BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) is a measure of the organic matter present in the water. It refers to the quantity of the oxygen that would be consumed if all the organic matter in one liter of water were oxidised by bacteria.
To determine the oxygen demand on the receiving water of a municipal or industrial discharge BOD is considered to be one of the most commonly used parameters. Thus the sewage water is treated till the BOD is reduced and the greater the BOD of waste water, more is its polluting potential.
