Declining COD, BOD and organic removal
Use this when declining cod, bod and organic removal is observed but the cause remains unclear. The diagnostic checks measurement and sampling, operating changes, issue location, and key evidence before suggesting likely causes and the next useful check.
First time here? Start with this
You do not need every data point before you begin
The system asks one discriminating question at a time and updates the candidate causes on the right. Answer from current facts; choose unknown or defer a question when the evidence is not available.
- 1
Confirm the issue
Check whether the symptom is reproducible and whether the measurement or observation is reliable.
- 2
Narrow the causes
Continue through operating changes, issue location, and available inspection results.
- 3
Read the live result
Candidate causes, support, counter-evidence, conflicts, and next actions update as you answer.
This tool analyzes information you already have. It does not insert a safety screen or use safety status to stop the diagnosis. If an alarm, leak, or injury is happening now, follow the site emergency procedure directly.
Automatic troubleshooting · Selections are not uploaded
Only one question is shown at a time. Answer from current facts or defer an unknown item. Possible causes and next checks update on the right as you answer.
- 1Data validity
- 2Operating changes
- 3Issue location
- 4Further confirmation
Question progress
0/27
- Answered
- 0
- To confirm
- 27
- Clues found
- 0
Load a test scenario
Next question
Phase 1 · Data validity
Is the anomaly confirmed by applicable methods, blanks, calibration, seed/dilution, and replicates?
The system asks the question most useful for separating possible causes. Unknown or deferred items are not treated as the opposite conclusion.
I have more test or inspection resultsOptionalAdd laboratory analysis, normalized calculations, or checks completed by trained personnel when available. These fields are optional.
View rule sources (14)Standards, regulations, OEM material, and peer-reviewed literature used to audit the diagnostic logic. You do not need to read them before starting.
Each rule cites material directly relevant to its judgment. Current OEM and site procedures remain controlling.
- A-government-operations · US EPA · 1977Process Control Manual for Aerobic Biological Wastewater Treatment Facilities
- A-government-operations · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency · 2014Activated Sludge Process Control and Troubleshooting Manual
- A-government-design · US EPA · 1977Design Procedures for Dissolved Oxygen Control of Activated Sludge Processes
- A-government-regulatory · US EPA · 2025Approved CWA Chemical Test Methods
- A-government-method · US EPA · 1993Method 410.4: Chemical Oxygen Demand by Semi-Automated Colorimetry
- A-government-method · US EPA · 1974Method 405.1: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5 Days, 20 C)
- A-standard · ISO · 2003ISO 5815-2:2003 Water quality — Determination of BODn — Method for undiluted samples
- A-standard · ISO · 2002ISO 15705:2002 Water quality — Determination of COD index — Small-scale sealed-tube method
- A-standard · ISO · 1999ISO 8245:1999 Water quality — Guidelines for TOC and DOC
- A-standard · ISO · 2007ISO 8192:2007 Activated sludge oxygen-consumption inhibition test
- A-standard · ISO · 2004ISO 11733:2004 Activated sludge simulation test for elimination and biodegradability
- A-government-test · US EPA · 2012OCSPP 850.3300 Modified Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test
- B-peer-reviewed-study · Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A · 2019Evaluation of COD fractionation and modeling for activated sludge optimization
- A-government-safety · US OSHA · 2024Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)