Oxygen Demand

Oxygen demand is an environmental concept that describes the amount of dissolved oxygen needed to oxidize organic matter in water. It is a vital measure used to determine the capacity of a water body to support aerobic organisms and the environment. The higher the oxygen demand of a water body, the greater the amount of oxygen needed to keep its aquatic life in balance. Additionally, oxygen demand is used to identify and monitor water quality, and may be used to prevent the introduction of pollutants into the environment.