The oxygen balance in wastewater collection systems is important in re
spect to the degree of biological oxidation that occurs within the str
eam and in respect to the control of septicity and its effects. In thi
s paper, a simple mathematical model is presented, in order to predict
dissolved oxygen concentration profiles along sanitary sewers. The ma
thematical model was developed based on an analytical solution of the
simple differential equation of dissolved oxygen balance in sewers, an
d includes an empirical expression for prediction of dissolved oxygen
transfer to the slime layer on the pipe walls. Because the factors con
trolling dissolved oxygen balance in sewers are so complex, it would b
e unrealistic to expect that with this rather simple model, dissolved
oxygen concentrations can be accurately predicted. Nevertheless, it is
reasonable to suppose that the predictions may be adequate for some d
esign and operation purposes. Copyright (C) 1996 IAWQ.