Special Report No. 09-01: Measurement of Oxygen Transfer Efficiency of Aeration and Oxygenation Systems Installed in Lakes and Rivers: A Literature Review

Dissolved oxygen is one of the most important components of aquatic ecosystems and many pollutants entering streams from point and non-point sources affect the dissolved oxygen regimen of surface waters. Physical modification of surface waters, such as dredging of shipping channels and creation of impoundments, can also have important effects on the dissolved oxygen level in water bodies. Recently, water quality managers in a number of states have renewed investigations of water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen and, for some locations, have concluded that physical alterations of surface waters and/or organic loads to these systems are such that protection of the local biology is best accomplished by supplementing dissolved oxygen to the system.