Which of the following factors would lead to suspending BOD sample tests?

Study for the Texas Wastewater Class A Exam. Enjoy flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Suspending BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) sample tests is critical in the context of accurate measurement for water quality assessments. The presence of chlorine in the sample is a significant factor because chlorine is a strong oxidizer that can kill or inhibit the microorganisms responsible for decomposing organic matter during the BOD test. This would lead to an inaccurate representation of the BOD level since the test relies on the biological activity of these microorganisms to measure the oxygen consumed. If chlorine is present, it disrupts this biological process, rendering the test results unreliable.

On the other hand, factors like cold temperature, high pH, or sample dilutions can influence the BOD results, but they do not directly invalidate the test in the same way that chlorine does. Cold temperatures may slow down the microbial activity, resulting in prolonged test times but not necessarily terminating the test. A pH above 7 could affect microbial activity but does not lead to the total suspension of the BOD test. Similarly, sample dilutions may require corrections or adjustments but do not halt the testing process entirely. Therefore, the presence of chlorine stands out as the primary reason to suspend BOD sample tests due to its detrimental effects on microbial life essential for the test.

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