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Study for the Water Operators Level 1 Certification Exam

Quiz yourself by thinking what should be in each of the black spaces below before clicking on it to display the answer.
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Question
Answer
Many sources of water are directly suitable for drinking purposes without treatment   FALSE  
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Precipitant has significant microbial content   FALSE  
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Many organisms that cause disease in humans originate with the fecal discharges of infected humans   TRUE  
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Algal blooms rarely take place in the upper layer of water in a reservoir   FALSE  
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When measuring turbidity, many small particles will reflect less light than an equivalent large particle   FALSE  
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Operators should allow as much time as possible for the coagulation reaction   FALSE  
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A Popcorn flake is a desirable floc appearance   TRUE  
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Polymer powders on floors become extremely slippery when wet   TRUE  
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Solids-contact units combine coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation in one basin   TRUE  
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Low-turbidity source waters require sedimentation processes   FALSE  
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Process water samples must be representative of actual plant conditions   TRUE  
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Poor chemical treatment can result in early turbidity breakthrough or rapid heat loss build-up   TRUE  
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Backwashing at too high a rate is much more destructive than at a too low rate   TRUE  
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Particle counters can be used to indicate probable removal of Cryptosporidium and Giardia   TRUE  
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Organics can consume great amounts of disinfectants and form unwanted compounds   TRUE  
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Free available residual chlorine has the highest disinfection ability   TRUE  
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Use regular pipe fittings when making connections with containers   FALSE  
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Always add acid to water, never the reverse   TRUE  
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Electrical current and chemical reaction must be present for corrosion to occur   TRUE  
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When Iron and copper are joined, iron will corrode, while copper is protected   TRUE  
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Water containing very little hardness tends to be more aggressive   TRUE  
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Increased nutrient levels may result from natural conditions or human activity   TRUE  
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Cross connections are potentially very hazardous and a source of complaints   TRUE  
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Superchlorination is followed by dechlorination for treatment of taste and odors   TRUE  
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Process control measurements should be made on a continuous basis   TRUE  
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An MSDS is your best choice for information on dangerous chemicals   TRUE  
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Federal Law include sludge as an industrial waste and require proper disposal   TRUE  
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Bad samples or bad lab results are as useful as NO results   TRUE  
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Never pipet chemical reagent solutions or unknown water samples by mouth   TRUE  
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Completely empty volumetric pipets by blowing out the small amount remaining in the tip   FALSE (UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES)  
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What is the main responsibility of a water treatment plant operator?   The main responsibility of a water treatment plant operator is to produce safe and pleasant drinking water  
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What is the cause of stratification in Lakes and reservoirs?   Stratification is the formation of separate layers of temperature, plant life, or animal life.  
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How extensive should the treatment be for reclaimed water?   The extent of treatment depends on the waters potential to reach the public  
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How can iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide be controlled in a reservoir?   by preventing the depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO)  
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What is the best tool for managing watersheds?   regulatory process  
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What is destratification of a lake or reservoir?   a vertical mixing to eliminate separate layers of temperature, plant, or animal life  
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What is the purpose of coagulation and flocculation?   remove particle impurities, especially nonsettleable solids and color  
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After a jar test is completed, what does a hazy settled water indicate?   Poor coagulation  
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How can the operator verify the effectiveness of the coagulation chemicals and dosages being applied to the flash mixer?   perform a jar test  
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What happens to the settling rate (velocity) of particles in water when the water temperature drops?   settling rate decreases as temperatures drop  
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What is the major means that operators control water treatment processes?   Operators control by adjusting chemicals and chemical feed rates  
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What task should be performed immediately following dewatering of a sedimentation basin?   grease and lube all gears, sprockets, and mechanical moving parts that have been submerged  
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How are filter production (capacity) rates measured?   MGD  
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Why is a surface wash used during backwashing?   to prevent mudballs  
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What do significant changes in source water turbidity levels require? (either increase or decrease)   immediately verify the effectiveness of the filtration process  
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Why should a filter be drained if it is going to be out of service for a prolonged period of time?   to avoid algae growth  
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Why has there been an increased interest in disinfectants other than chlorine?   due to chlorines potential to form carcinogenic compounds (THMs)  
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What are the components of chlorine residual?   combined chlorine forms plus free chlorine  
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Where should the minimum chlorine residual be measured in the distribution system?   at the most remote location in the system  
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How are ORP probes used in the disinfection process?   providing a direct measure of the disinfecting power of the disinfectant  
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Why are zinc and magnesium commonly used as sacrificial anodes in water tanks and buried pipes?   because they corrode preferentially to aluminum and iron  
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Why should samples for corrosivity tests be taken only after postchlorination?   because disinfection chemicals may increase or decrease corrosivity  
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Where are the monitoring samples for the Lead and Copper Rule collected?   at the consumers tap  
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What is the secret to successful taste and odor control?   prevention  
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Taste and odor treatments can be divided into which categories?   removal and destruction  
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Where is powdered activated carbon often applied?   at the flash mixer  
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Over which water quality indicator do operators have most control over?   turbidity  
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Which chemical is the most dangerous of the common alkalides   Causic soda  
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What should an operator do first when a treatment process upset results in a failure to meet specific drinking water quality standards?   notify proper health authorities  
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Lab equipment used to measure the volume of liquid   Pipets  
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Lab equipment used to titrate a chemical reagent?   Burets  
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Which style thermometer will most rapidly change when removed from the liquid sample?   Total immersion thermometers  
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What is the accepted method to measure turbidity?   nephelometric method  
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The size of the water treatment plant, along with the number and specific processes it uses depends on what factors?   1. Cost 2. Population demands 3. Fire protection 4. Impurities in raw water 5. Water quality (Purity) standards  
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Which of the following tasks are typical duties of a water treatment plant operator?   1. Collect samples 2. Conduct safety inspections 3. Maintain records 4. Make periodic checks of plant equipment 5. Perform routine maintenance  
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What are the safety responsibilities of an operator?   1. Be aware of safety hazards around plant 2. Be part of an active safety program 3. Be sure everyone follows safe procedures 4. Ensure operators take safety seriously 5. Understand why safety procedures must always be followed  
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Possible sources of groundwater contamination includes?   1. Agricultural drainage systems 2. Entry of surface runoff into wells 3. Seawater intrusion 4. Seepage from septic tank leaching systems  
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What conditions are favorable for the rapid growth of algae blooms?   Nutrients and temperature  
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What are the basic objectives that control operation of water treatment plants?   1. production of safe drinking water 2. production of aesthetically pleasing drinking water 3. Production of drinking water at reasonable cost 3.  
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Which of the following water quality problems may be related to algal blooms?   1. dissolved oxygen depletion 2. reduced chlorination efficiency 3. shortened filter runs 4. taste and odor problems  
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What is the impact from increased organic loadings on water treatment plants resulting from algae blooms?   1.high trihalomethane levels 2. increased chlorine demands 3. increased color 4. increased water treatment costs  
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On domestic water supply reservoirs that develop anaerobic zones, what water quality indicators should be monitored?   iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese  
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What are commonly used coagulant chemicals?   Alum, metallic salts, polymers  
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What factors are important when evaluating jar test results?   1. Amount of floc formed 2. the clarity of water between settled floc and between floc particles 3. floc settling rate 4. rate of floc formation  
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Operators of the coagulant-flucculation process are exposed to what safety hazards?   1. confined spaces 2. electrical equipment 3. rotating mechanical equipment 4. slippery surfaces 5. chemicals  
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What items are adjusted in the enhanced coagulation process?   coagulant dosage and pH  
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What is the purpose of presedimentation facilities?   even out fluctuations in suspended solids, provide an equalizing basin, reduce the solid-removal load at the treatment plant  
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Why is short-circuiting undesirable in a sedimentation basin?   causes undesirable shorter: contact times, reaction times, and settling times  
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What kinds of changes cause instability in solids-contact units?   rapid changes in flow, temp, and turbidity  
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Which water quality indicators should be monitored in the normal operation of the sedimentation process?   temp and turbidity  
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Filter removal of turbidity depends on what factors??   1. type of filter 2. operation of filter 3. types and degrees of pretreatment 4. chemical characteristics of water being treated 5. nature of suspended particles  
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Characteristics used to classify filter media   1. effective size 2. hardness 3. specific gravity 4. uniformity coefficient  
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how can you determine if a filter is not completely clean after backwashing?   if the initial head loss is too high or the next filter run is too short  
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Indicators of abnormal filter conditions   - algae on walls and media - media boils during backwash - media cracking or shrinkage - mudballs in media - short filter runs  
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What factors influence chlorine disinfection?   - numbers and types of microorganisms - pH - reducing agents - temp - turbidity  
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Chloramines are effective in   - killing heterotophic plate count bacteria - maintaining a detectible residual throughout the system - reducing the potential for coliform growth - reducing taste and odor problems  
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What are probable causes of a drop in chlorine levels in treated water?   a decrease in feed rates, or an increase in demands  
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What physical factors influence the rate of corrosion?   1. flow velocity 2. Soil moisture 3. stray electric current 4. Temp of water 5. type of coating  
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How can you determine if a corrosion problem exists?   - performing chemical tests - conducting flow tests - examining debris removed from the distribution system - noticing an increased number of leaks - responding to complaints  
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Monitored as corrosion-related water quality indicators   - alkalinity - conductivity - pH - temperature  
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What are some damaging effects for a water utility resulting from a taste or odor episode?   1. funding restrictions 2. public relations problems 3. loss of public confidence  
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What are some locations that have been identified as possible source of tastes and odors?   - consumers plumbing - conveyance facilities - water storage reservoirs - raw water sources - treatment plants  
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The success of chlorination as a taste and odor treatment depends on what factors?   1. contact time 2. dose applied 3. seriousness of problem 4. type of odor  
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What precautions should be taken when handling powdered activated carbon (PAC)   1. Use confined space safety precautions 2. Store PAC bags on wooden pallets away from flammable materials 3. Use dust control and protective clothing  
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Where is turbidity commonly monitored in a water treatment plant?   each unit process (finished water and raw water trubidity are also commonly monitored)  
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Grab Sample   A single sample of water collected at a particular time and place which represents the composition of the water only at that time and place  
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Reagent   A pure chemical substance used to make new products or is used in chemical tests to measure, detect, or examine other substances  
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4 Zones in which a typical sedimentation basin are divided   1- Inlet Zone 2- Setting Zone 3- Sludge Zone 4- Outlet Zone  
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What is a grab sample used for   to measure chlorine residual, coliform bacteria, dissolved gasses, pH, and temps  
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SDWA   Safe Drinking Water Act  
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4 types of filtration that can be used to meet the requirements of the surface water treatment rule are:   1. Direct 2. Slow Sand 3. Conventional 4. diatomaceous earth filtration  
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contamination   the introduction into water of microorganisms, chemicals, toxic substances, waste, wastewater, to a degree that makes the water unfit for intended use  
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disinfection   the process to destroy MOST microorganisms in water  
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sterilization   removal or destruction of ALL microorganisms , including pathogenic and other bacteria.  
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What are the 4 categories of contaminates?   1. physical (taste, temp, color, odor) 2. chemical (hard vs soft water) 3. biological 4. radiological  
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What are the 3 types of biological (or microbial) contaminants?   1. Bacteria 2. Virus 3. Protozoa  
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Which is the smallest of all contaminants?   virus  
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List 5 properties of chlorine gas   1. greenish yellow liquid 2. 2 1/2 time heavier than air 3. expands at a rate of 450 to 1 (liquid to gas) 4. Non flammable 5. supports combustion (wont smother a fire)  
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list types of chemical disinfectants   1. Chlorine (chloramine, chlorine dioxide) 2. iodine (high cost, side effects to preg women) 3. bromine (handling difficulties) 4. bases -sodium hydroxide(high pH, bad taste) 5. ozone (no residual, hard to store)  
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List 4 factors that influence disinfection   1. pH of water (lower is better) 2. Temp of water (higher is better) 3. contact time 4. concentration  
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What are the physical means of disinfection?   1. ultraviolet rays 2. Heat (boiling - 5 min)  
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Chlorine leak kits A,B,C   A- cylinder B- 1 ton container C- Box car  
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Chlorine leak around cylinder by using   ammonia -will produce white smoke  
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Adit   Intake structure  
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Treatment steps   1. raw water through screens to remove degree 2. pre chlorination (optional) 3. chemicals to flash mixture 4. coagulation / flocculation 5. sedimentation basins 6. filtration 7. post chlorination 8. add chemicals 9. clear well (chlorine contact ti  
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conductivity   a measure of the ability of a solution to carry an electric current  
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streaming current meter   optimize coagulant dosage  
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What is best pH range for coagulation   5-7  
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