Some influences of sediments in aerated lagoons and waste stabilization ponds

Respirometric tests have been undertaken on sediments in aerated lagoons and waste stabilization ponds to quantify their oxygen demand and to determine the main factors governing the process. Factors such as seasonal variations, temperature, substrate, sediment layer thickness. density of macroinvertebrates and suspended sediments were investigated. The results showed that temperature and substrate concentration are the main factors that influence sediment oxygen demand; followed by spatial heterogeneity and resuspension of sediments, whereas the density of macro-invertebrates could have an effect in summer (hot season). Sediment layer thickness had no effect. A model of sediment oxygen demand is developed for the two main factors (temperature and substrate) with an r(2) of 0.98.