Questions and Answers
Operators have a responsibility to provide drinking water that meets federal and state standards.
True
Water must be disinfected, delivered at inadequate pressure, and be ample in quantity.
False
Utility employees should guard the water supply and facilities from contamination, public tours, and even terrorism.
False
The state requires bacteriological sample results be kept _____ years.
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The state requires chemical analysis be kept at least _____ years.
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EPA requires a water system to keep a copy of each consumer confidence report at least _____ years.
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A public water system provides the public with piped water for human consumption, serves at least _____ service connections, and regularly serves at least _____ individuals daily at least _____ days out of the year.
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Operators have a responsibility to provide drinking water that meets federal and state standards.
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Water must be disinfected, delivered at inadequate pressure, and be ample in quantity.
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Utility employees should guard the water supply and facilities from contamination, public tours, and even terrorism.
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The state requires bacteriological sample results be kept _____ years.
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The state requires chemical analysis be kept at least _____ years.
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EPA requires a water system to keep a copy of each consumer confidence report at least _____ years.
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A public water system provides the public with piped water for human consumption, serves at least _____ service connections, and regularly serves at least _____ individuals daily at least _____ days out of the year.
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Why does the water utility field affect everyone?
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The water utility employee should remember customers are entitled to _____ and _____
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In Texas, water operator licensing is administered by the _____.
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All public water systems are required to employ licensed operators even if the system only _____ treated water bought from another source.
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Public water systems include cities, municipal utility districts, rural water supply corporations, mobile home parks, and _____.
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Examples of community water systems include which of the following?
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A federal agency impacting the water utility industry is the _____.
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The most important federal law impacting the water utility industry is the _____.
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The four national safety and quality standards for drinking water covered in the Safe Drinking Water Act are physical, chemical, ________ and radiological.
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The state agency that regulates drinking water in Texas and administers the federal Safe Drinking Water Act is the ________.
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Water utility system personnel are required to notify the TCEQ of changes or alterations of the system, a new facility to be built, and water supply ________.
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Some regional and local agencies impacting the water utility industry are municipal utility districts, rural water supply corporations, drainage districts, ________, groundwater conservation districts, and subsidence districts.
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Public relations (PR) is the relationship between YOU, the water utility employee, and the _____.
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The keys to good customer relations are (1) everything the utility does is PR, (2) customers are entitled to courteous treatment, (3) every employee is a PR person.
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Meter readers are the persons with whom customers have the least contact.
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Meter readers can be ambassadors of goodwill.
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Maintenance crews can warn customers of service interruptions and provide signs and barriers to protect the public.
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The plant operator is responsible for treating the water to assure it is safe to drink and use.
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Water bills should be accurate, itemized, and neat, and payment should be optional.
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All employees should be kept informed of utility plans and policies.
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Complaints should be treated as 'griping' and investigated as a last priority.
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In small water systems, the operator is often _____, _____ and _____.
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What may be contained in 'stuffers' sent to customers in billing statements?
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Delinquent payment notices should be _____
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EPA requires community water systems to provide customers with a ________ report on the system's water quality.
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If water quality reports are attractive and easy to ________, they can build goodwill and trust with the customer.
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Good treatment of employees includes fair wages, benefits, and ________ working conditions.
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Follow up with a phone call or ________ to make sure everything is satisfactory.
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Listen to special requests and seek solutions to oblige the customer within ________.
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Treat customers as though another water utility across the street is competing for your ________.
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The molecular formula for water is _____.
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Water occurs in three forms: solid ice, liquid water, and water vapor.
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The _____ is the natural exchange of water between the earth and the atmosphere.
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Average water use depends on temperature, rainfall, cost, supply, and economic level.
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Groundwater is located above the earth's surface and tapped by wells.
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_____ water comes from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
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Future water supplies will become more plentiful according to the TCEQ.
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Surface water or groundwater prior to treatment is called _____ water.
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_____ water means the water is free of disease-causing organisms, has a chlorine residual, and is safe for human consumption.
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_____ must be notified about changes to public water systems involving water source, water quality, and health hazards.
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Before starting construction, the utility must submit engineering plans to the AWWA.
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Operators must keep records of water usage, system pressure, sample results, chlorine use, repairs, and maintenance.
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Surface water systems must mail reports to the TCEQ in Austin by the 5th of the following month.
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Water is always found pure in nature.
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Physical characteristics of water are temperature, turbidity, color, taste, odor, and pH.
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_____ is the amount of suspended matter such as clay, silt, organic matter, and microorganisms in the water.
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Color in water can result from _____ or _____.
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True color is dissolved in water (in solution) and can be removed by filtration.
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Red water caused by oxidized iron is in suspension (apparent color) and cannot be removed by filtering.
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Taste and odor comes from algae, bacteria, organic matter, gases, and chemicals.
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Surface water supplies should be sampled for chemical analysis every year and groundwater supplies should be sampled _____.
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_____ and _____ and other minerals cause hardness in water.
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The pH scale ranges from _____ to _____.
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A pH of _____ is neutral.
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Common gases found in water include hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, and sodium chloride.
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Chemically, water is made of ________.
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The hydrologic cycle is ________.
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The quality standard for public water supplies is based on the use of water for ________.
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One of the most important purposes of a public water supply is _______.
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Organic matter includes ________.
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The most important treatment process is ________, which destroys disease-causing organisms.
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Public water systems are required to compile a monthly report showing ________.
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Most groundwater is relatively free of suspended matter, but ________ can be a major problem in surface water.
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Color in a public water supply should be less than _____ units.
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Chemical characteristics of water include hardness, pH, solids, and ________.
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Water is considered hard when it exceeds ________ mg/L of calcium carbonate.
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A gallon of water weighs _____ pounds and 1 mg/L equals one ________.
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Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, colorless, flammable, toxic, and has a ________ odor.
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Excessive nitrates in drinking water can cause ________ syndrome in infants.
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Excessive amounts of fluoride may cause ________ or staining of teeth.
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Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids are byproducts of chlorination and may increase ________ risk.
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The action level for copper is _____ mg/L and for lead it is _____ mg/L.
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_____ are underground, water-bearing formations yielding useful quantities of water.
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The quantity of water a formation yields depends on the thickness and _____ of the formation.
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Problems caused by _____ are declining water levels and subsidence.
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Well _____ and cementing protect the well from collapse and surface contamination.
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The purpose of the well screen is to keep out birds and insects.
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The most important feature of the well screen is the length.
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The _____ of the screen is determined by the size of the aquifer material, the size of the gravel in the gravel pack, and the type of well development.
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The gravel pack is fine gravel placed around the screen to reduce pumping _____.
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The _____ is a vacuum breaker allowing the casing to breathe as water levels change when the pump cycles.
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All public wells must be provided with a _____ sealing block, a meter, a screened vent, and a sampling faucet.
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No source of contamination is allowed within _____ feet of a public well.
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One way to reduce sand pumping is to _____ the pump rate and cycle more.
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Water from a new well must not be used until bacteriological samples on three successive days show _____.
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The water level without the pump running is called the static level, the water level with the pump running is called the pumping level, and the difference between the two is called the _____.
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Groundwater usually contains more dissolved minerals and gases than surface water, but fewer ________.
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Water table wells are usually ________ wells.
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In a water table well, the cone of depression is a ________ area around the well.
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A sanitary control easement must cover land within ________ feet of a public well.
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Livestock and septic tanks must be no closer than ________ feet to a public well.
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Underground fuel tanks and septic drainage fields must be at least ________ feet from a public well.
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Feedlots, sewage treatment plants, and landfills must be at least ________ feet from a public well.
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Study Notes
Water Operator Responsibilities
- Operators must ensure drinking water meets federal and state standards.
- Water must be disinfected and delivered at adequate pressure in sufficient quantity.
Contamination and Monitoring
- Utility employees must protect water supplies from contamination but do not need to manage public tours.
- Bacteriological sample results must be retained for five years.
- Chemical analysis records should be kept for a minimum of ten years.
- The EPA mandates a five-year retention of consumer confidence reports by water systems.
Public Water System Definition
- A public water system must provide piped water to at least fifteen service connections and twenty-five individuals daily for at least sixty days each year.
Importance of Water Utility
- Water is essential for life and health, impacting everyone in the community.
Customer Relations
- Customers deserve courteous treatment and should have their inquiries about water answered responsively.
- The water operator licensing in Texas is overseen by TCEQ, which regulates all public water systems including those that redistribute treated water from other sources.
Types of Water Systems
- Public water systems can include municipalities, rural water supply corporations, mobile home parks, and campgrounds.
- Community water systems comprise all listed options: municipalities, utility districts, rural water corporations, and mobile home parks.
Regulatory Agencies
- The EPA is a crucial federal agency influencing the water utility sector.
- The Safe Drinking Water Act is the pivotal federal legislation governing water quality.
Safety Standards
- National standards focus on physical, chemical, bacteriological, and radiological safety for drinking water.
Notification Requirements
- Water utility personnel must inform TCEQ of any changes in water systems, including new facilities and health hazards related to water supply.
Good Customer Relations Practices
- Public relations encompass every interaction, emphasizing the importance of courteous service.
- Meter readers often have more contact with customers compared to other utility staff and can foster positive community relations.
Compliance and Reporting
- Utility operators are responsible for maintaining accurate water usage records and must report surface water sampling by the tenth of the following month.
- Complaints must be addressed promptly, and utilities should ensure good communication with their customers.
Water Quality Fundamentals
- Potable water is defined as free from disease-causing organisms and safe for consumption, while raw water refers to untreated water sources.
- Water's molecular formula is H2O, occurring in three states: solid, liquid, and vapor.
- Groundwater is located below the earth's surface, contrasting with surface water found in rivers and lakes.
Water Characteristics
- The turbidity of water measures the amount of suspended particles, and color can arise from mineral or organic content.
- The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral; hardness in water is often due to calcium and magnesium.
Environmental Impact and Hazards
- The hydrologic cycle illustrates nature's method for water recycling.
- Overpumping can lead to diminishing water levels and environmental subsidence issues.
Well Construction and Safety
- Proper construction involves well casing to protect against contamination and supervisory measures like well screens.
- Regions surrounding public wells must maintain specified sanitary control distances from potential contaminants.
Contaminants and Health Risks
- Excessive nitrates can induce blue baby syndrome in infants, while high fluoride levels might cause mottling of teeth.
- Continued monitoring and awareness of sources like trihalomethanes are essential due to their potential carcinogenic effects.
Summary of Water Usage
- A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds, and 1 mg/L corresponds to one part per million.
Legislative Framework
- Compliance with environmental regulations, including those by the TCEQ and EPA, is critical for ongoing operation and safety in water utility management.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the Class D Water License in Texas with these flashcards. Review key responsibilities of operators, sanitation standards, and contamination prevention measures. Perfect for anyone preparing for the water operator licensing exam.
