It’s a measurement of how much organic matter is in wastewater, based on how much oxygen it uses up as it breaks down. The ‘5’ refers to the 5-day standard lab test. See the Sitewide Explainer Glossary (Section 0) for the full plain-language version.

No. The lab method remains the reference standard. AquaSense AI provides faster, continuous estimates that are validated against — not a substitute for — laboratory results.

No. Dissolved oxygen is measured directly, optically. BOD5 itself is inferred from that data using a kinetic model, then compared against lab reference measurements for validation.

Not yet demonstrated. The optical DO method is well validated at controlled temperatures around 20°C; performance outside that range is a known sensitivity being actively addressed in hardware design (the field bioreactor holds internal temperature to within roughly half a degree of 20°C for this reason). Deployment in significantly different climates or effluent types would need its own validation.

Published field results to date report close tracking with lab measurements over the pilot period; detailed statistical accuracy metrics for broader deployment are still being developed and validated.

Municipal water utilities that need faster compliance data than a weekly or monthly lab schedule allows.

Industrial and manufacturing sites with organic-rich wastewater — food and beverage processing, and heavy industry such as refining and petrochemicals — where a slow result carries a higher compliance and cost risk.

Agricultural operations exploring safe reuse of treated water for irrigation (through our research partnership, not yet a commercial offering).

Investors and research partners evaluating a technology with real field data behind it, not just a lab demonstration.