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Treatment Math for Plant Operators

This document provides an introduction to solving treatment math problems. It reviews basic math concepts and outlines a 5 step process for solving problems: 1) identify known and unknown values, 2) select the appropriate formula, 3) rearrange the formula, 4) plug in known values, 5) convert units as needed. An example problem demonstrates applying these steps to calculate flow given chlorine dose and amount used.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
33 views15 pages

Treatment Math for Plant Operators

This document provides an introduction to solving treatment math problems. It reviews basic math concepts and outlines a 5 step process for solving problems: 1) identify known and unknown values, 2) select the appropriate formula, 3) rearrange the formula, 4) plug in known values, 5) convert units as needed. An example problem demonstrates applying these steps to calculate flow given chlorine dose and amount used.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 1 of 15

Lesson 1:

Introduction to Solving Treatment Math

Objective

In this lesson we will learn the following:

Review basic math, if needed on our math website.


Problem solving techniques.

Reading Assignment

Read the online lecture.

Review basic math principles, such as area and volume, if needed on our math website. You will also learn more about how to convert between units, if
needed.

Lecture

Basic Math Review

To operate a treatment plant of any kind, and to pass the examination required for an operator's license, you need to know how to perform certain
mathematical operations. I know most people hate math and think they can't do it. First off, you can do it, and once you learn some simple tricks, you'll
be able to perform those calculations with no problem!

Without the ability to perform calculations, operators would have difficulty in properly operating treatment systems. Most of the calculations needed to
perform daily tasks are not difficult and a general math ability (with a little basic algebra) is all that's needed. I am going to assume that you are already
familiar with how to do the basic math operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, so I won't recap those topics here. Also, I
won't cover how to determine area and volume and other basic math principles. You can review those on the water/wastewater math course website if
needed.

Problem Solving Order of Operations

After reviewing the basic math needed, we will explore the sequence to follow when trying to solve any problem.

1. Review the problem and list what is known and unknown.


2. Select an appropriate formula to solve the problem, if needed.
3. Arrange the formula to solve for the unknown.
4. Plug the known values into the formula and solve for the unknown value.
5. Convert the answer to the appropriate units.

Sometimes you will be able to skip some steps, which is perfectly fine.

We are going to go through the following example, showing how the above steps will help you solve any calculation.

Example:
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 2 of 15

The chlorination system is feeding a dose of 4.8 mg/L. Calculate the flow, in gpm, if the chlorine scale shows that 46 lbs were used during the
last 24 hours.

Step 1: List what is known and unknown:

What is the question asking? (Unknown)


What information is provided? (Known)
What information is missing?
Write down the information.

Known Unknown

Chlorine dose: 4.8 mg/L Flow, gpm


Chlorine used: 46 lb/day

Now you can move onto step 2, which is to select the appropriate formula needed to solve the problem.

Step 2: Select formula.

We were given a dose of mg/L and lb/day and they are looking for a flow in gpm. All the components of the "pounds" formula are there, so that is what
we will use. Get familiar with this formula, you will use it quite a bit!

lb/day = Dose, mg/L x Flow, MGD x 8.34 lb/gal

Now that we have the formula, we need to move to step 3, which is to rearrange the formula so we can solve for the unknown.

Step 3: Rearrange formula.

Rearrange the pounds formula so that the flow is on one side by itself. This will allow us to solve for the flow.

lb/day = Dose, mg/L x Flow, MGD x 8.34 lb/gal

Flow, MGD = (lb/day) / (Dose, mg/L x 8.34 lb/gal)

Now that we have the formula arranged so we are solving for the flow, let's move to step 4, plugging in the known values.

Step 4: Plug in known values.

Flow, MGD = (lb/day) / (Dose, mg/L x 8.34 lb/gal)

Flow, MGD = (46 lb/day) / (4.8 mg/L x 8.34 lb/gal)

Flow, MGD = 1.15 MGD

We have successfully calculated the flow for the provided information. However, the problem wants the flow in gallons per minute (gpm), not million
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 3 of 15

gallons per day (MGD). That means we must move to step 5 and convert the answer to the desired unit.

If you know that 1.15 MGD is the same as 1,150,000 gpd, then you can eliminate one step in your head.

Step 5: Unit conversion.

If you start with gallons per day (gpd) you are almost at the unit the problem asked for. It wants the flow given in gpm instead of gpd. That means the
time portion of the unit is what needs to be converted. Let's break that down now:

Another way to do the conversion is if you are aware that 1 MGD = 694.4 gpm. In that case, you can do the unit conversion like this:

Either solution is correct, since they both round to 799 gpm.

Now that you have calculated the unknown value, in the unit requested, you are finished solving this problem!

Dimensional Analysis

One of the most important things you will need to understand as a treatment operator is how to convert between different units. First, let's start off with
what is a unit? A unit it a label that distinguishes one type of measurable quanity from another type. For instance. you may see the number 5, but what
does that mean? 5 what? 5 apples, 5 gallons? The unit is the "apples" or "gallons" that tells you what you are measuring. You may also see 5 gallons/day.
This is saying "5 gallons PER day". The divide or slash symbol is the same as saying PER something.

An equivalent is an expression of two or more quantities that have the same value. For instance, we know that 1 day is also equal to 24 hours. That
means that the equivalent is 1 day/24 hours. You may need to enter it as 24 hours/1 day, depending on how the problem needs to be set up so units will
cancel. Units will cancel on the diagonal, meaning one is on the top and one is on the bottom. I'll break this down shortly.

Let's watch a video showing how all this math will be used in water/wastewater treatment. Don't panic, we will break all this down in multiple lessons
throughout the course.

Abbreviations

Let's look at some abbreviations you will need to become familair with pertaining to water treatment and it's process calculations.

Abbreviation Name Abbreviation Name

C....................... Celsius Lpm.................... Liters per minute


cfs...................... cubic feet per second LSI..................... Langelier Saturation Index
cm...................... centimeters m........................ meters
DO..................... Dissolved Oxygen MG..................... Million Gallons
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 4 of 15

EMF.................. Electromotic Force mg/L.................... milligrams per liter


F........................ Fahrenheit min...................... minutes
ft........................ feet mL...................... milliliters
ft-lb.................... foot-pound ML..................... Million Liters
g......................... grams MLD................... Million Liters per Day
gal...................... US gallons ORP.................... Oxidation Reduction Potential
gfd...................... US gallons flux per day ppb..................... parts per billion
gpcd................... US gallons per capita per day ppm..................... parts per million
gpd..................... US gallons per day psi....................... pounds per square inch
gpg..................... grains per US gallon Q........................ flow
gpm.................... gallons per minute RPM................... revolutions per minute
hp....................... horsepower SDI..................... Sludge Density Index
hr....................... hours sec...................... second
in........................ inches SS...................... Settleable Solids
kg....................... kilograms TOC................... Total Organic Carbon
km...................... kilometers TSS.................... Total Suspended Solids
kPa..................... kilopascals TTHM................ total trihalomethanes
kW..................... kilowatts VS...................... Volatile Solids
kWh................... kilowatt-hours W....................... watts
L........................ liters yd....................... yards
lb........................ pounds yr........................ year
Lpcd................... liters per capita per day sq ft..................... square feet
Lpd.................... liters per day sq in.................... square inches
cu ft.................... cu ft

Common Conversions

Properties such as distance, time, velocity, volume, flow and temperature can be expressed in different units or measurements. When a property is
changed from one unit to another unit, for example, changing a temperature measurement from degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Centigrade, it is said that
Fahrenheit is converted to Centigrade. An equation typically requires measurements and units to be similar before the equation can be solved. Therefore,
conversions are frequently necessary prior to solving equations to make units and measurements similar or consistent. For some conversions, special
equations are used. When converting from one unit to another unit, multiply the unit by an expression that equals one. When a number or expression is
multiplied by one, its value does not change.

Most conversions, however, can be performed using basic math principles.

There are certain conversion factors you need to become very familar with. Those include:

1 ft head (water) = 0.433 psi


2.31 ft/psi
1 cubic foot = 7.48 gal
1 gal of water = 8.34 lbs
1 mg/L = 1 parts per million (ppm)
1% = 10,000 mg/L
1 acre = 43,560 ft2
1 gallon = 3.785 L

Before we dive into converting between units, let's look at the order in which your calculations must be solved. Yes, there are mathematical rules for you
to follow, so it will be easier to remember!

PEMDAS
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 5 of 15

To operate a treatment plant of any kind, and to pass the examination required for an operator's license, you need to know how to perform certain
mathematical operations. This is beneficial for any science or math calculations, not just water/wastewater treatment.

I know most people hate math and think they can't do it. First off, you can do it, and once you learn some simple tricks, you'll be able to perform those
calculations with no problem!

Without the ability to perform calculations, operators would have difficulty in properly operating treatment systems. Most of the calculations needed to
perform daily tasks are not difficult and a general math ability (with a little basic algebra) is all that's needed. I am going to assume that you are already
familiar with how to do the basic math operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, so I won't recap those topics here.

During the day to day operation of a plant, considerable data is collected as measurements. If the measurements are properly evaluated, it can provide
valuable information for trend analysis and can indicate how well the plant or process is operating. Before you can begin working with solving
calculations needed for process analysis you must understand the correct order of calculating those measurements.

Let's look at a simple problem:

3+8x2

If you have never heard of the order of operations, you may think the problem will be solved by working it left to right:

3 + 8 = 11

11 x 2 = 22

This would be incorrect! When solving math problems you need to follow the Order of Operations, which is discussed in more detail below. By
following the order of operations, the correct way to solve the problem is to multiply FIRST:

3+8x2

Start with multiplication before addition:

8 x 2 = 16

16 + 3 = 19 Correct!

When we talk about "operations" we mean things like add, subtract, multiply, divide, sqauring a number, etc. Sometimes we have multiple operations
within the same calculation, so how do we know what to do first? Start with reading the equation from left to right and then think of PEMDAS (Please
Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally) to help you with the correct order to follow:

P Please Parenthesis ()
E Excuse Exponents 2
M My Multiply x
D Dear Division ÷
A Aunt Addition +
S Sally Subtraction -

Let's look at how to work a problem that has all the above components included.

(7 + 2) x 6 + 32- (14 ÷ 7)

Start with the parenthesis () in PEMDAS:

We have two expressions within parenthesis: (7 + 2) and (14 ÷ 7).

(7 + 2) = 9
(14 ÷ 7) = 2
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 6 of 15

Now, let's replace those numbers in the original equation:

9 x 6 + 32 - 2

We see by the PEMDAS that exponents come next, so let's perform the calculation of the exponent: 32

32 = 9

Now replace that number in the original equation:

9x6+9-2

We see that multiplication and division is next on the order of operations (PEMDAS), so let's do that next, going left to right:

9 x 6 = 54

Now, finish out the calculation with addition and subtraction:

54 + 9 - 2 = 61

Let's watch a video explaining the order of operations.

Now let's look at a video showing you an advanced calculation with the correct order of operations.

Now that we know the order of operations to follow when solving equations, let's look at how units and equivalents are used to solve math problems.
Remember that equivalents, or conversion factors, are used to convert a quanity with one type of unit to a quantity with a different unit. These values
will be equal to each other and equal to 1. Such as:

5/5 = 1
$1/100 cents = 1
1 acre/43,560 ft2 = 1

This is how you can convert between units without affecting the calculation. A quantity multiplied by "1" doesn't change.

Now that we know what a unit and equivalent are, let's take a look at some of the different types of conversions you will be using. You should print out
the conversion table to keep handy for the rest of the class.

Length Conversions
Length measurements include inches (in), feet (ft), yards (yd) and miles (mi). Common length conversions include:

12 in = 1 ft
3 ft = 1 yd
5,280 ft = 1 mi

Example:

The width of a trench measures 154 inches. Convert the width of the trench from inches to yards.

To begin any problem, write down what you know and what you need to know.
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 7 of 15

Know: Trench width = 154 inches


Unknown: Trench width in yards

Begin with what we know, which is the "driver" of the problem. The driver is usually the specific number given that needs to be converted.
In this problem the driver is 154 inches, so start with that number.

Think of the length equivalents that you could use to get from inches to yards. We know that 12 inches are equal to 1 ft. We also know that 3
ft is equal to 1 yard. With those two equivalents we can solve the problem.

Notice how the inches and feet cancelled out. (By cancelling I mean the line is drawn through them.) They can cancel because one has to be
on the top (numerator) and one on the bottom (denominator) before they can cancel. That's how conversions work. This leaves you with
yards as the only unit left, which is what the question asked for.

If you set the conversions up something like this:

You will not be able to cancel any units since none are diagonal to each other. That means your final answer unit would be in2(yd)/ft2 since
none of the units cancelled, you would have them all. This is not what you want. You want to be able to go from one unit to another, so the
old unit needs to cancel. The units that are left after all the cancellations, is the unit of the numerical value calculated.

Remember when doing the calculation that just because the units cancelled does not mean the number cancelled. You will use all the
numbers in the equation to determine the final answer.

You would enter it into the calculator as: 154 x (1 ÷ 12) x (1 ÷ 3). Make sure you enter the parenthesis () correctly or the answer will be
incorrect.

An easier way to solve conversions, or any of the problems you will do from here on out, is to take all the top numbers (154 x 1 x 1, or just
154 since we know multiplying by 1 does not change the number) divided by all the bottom numbers (12 x 3). You would enter it into the
calculator like:

154 ÷ (12 x 3) = 4.28

*It is very important that you remember to include the parenthesis ( ) on the calculator so it knows those values need to be calculated
together.

Area Conversions

Area measurements include square inches (in2), square feet (ft2), acres (ac) and square miles (mi2). Common area conversions include:

1 ft2 = 144 in2


1 ac = 43,560 ft2
1 mi2 = 640 ac

Example:
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 8 of 15

A drainage basin has an aera of 1.0 square mile. How many acres does the drainage basin contain?

First calculate how many squre feet are contained in one square mile. We know that 1 mile = 5,280 ft.:

Notice how it took two expressions of 5,280 ft = 1 mile to cancel the square miles? Remember, when converting from one unit to another unit, multiply
the unit by an expression that equals one (1 mile and 5,280 ft are the same, so they equal 1). This has now converted 1 square mile to square feet. Now
we can convert the drainage basin area to acres:

You would enter it into the calculator as: 27878400 ÷ 43560 or 27878400 x (1 ÷ 43560), but don't forget the parenthesis () if you enter it the second way.
The first way is the easiest. Just remember, if you have numbers on the bottom (denominator) then the top number or product of numbers will be divided
by the bottom. You would multiply all the top; take that number and divide it by the number on the bottom. If you have multiple numbers on the bottom
then do that multiplication when you do the numerator (top) multiplication, then divide the top by the bottom.

Weight Conversions

The most common weight measurement used in water treatment is pounds (lbs). Metric mass units of milligrams (mg), grams (g) and kilograms (kg) are
also commonly used in the calculations.

Weight and mass are related, but different. Mass is the amount of material in an object and is the same everywhere in the universe. Weight is the force
exerted by an object and as a function of gravity. Although not theoretically accurate, for our calculations weight and mass can be considered equal.
Common weight conversions include:

1 lb = 454 g
1 kg = 1,000 g
1 lb = 0.454 kg

The volume to weight conversion commonly used in water treatment system calculations is:

1 gallon of water = 8.34 lbs

This converions is only valid for water. Liquids with densities and specific gravities different than water have different volume to weight conversions.

Example:

A water storage tank contains 2,000 gallons. How many pounds of water does the tank contain?

Enter as 2000 x 8.34 = 16,680. There is nothing to divide by since 1 is the only number that is a denominator.

Keep in mind that whatever unit the problem requires the answer to be in will determine which number, or part of the expression, will be on top and
bottom. If the problem above had the initial weight in pounds (lbs) and wanted the answer in gallons (gal) then the problem would have to be set up like:
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 9 of 15

This would mean entering it as 16680 ÷ 8.34 to solve the problem.

Your expressions to convert units must always make sure that the unit you are wanting to get rid of is contained in both the top and bottom so they will
cancel out. Later on we will get into some more complicated math in which you will need to do a lot of cancelling of units for the same problem. You
must not miss this step because this will help you determine if you are left with the required unit or if you need to do another conversion.

Time Conversions

Time is one of the conversions you will use constantly. Think of all the units of time that are equivalent:

1 day = 24 hours
1 day = 1440 minutes
1 minute = 60 seconds
60 minutes = 1 hour
12 months = 1 year
365 days = 1 year
1 month = 30 days (or 29 or 31, depending on the MONTH)

Let's look at convering between time.

Example:

Convert 365 days to seconds.

Let's start with the "driver", which is 365 days. We need to get to seconds, but what do we know that can help us get there? We know that 1
day = 24 hours. Let's start there since we know how to get from hours to seconds:

As of now, we have a value that would be in hours; we need seconds. Let's do another conversion:

Now the value would have the unit of minutes. We need one more equivalent to convert from minutes to seconds:

NOW we have the unit we need, which is seconds. Time to solve. Since all the denominators (bottom) are 1, there is no need to divide by
anything in your calculator. You would simple enter: 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 = 31,536,000 seconds.

Flow Conversions
Treatment system problem solving requires an understanding of the different units for measuring flow and the ability to convert from one unit of flow to
another. Flow measurements include gallons per day (gpd), million gallons per day (MGD), gallons per minute (gpm), cub feet per second (cfs or ft3/sec)
and gallons per hour (gph). Common flow conversions include:
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 10 of 15

1 cfs = 449 gpm


1 cfs = 0.646 MGD
1 MGD = 694 gpm
1 MGD = 1.55 cfs
1 gpm = 1,440 gpd

If flow conversion factors are not readily available, they can be calculated by remembering that 1 cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons and then applying the
appropriate time conversions.

Example:

Convert 1 cubic foot per second (cfs or ft3/sec) to million gallons per day (MGD).

Look at what you have and what you need. You have ft3 and seconds. You need million gallons and days. So first we need to include factors to convert
from ft3 to gallons and then factors that will convert seconds to days, which will take a few steps.

First let's convert cubic feet to gallons:

Now let's add in the conversion factors to get from seconds to days and then it's easy to finish up with converting gallons to million gallons.

Now the answer is in gallons per day (gpd). The last step of this problem to get the answer into million gallons per day (MGD) is to use the following
conversion factors:

Therefore, 1 cubic foot per second (cfs) = 0.646 million gallons per day (MGD).

Temperature Conversions
Two scales are commonly used to measure temperature: degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and degrees Centigrade or Celsius(°C). Fahrenheit is the standard scale
used in the U.S. and Celsius is the metric scale. In the Celsius scale, water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. In the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at
32°F and boils at 212°F. The following factors can be used when converting from one temperature scale to another:
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 11 of 15

Example 1:

Convert 22°C into degrees Fahrenheit.

°F = (°C x 1.8) + 32

°F = (22 x 1.8) + 32

°F = 39.6 + 32

°F = 71.6

Example 2:

Convert 212°F to degrees Celsius.

Metric Conversions
The metric system is a system of units and measurements based on factors of 10. Metric measurements are commonly used in the laboratory where mass
is expressed in grams (g) or kilograms (kg) and volume or capacity is expressed in milliliters (mL) or liters (L). Chemical dosages are commonly
expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Common metric and U.S. conversions include:

Length

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)


1 foot (ft) = 0.3048 meters (m)
1 mile (mi) = 1.6093 kilometers (km)

Area

1 square meter (m2) = 10.764 square feet (ft2)


1 square mile (mi2) = 2.59 square kilometers (km2)

Volume/Capacity

1 gallon (gal) = 3.785 liters (L)


1 gallon (gal) = 3,785 cubic centimeters (cc)
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 12 of 15

Mass

1 pound (lb) = 454 grams (g)


1 pound (lb) = 0.454 kilograms (kg)
1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)

Using the converstion factors above you can convert between U.S. and metric units.

Example 1:

Convert 786 grams to pounds.

Example 2:

Convert 235 square feet (ft2) to square meters (m2).

For this one we will need to do it in steps. Let's look at what we know:

1 ft = 0.3048 m

So, if 1 ft = 0.3048 m, then replace 0.3048 m for ft in the following equation. Make sure you square the number!

1 ft2 = (0.3048 m)2

1 ft2 = 0.0929 m2

The problem wants us to convert 235 ft2, so let's use what we know. We know that 1 ft2 = 0.0929 m2, so:

Now that we know how to convert between different units, we can explore some more of the basic math and chemistry you will need to understand while
treating drinking water.

Density
The "lightness" or "heaviness" of an object is the layman's term for what scientists refer to as the density of an object. For example, lead is heavy
compared to aluminum, so it's density is more than aluminum. Such comparisons presume a given volume. That is, any given volume of lead is heavier
than the same volume of aluminum. Without keeping the volume constant, no comparison between objects or substances can be made. The density of a
substance is therefore the amount of matter or "mass" in a given volume of that substance. It is normally measured in lbs/cu ft or lbs/ft3. The main
substance we are concerned with is water. The density of water is 62.4 lbs/ft3. In the water treatment field, the density of water and other liquids is
commonly measured in lbs/gal. This is simply another expression of mass per unit volume.
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 13 of 15

1 cubic foot (ft3) of water is equal to 62.4 lbs AND 7.48 gallons.

You can estimate the density of a substance by weighing a known volume of it. For example, to estimate the density of of sludge being pumped, weigh a
gallon sample of it. Be sure to subtract the weight of the container. You will then have the lbs/gal density of that sludge. The accuracy of your estimate,
of course, depends on whether the sludge sample is a representative sample.

The conversion factor above expresses a gallon of water in different terms. The quantity of water has not changed, only how it is described.

Example:

The density of a substance is given as 76.3 lbs/ft3. What is this density expressed in lbs/gal?

Start out with your "driver", which is 76.3 lbs/ft3. You want to get to lb/gal, so that means only the cubic feet unit needs to go away; you will
need to keep the "lb" unit for the "lb/gal". What is the equivalent that involves cubic feet and gallons? "7.48 gallons/cubic foot".

See how the units left are lb/gal, which is what the problem asked for? That means your converting is done and it's time to solve. Remember,
Take the top and divide by the bottom. Since there are only two numbers, you would simply enter:

76.3 ÷ 7.48 = 10.2

The units to "tack" onto the end of your value are the units that are left, which are lb/gal. So that means that a substance that has a density of
76.3 lbs/ft3 is equal to 10.2 lb/gal.

The main thing is to know what you need to be left with so you know what you need to get rid of. This will tell you how to set up the conversions above.

Using Units to Solve Problems (Dimensional Analysis)


Dimensional Analysis is a mathematical method used for unit conversion, where you convert one type of unit to another. This allows us to convert to a
different unit without changing the value by using various conversion factors. Sometimes you can solve a problem without needing a specific formula.
Let's take a look at an example:

Example:

Find the chemical feed in lb/day of polymer from a chemical feed pump if it delivered 925 mL over a 5 minute period. The polymer soultion is
1.2% (12,000 mg/L).
Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 14 of 15

Start with known and unknown.

Known: Concentration = 12,000 mg/L; 925 mL/5 min


Unknown: Dose in lb/day

You need to first look at the main component of the problem, which is 925 mL over a 5 minute period. You need this amount converted into lb/day, so
let's start there.

The dosage of 925 mL over a 5 minute period is written as:

The units we have are mL and min and we need lb and day. The easiest unit to focus on is the time variable. We need to get from minutes to days, so let's
do that. We know that 1440 minutes are in 1 day:

This leaves us with the units of mL/day. We need lb/day, so that means our time unit of "day" has been done. Let's move on to the dosage portion. We
know that the polymer solution is 12,000 mg/L, so let's add that into the mix of our calculation:

Notice that we have mL and L diagonal from each other. That means we have another conversion to add in that should cancel both of those units, which
is 1 L = 1000 mL. We just have to place them so that they cancel the units (diagonal and top/bottom).

Now we are left with the units of mg/day. We need to convert milligrams (mg) to pounds (lb). We know a couple of equivalents/conversion factors that
might be helpful:

1 lb = 454 g
1 g = 1000 mg

Start with getting rid of the "mg" unit. We see that "mg" is on top. That means we need the "mg" portion of the equivalent on the bottom so it will
cancel:

Shew! We're getting there! We only need one more conversion factor and our units will be in the form the problem requested, lb/day.

Now we have the units in the proper format: lb/day. Notice that they are th eonly units not cancelled. To solve the problem we need to multiply all of the
top numbers. Don't worry about units right now:

925 x 1440 x 12,000 x 1 x 1 x 1 = 15,984,000,000


Introduction to Solving Treatment Math Page 15 of 15

Now multiply all the numbers on the bottom:

5 x 1000 x 1000 x 454 = 2,270,000,000

Divide the top number total by the bottom number total:

Tack on the units that were left after all the unit cancellations, which was lb/day. That means means the polymer feed would be 7.04 lb/day at this
specific dosage rate. Notice how we didn't use any formulas, only converting between units. If you start with what you know and what you need to
know, work step by step until only the units you need are left.

Let's watch a video to help you understand how to set up the conversions and solve the problem.

We will be using dimensional analysis to solve many problems, so I would get handy with unit conversions!

Summary
Without the ability to perform calculations, operators would have difficulty in properly operating treatment systems. Most of the calculations needed to
perform daily tasks are not difficult and a general math ability (with a little basic algebra) is all that's needed. I am going to assume that you are already
familiar with how to do the basic math operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, so I won't recap those topics here. Also, I
won't cover how to determine area and volume and other basic math principles. You can review those on the water/wastewater math course website if
needed.

To solve any problem you should follow these order of operations:

1. Review the problem and list what is known and unknown.


2. Select an appropriate formula to solve the problem, if needed.
3. Arrange the formula to solve for the unknown.
4. Plug the known values into the formula and solve for the unknown value.
5. Convert the answer to the appropriate units.

Assignment

Assuming you are familiar with basic math procedures, please complete the assignment for this lesson. You must be logged into Canvas to submit this
assignment.

Quiz
Answer the questions in the lesson quiz. You will need to log into Canvas to take the quiz. You may take the quiz 3 times, if needed, and an average will
be taken from your attempts for final grade calculation.

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