Population Equivalent (Organic Load)
The population equivalent of a discharge, figured three ways -- from BOD (0.17 lb/capita/day), flow (100 gpd/capita), and suspended solids (0.20 lb/capita/day) -- with the GOVERNING value being the largest, not BOD alone. A 0.5 MGD cannery at 600 mg/L BOD is worth ~14,700 residents in oxygen demand though its gallons look like 5,000; billing on flow alone under-charges it.
Formula and source
bod_load = MGD x BOD x 8.34; PE_bod = bod_load / 0.17; PE_flow = gpd / 100; PE_ss = ss_load / 0.20; PE = max(PE_bod, PE_flow, PE_ss).
Population equivalent (organic load), standard sanitary engineering, by name.
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