At what time of day is the dissolved oxygen in a waste pond usually at its peak?

Dissolved oxygen levels in a waste pond typically peak in the late afternoon, around 4:00 PM. This is primarily due to photosynthesis, a process that occurs when sunlight penetrates the water and is utilized by aquatic plants and algae. During the daytime, these organisms actively produce oxygen, leading to higher dissolved oxygen levels as the sun reaches its highest point and then gradually begins to lower.

As the day progresses from morning to afternoon, sunlight availability increases, allowing for greater oxygen production until the sun starts to set. While oxygen levels may also be elevated in the morning, they generally have not reached the peak level observed later in the day. Therefore, around 4:00 PM is when dissolved oxygen tends to be at its highest, reflecting the cumulative effects of photosynthesis throughout the day.