Which performance parameter is commonly used to assess the efficiency of a trickling filter?

The efficiency of a trickling filter is primarily assessed using the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) parameter because it measures the amount of organic matter that microorganisms can biologically degrade. In the context of wastewater treatment, a lower BOD value indicates that a greater degree of organic material has been removed from the water by the microbial action occurring within the trickling filter. This process relies on the biofilm that grows on the filter medium, where bacteria metabolize the organic pollutants, thereby reducing the BOD level of the effluent.

Monitoring BOD is crucial because it reflects not only the effectiveness of the trickling filter but also the overall treatment process. By assessing BOD, operators can determine how well the system is functioning at various stages and make necessary adjustments to optimize the treatment process.

In contrast, pH level, ammonia concentration, and oxidation-reduction potential are important parameters in wastewater treatment, but they do not directly reflect the overall efficiency of the biological treatment process offered by a trickling filter in the same way that BOD does. While pH can affect microbial activity and ammonia concentration can indicate nitrogen removal efficiency, neither provides a comprehensive picture of the effluent's organic content reduction as effectively as BOD.