Streeter Phelps
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
Streeter Phelps oxygen sag curve downstream of a wastewater outfall Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.3100 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.8900 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 30.0000 mg/L; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 2.7000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 2.2000 day, determine the dissolved oxygen deficit (D) in mg/L.
Given
Find
dissolved oxygen deficit (D), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D is given, so isolate D symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 1 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for dissolved oxygen deficit — Streeter Phelps
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.3100 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.8900 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 30.0000 mg/L, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 2.7000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 2.2000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D = 6.2251 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 12.4502 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 3.1125 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 6.8476 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps model computing dissolved oxygen deficit in a river Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.3200 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.9100 1/day; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.0000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 0.5000 day; dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 10.4200 mg/L, determine the initial ultimate BOD (L_0) in mg/L.
Given
Find
initial ultimate BOD (L_0), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except L_0 is given, so isolate L_0 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 2 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for initial ultimate BOD — Streeter Phelps (2)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for L_0:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.3200 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.9100 1/day, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.0000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 0.5000 day, dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 10.4200 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning L_0 = 66.7575 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 133.5 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 33.3787 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 73.4332 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps equation predicting the critical DO sag point Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.4700 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 1.0400 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 24.0000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 0.7000 day; dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 4.3900 mg/L, determine the initial oxygen deficit (D_0) in mg/L.
Given
Find
initial oxygen deficit (D_0), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D_0 is given, so isolate D_0 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 3 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for initial oxygen deficit — Streeter Phelps (3)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D_0:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.4700 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 1.0400 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 24.0000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 0.7000 day, dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 4.3900 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D_0 = -0.6120 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -1.2241 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -0.3060 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -0.6732 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps oxygen sag curve downstream of a wastewater outfall Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.2500 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.7800 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 44.5000 mg/L; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.6000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 1.6000 day, determine the dissolved oxygen deficit (D) in mg/L.
Given
Find
dissolved oxygen deficit (D), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D is given, so isolate D symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 4 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for dissolved oxygen deficit (case 2) — Streeter Phelps (4)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.2500 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.7800 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 44.5000 mg/L, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.6000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 1.6000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D = 9.3650 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 18.7300 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 4.6825 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 10.3015 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps model computing dissolved oxygen deficit in a river Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.4100 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.9000 1/day; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 2.1000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 2.3000 day; dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 4.4400 mg/L, determine the initial ultimate BOD (L_0) in mg/L.
Given
Find
initial ultimate BOD (L_0), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except L_0 is given, so isolate L_0 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 5 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for initial ultimate BOD (case 2) — Streeter Phelps (5)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for L_0:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.4100 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.9000 1/day, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 2.1000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 2.3000 day, dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 4.4400 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning L_0 = 18.9524 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 37.9049 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 9.4762 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 20.8477 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps equation predicting the critical DO sag point Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.3000 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.7300 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 27.5000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 2.4000 day; dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 3.8700 mg/L, determine the initial oxygen deficit (D_0) in mg/L.
Given
Find
initial oxygen deficit (D_0), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D_0 is given, so isolate D_0 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 6 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for initial oxygen deficit (case 2) — Streeter Phelps (6)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D_0:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.3000 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.7300 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 27.5000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 2.4000 day, dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 3.8700 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D_0 = -12.3480 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- -24.6961 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- -6.1740 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- -13.5828 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps oxygen sag curve downstream of a wastewater outfall Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.2600 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.7300 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 49.5000 mg/L; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.2000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 2.3000 day, determine the dissolved oxygen deficit (D) in mg/L.
Given
Find
dissolved oxygen deficit (D), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D is given, so isolate D symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 7 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for dissolved oxygen deficit (case 3) — Streeter Phelps (7)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.2600 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.7300 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 49.5000 mg/L, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.2000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 2.3000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D = 10.7332 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 21.4663 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 5.3666 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 11.8065 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps model computing dissolved oxygen deficit in a river Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.2300 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.6800 1/day; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 3.2000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 1.7000 day; dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 5.7600 mg/L, determine the initial ultimate BOD (L_0) in mg/L.
Given
Find
initial ultimate BOD (L_0), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except L_0 is given, so isolate L_0 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 8 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for initial ultimate BOD (case 3) — Streeter Phelps (8)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for L_0:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.2300 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.6800 1/day, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 3.2000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 1.7000 day, dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 5.7600 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning L_0 = 25.7136 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 51.4272 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 12.8568 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 28.2850 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps equation predicting the critical DO sag point Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.1700 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.8400 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 15.0000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 1.1000 day; dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 1.7500 mg/L, determine the initial oxygen deficit (D_0) in mg/L.
Given
Find
initial oxygen deficit (D_0), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D_0 is given, so isolate D_0 symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 9 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for initial oxygen deficit (case 3) — Streeter Phelps (9)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D_0:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.1700 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.8400 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 15.0000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 1.1000 day, dissolved oxygen deficit (D) = 1.7500 mg/L.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D_0 = 0.2617 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 0.5233 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 0.1308 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 0.2878 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps
Streeter Phelps oxygen sag curve downstream of a wastewater outfall Given deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.5000 1/day; reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.8700 1/day; initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 46.0000 mg/L; initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.6000 mg/L; time of travel (t) = 1.3000 day, determine the dissolved oxygen deficit (D) in mg/L.
Given
Find
dissolved oxygen deficit (D), in mg/L
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Streeter Phelps.
- Everything except D is given, so isolate D symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The Streeter Phelps oxygen sag equation models dissolved oxygen deficit downstream of a wastewater discharge in a stream.
Figure 10 — schematic for Streeter Phelps — solve for dissolved oxygen deficit (case 4) — Streeter Phelps (10)
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for D:
Step 3 — List the givens: deoxygenation rate (k_d) = 0.5000 1/day, reaeration rate (k_r) = 0.8700 1/day, initial ultimate BOD (L_0) = 46.0000 mg/L, initial oxygen deficit (D_0) = 4.6000 mg/L, time of travel (t) = 1.3000 day.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning D = 13.8756 mg/L to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 27.7512 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 6.9378 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 15.2631 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Streeter Phelps