PE) (PE factor, daily lbs/person) Flow (gallons⁄day)
(hrs)

Daily Loading, Pipe Slope rise or drop difference in height

= (PE)(PE Factor, daily lbs/person) = =
(lbs/day) (grade) run difference in length

Volume Chlorine
Rectangular = (L, ft)(W, ft)(H, ft)(7.48, gal/ft3) Dose, = (Chlorine Demand, mg/L) + (Chlorine Residual, mg/L)
Tank, (gallons) (mg/L)
Volume (π)(R2, ft)(H, ft)(7.48, gal/ft3) (chemical feed, lbs/day)
Dosage,
Circular Tank, = or =
(mg/L) (flow, MGD)(8.34 lbs/gal)
(gallons) (0.785)(D2, ft)(H, ft)(7.48, gal/ft3)

Return Sludge (Total Flow, MGD)(Settleable Solids, %) Decimal (percent)

= =
Rate, (MGD) 100% Fraction 100

CLARIFIER & SETTLING

(SOR) Surface Settling (Overflow) Rate, Flow, gpd (WOR) Weir Overflow Rate, Flow, gpd
= =
(gal/day/ft2) Surface Area, ft 2 (gal/day/ft) Weir Length, ft

Sludge Solids, (lbs) = (Sludge Volume, gal)(% Solids/100)(8.34 lbs/gal)

Raw Sludge (RAS) Pumping, (Settleable Solids, ml/L)(Plant Flow, gpm)

=
(gpm) 1000 ml/L
(Plant Flow, MGD + RAS Flow, MGD)(MLSS, mg/L)(8.34 lbs/gal)
Solids Loading, (lbs/ft2) =
Clarifier Surface Area, ft 2

SLUDGE
Total [weight of dry (oven) sludge][100] Digester (Volatile Solids added, lb/day)
Solids = Loading Rate, =
weight of wet sludge Digester Volume, ft 3
(%) (lbs/day/ft3)
Volatile [weight of material lost by burning][100] Composting moisture% moisture%
[[(Sludge, lb) ( )] + [(Compost, lb) ( )]] [100%]
Solids = Mixture = 100% 100%
weight of dry (oven) sludge
(%) Moisture (%) (Sludge, lb) + (Compost, lb)

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 WASTEWATER OPERATOR’S FORMULA SHEET 2022
ACTIVATED SLUDGE
(BOD) load on (SVI) Sludge
aeration tank, BOD, lbs/day Volume (Settleometer reading in 30 minutes, ml)(1,000)
= =
(lbs BOD/1,000 (Volume of Aeration Tank, ft 3 )/1,000 Index, (MLSS, mg⁄L)
ft3/day) (ml/gm)

(MLSS) Mixed
(MCRT) Mean
Liquor (Aeration MLSS, lbs) + (2° clarifier blanket MLSS, lbs)
Cell
Suspended = (MLSS, mg/L)(8.34 lbs/gal)(Vol, MGD) =
Residence (MLSS wasted, lbs⁄day) + (SS loss in effluent, lbs⁄day)
Solids under
Time, (days)
aeration, (lbs)

(SA) Sludge Aeration Tank SS, lbs (SA) Sludge (MLSS, mg⁄L)( 8.34 lbs⁄gal)(Vol. of tank, MG)
= =
Age, (days) Aeration Tank influent SS, lbs⁄day Age, (days) (Influent SS, mg⁄L)( 8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Flow, MGD)

(F/M) Food to Aeration Tank influent BOD, lbs/day (F/M) Food to (BOD, mg⁄L)(8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Flow, MGD)
Microorganism = Microorganism =
Ratio Aeration Tank MLVSS, lbs Ratio (MLVSS, mg⁄L) (8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Vol. of tank, MG)

(RR)
(OUR) Oxygen (Oxygen uptake rate, mg⁄L⁄hr)(1,000 mg⁄g)
(Initial DO, mg/L) – (Final DO, mg/L) Respiration
Uptake Rate, = =
(Duration of Measurement, min)(60 min⁄hr) Rate, (MLSS, mg⁄L)
(mg/L/hr)
(mg/hr/g)

WASTEWATER LAGOONS or STABILIZATION PONDS

Daily (Flow, gal/day)(Design Operating Depth, inches)
Run 3 ft. Horizontal
Lagoon or Pond Side Slope = ; example 3:1 = Rise =
Rise 1 ft. Vertical Volume of Pond, gal
(inches)
Daily Volume of Pond
= (Drop in Pond, ft/day)(Average Surface Area, acres)(325,851 gal/acre-ft)
Discharge, (gallons/day)

Volume of a Pond, (gallon) = (Average surface area, ft2)(design operating depth, ft)(7.48 gal/ft3)

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚, ft 2 = (Bottom Length, ft)(Bottom Width, ft)

(Top Area, ft 2 ) + (𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚, ft 2 )
Average Surface Area, (ft2) = Bottom Length, ft = (Top Length, ft)-[(2)(side slope)(depth, ft)]
2
Bottom Width, ft = (Top Width, ft)-[(2)(side slope)(depth, ft)]

Influent BOD, lbs/day Organic Loading on Influent BOD, lbs/day

Organic Loading into Aerated
= Stabilization Pond, =
Lagoon (lbs/1,000 ft3/day) Lagoon Volume, ft 3 /1,000 Total surface area of pond(s), acres
(lbs/acre/day)

LAND APPLICATION
Required Land, Total Weight of Sludge, tons/year Sludge Application,
= = (Sludge, Gal.)(8.34 lbs/gal)(% Solids in Sludge/100)
(acres) Limit, tons/acre (dry lbs)

FLOW
Volume cubic feet gallons Flow (pumping) (Volume Pumped)
Flow Rate = ; example , =
Time second minute Rate (Time)

Distance miles feet feet

Velocity = ; example , , Q (flow) = (Velocity)(Cross Sectional Area)
Time hours minutes seconds

Volume pumped, (π)(R2 , in2 )(H, in)(RPM)

= (ft3/second)(60 seconds/minute)(7.48 gal/ft3) =
(gpm) 231 in3 /gal
Volume, (gpm)
(volume displaced by piston, in3 ⁄stroke) (RPM)
=
231 in3 /gal

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 WASTEWATER OPERATOR’S FORMULA SHEET 2022
PUMPS
Q = Flow, gpm H = Total Dynamic Head, ft. Ep = Pump Efficiency, as a decimal Em = Motor Efficiency, as a decimal
(𝑄)(𝐻)
Water HP =
(3,960)

(𝑄)(𝐻) 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑃
Brake HP = =
(3,960)(𝐸𝑝 ) 𝐸𝑝

(𝑄)(𝐻) 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑃 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝐻𝑃

Motor HP = = =
(3,960)(𝐸𝑝 )(𝐸𝑚 ) (𝐸𝑝 )(𝐸𝑚 ) 𝐸𝑚

Cost, ($/day) = (Motor HP)(0.746 kW⁄HP)(Operating Time, hrs)($⁄kWh)

Flow, (gpm) = (0.785)(Bore, ft2)(Stroke, ft)(7.48 gal/ft3)(strokes⁄minute)

Flow, (gallons) = (0.785)(Bore, ft2)(Stroke, ft)(7.48 gal/ft3)(strokes⁄minute)(Pumping Time, minutes)

ml
Chemical Feed ( ) (1,440 min⁄day)
= min
Pumps, (gpd) (1,000 ml⁄L)(3.785 L⁄gal)

gal
Chemical Feed Rate, ( ) (1,000 ml⁄L)(3.785 L⁄gal)
= day
(ml/min)
(1,440 min⁄day)
Percent (%) of Dry Chemicals, lbs
𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡
Chemical in Solution = = [ ] [100] Chemical, g + Water, g = Solution, g
𝑊ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 [(Volume water, gal)(8.34 lbs⁄gal)] + [Dry Chemicals⁄lbs]
from Dry Stock
(Vol.1)(Conc.1) = (Vol.2)(Conc.2)
Mixture Strength
= &
(%)
(Vol.1)(Conc.1) + (Vol.2)(Conc.2)= (Vol.3)(Conc.3)

LABORATORY RESULTS
(g)(1,000mg⁄g)(1,000ml⁄L) (MLSS, mg⁄L)
mg/L = = ppm % Solids =
(sample, ml) (10,000 mg⁄L⁄1%)

(BOD) Seed
Bottle Vol, ml (Initial DO, mg/L) – (Final DO, mg/L)
unseeded, = [(Initial DO, mg/L) – (Final DO, mg/L)] (Sample Vol, ml
) Correction = (
Seed used, ml
)
(mg/L) Formula
(BOD) seeded, Bottle Vol, ml
(mg/L)
= {[(Initial DO, mg/L) – (Final DO, mg/L)] – [(Seed, ml)(Seed correction, mg/L/ml)]} (Sample Vol, ml
)

(VS)
(TS) Total (Dish Residue, mg)(1,000 ml/L) Volatile [(before burning, g) − (after, g)][1000 mg⁄g]
= = ( )
Solids, (mg/L) (Sample, ml) Solids, (Sample, ml)(L⁄1000 ml)
(mg/L)
(TSS) Total (Dry Filtered Solids, mg) (% VS)
VS, g
Suspended =
(Sample, ml)(1 L⁄1,000 ml)
Volatile = (
TS, g
( )
) 100
Solids, (mg/L) Solids

(TSS) Total [(Dried Solids & Filter Paper, g) − (F. Paper, g)][1,000 mg⁄1 g] (VSS, g)(1,000,000)
(VSS) Volatile Suspended
Suspended = =
(Sample, ml)(L⁄1000 ml) Solids, (mg/L) (Sample Vol., ml)
Solids, (mg/L)

(F/M) Food to (BOD, mg⁄L)(8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Flow, MGD) (Sum of log10 of all samples)
Geometric
Microorganism = = 𝐴𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔 [ ]
Ratio (MLVSS, mg⁄L) (8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Vol. of tank, MG) Mean (Number of Samples)

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 WASTEWATER OPERATOR’S FORMULA SHEET 2022
ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS
Volatile Solids Feed Sludge VS, lbs/day Digester Volume, gal
Detention
Loading, (lbs = =
Digester Volume, ft 3 Time, (days) Sludge Feed, gpd
VS/day/ ft3)

Volatile Solids (VS in − VS out) VS Loading, VSS influent, lbs

= [ ] [100] =
Reduced, (%) (VS in) − [(VS in)(VS out)] (lbs/ft3) Digester Volume, ft 3

ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTORS

Hydraulic Loading Rate, GPM Hydraulic Loading Rate, Total Flow including recirculation, GPD
= =
(GPM/ft2) Media Surface Area, ft 2 (GPD/ft2) Media Surface Area, ft 2

Organic BOD Loading Soluble BOD applied, lbs/day Soluble BOD applied,
= = (Soluble BOD, mg/L)(Flow, MGD)(8.34, lbs/gal)
Rate, (lbs/1,000 ft3/day) Media Surface Area, ft 2 /1,000 (lbs/day)

Soluble BOD, (mg/L) = (Total BOD, mg/L) – (Suspended BOD, mg/L)

OXIDATION DITCHES
(F/M) Food to Microorganism BOD, lbs/day (BOD, mg⁄L)(8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Flow, MGD)
= =
Ratio MLVSS, lbs (MLVSS, mg⁄L) (8.34 lbs⁄gal)( Ditch Vol. , MG)
BOD Loading Rate, BOD, lbs/day Ditch Detention Time, (Ditch Volume, MG)(24 hours⁄day)
= =
(lbs/1,000 ft3/day) (Ditch Vol. , ft 3 )/1000 (hours) Flow, MGD

Solids under Aeration, lbs Aeration Solids, (lbs) = (MLSS, mg/L)(Ditch Volume, MG)(8.34, lbs/gal)
(SA) Sludge Age, (days) =
Solids added, lbs/day
Solids added, (lbs/day) = (Inf SS, mg/L)(Flow, MGD)(8.34, lbs/gal)

(Total Length, ft) = [(2)(π)(radius, ft)]+[(2)(straight length, ft)]

Ditch Volume, ft3 = (Total Length, ft)(Area, ft2)
(width bottom,ft)+(width top,ft)
(Area, ft2) = [ 2
][depth, ft]

TERTIARY FILTRATION

Filter Flow, (gpm) = (Filter Area, ft2)(Filter Rate, gpm/ft2)

Filter Backwash
= (Filter Area, ft2)(Backwash Flow, gpm)(Time, min.)
Volume, (gal)

Filter Backwash
= (Filter Area, ft2)(rise or fall, ft/min.)(7.48 gal/ft3)
Flow, (gpm)

Filter Backwash (Backwash Flow Rate, gpm)

=
Rate, (gpm/ft2) (Filter Area, ft 2 )

WATERWAYS DISCHARGE
[(Stream Conc.1 , mg/L)(Stream Flow1 , MGD)] + [(Stream Conc.2 , mg/L)(Stream Flow2 , MGD)]
Diluted Concentration, (mg/L) =
(Stream Flow1 , MGD) + (Stream Flow2 , MGD)

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 WASTEWATER OPERATOR’S FORMULA SHEET 2022
CALCULATIONS OF PERIMETERS* CALCULATIONS OF AREAS*
S3
Rectangles
or Squares = S1 + S2 + S3 + S4 S1 2 S4 Square or
= (L)(W) W
Rectangle (A)
(P)
S2 L
R 2
Circles (B)(H)
πD
Circumference = π(2R) D Triangle (A) = 2 H
(C)
B
Other Plane B1
= Sum of all sides
Figures (P) (B1 )+(B2 )
Trapezoid (A) =
[ 2
] [H] H
B2
*EXAMPLE UNITS
Perimeter: yd, ft, in R
Area: yd2, ft2, in2 (π)(𝑅2) or
Volume: yd3, ft3, in3 Circle (A) = (0.785)(𝐷2 ) or D
(π)(𝐷 2 )
4

CALCULATIONS OF VOLUMES*

Rectangular solids (V) = (L)(W)(H) H

W
L

= (π)(𝑅2)(H) or R
Cylinder (V) = (0.785)(D2 )(H) or
= (π)(D2 )(H) H
4
D

(π)(R2 )(H)
or
= 3 H
(0.785)(D2 )(H)
Cones (V)
= 3
D

(𝐴)(H)
Pyramids (V) = , (A = area of base) H
3

LBS
FLOW CONCENTRATION
(MGD) (mg/L)

8.34
(lbs/gal)