When calculating the daily BOD discharge, which multiplication factor is used to convert gallons to pounds?

In wastewater management, when converting flow measurements from gallons to pounds, the multiplication factor of 8.34 is used specifically to account for the density of water and its relationship to biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). This factor is derived from the understanding that one gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds.

When you measure BOD in milligrams per liter (mg/L) and have a flow rate in gallons per day, multiplying the flow by the concentration of BOD in mg/L and then by 8.34 will yield total BOD discharge in pounds per day. This conversion is essential for reporting and regulatory compliance, as it allows for the quantification of how much organic material is being released into the environment.

Other factors listed, such as 7.48, which is the number of gallons in a cubic foot, are not appropriate in this context since they do not relate directly to the weight of water required for BOD calculations. Similarly, using a factor of 1.0 or 10.0 does not reflect the necessary conversion based on the specific weight of water and would lead to inaccurate results. Thus, using 8.34 ensures that calculations accurately reflect the weight of BOD in wastewater discharge.