The maximum critical length of a receiving stream is the distance (downstream from the wastewater source) required at 7-day 10-year low flow to reestablish an instream BOD5 of 5 mg/l. The amount of time required to reestablish the 5 mg/l BOD5 is termed the critical time of travel. The maximum critical length can be estimated by computing the maximum critical time of travel, which can be approximated using the following equation:
This relationship assumes that BOD5 decays according to ordinary first order reaction kinetics.
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 35, pt. 373, subpt. C, app A