TX Class C Wastewater Treatment Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is preliminary treatment?

The 1st stage of sewage treatment where large debris, such as sticks, grit, and rags pass through a screen followed by a grit chamber, where the flow of water is slowed enough to allow for sedimentation.

What stage of treatment is grit removal usually accomplished in?

Preliminary treatment.

What is a Rotating Biological Contactor?

A type of biological secondary treatment process.

How are protozoa (cause of amoebic dysentery) destroyed?

Disinfection. Signup and view all the answers

What are other ways to dispose of effluent wastewater besides stream discharge?

Aquifer recharge, evaporation in a pond, and application to farmland by irrigation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Clean Water Act do?

Gives the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Texas Water Code?

Gives the TCEQ jurisdiction over discharges of waste into or adjacent to water in the state. Signup and view all the answers

Who reviews plans and specifications for new construction projects before construction begins?

TCEQ. Signup and view all the answers

Water quality fees may be as high as how much per permit?

$115,000. Signup and view all the answers

What are administrative penalties that may be assessed against any violator?

$25,000 per day for each violation. Signup and view all the answers

Every city with more than how many in population needs to establish a water pollution control program?

10,000. Signup and view all the answers

State law requires that reports are to be submitted no later than which day of the following month?

20th. Signup and view all the answers

What are major surface waters classified as for the purposes of water quality management?

Segments. Signup and view all the answers

What is inflow in wastewater management?

Direct discharges of storm water or surface water into a wastewater collection system. Signup and view all the answers

How many gallons per day will each person contribute to the wastewater treatment plant?

<ol start="100"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

How much BOD will each person contribute to the wastewater treatment plant each day?

0.17. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of septic wastewater?

Bacterial action. Signup and view all the answers

What are classifications of solids in wastewater?

Fixed/ash, suspended/dissolved, organic/inorganic. Signup and view all the answers

What do organic compounds in wastewater include?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (animal and vegetable in nature). Signup and view all the answers

What type of organic matter is present in wastewater?

Proteins. Signup and view all the answers

What does BOD measure?

Oxygen used up. Signup and view all the answers

What are ways that oxygen can be depleted in streams?

Untreated waste discharges, algae masses at night, and high BOD in the effluent. Signup and view all the answers

What is a gas found in treatment systems that is NOT dangerous?

Dissolved oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

What are cycles of decay?

Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Signup and view all the answers

A flow totalizer is required when the plant design flow is more than how much?

0.5 MGD. Signup and view all the answers

What includes non-hazardous wastes?

Chlorides, alkalinity, color, phosphorous, and iron. Signup and view all the answers

What includes hazardous wastes?

Cyanide, sulfides, organics, and gasoline. Signup and view all the answers

What is the synergistic effect?

Reaction between waste streams. Signup and view all the answers

How many cubic feet of screenings per million gallons of wastewater will coarse screens remove?

0.5 to 6.0. Signup and view all the answers

What are the benefits of preaeration?

Freshen wastewater, scour gases, and remove grease. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a sedimentation tank?

Allow scum to rise and solids to settle under quiescent (low velocity) conditions. Signup and view all the answers

How much settleable solids is removed in primary settling?

90-95%. Signup and view all the answers

How much suspended solids is removed in primary settling?

50-70%. Signup and view all the answers

How much BOD is removed in primary settling?

35%. Signup and view all the answers

How much total organic matter is removed in primary settling?

20-30%. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of suspended solids will settle out within 2 hours?

70%. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wastewater Treatment Processes

Preliminary Treatment: First stage of sewage treatment; involves screening out large debris and sedimentation in a grit chamber.
Grit Removal: Typically accomplished during the preliminary treatment stage.
Rotating Biological Contactor: Utilized in biological secondary treatment processes.

Disinfection and Wastewater Disposal

Protozoa Destruction: Achieved through disinfection to eliminate sources of diseases like amoebic dysentery.
Effluent Disposal Methods: Include aquifer recharge, evaporation in ponds, and irrigation on farmland.

Regulatory Framework

Clean Water Act: Establishes fundamental regulations for pollutant discharges into U.S. waters.
Texas Water Code: Grants TCEQ authority over waste discharges into water bodies in Texas.
TCEQ Responsibilities: Reviews construction project plans and specifications prior to construction.

Fees and Penalties

Water Quality Fees: Can reach up to $115,000 per permit.
Administrative Penalties: May be assessed at up to $25,000 daily for each violation.

Population and Reporting Requirements

Pollution Control Program Requirement: Cities with populations exceeding 10,000 must implement programs and hire qualified personnel.
Report Submission Deadline: Required by the 20th day of the following month.

Surface Water Management

Surface Water Classifications: Major surface waters are classified as segments for water quality management.

Wastewater Contributions and Characteristics

Individual Contribution to Wastewater: Each person contributes approximately 100 gallons per day.
Daily BOD Contribution per Person: Amounts to 0.17 pounds.

Wastewater Composition and Effects

Septic Wastewater Cause: Due to bacterial action.
Types of Solids in Wastewater: Include fixed/ash, suspended/dissolved, and organic/inorganic solids.
Organic Compounds: Comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, primarily of animal and vegetable origin.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

BOD Definition: Measure of oxygen used up in decomposition processes.
Oxygen Depletion Sources: Include untreated waste discharges, nighttime algae blooms, and high BOD in effluents.

Treatment System Gas

Dissolved Oxygen: Found in treatment systems and is non-dangerous.

Decay Cycles

Includes: Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles.

Flow Measurement

Flow Totalizer Requirement: Necessary when plant design flow exceeds 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD).

Waste Classification

Non-Hazardous Wastes: Include chlorides, alkalinity, color, phosphorus, and iron.
Hazardous Wastes: Include cyanides, sulfides, organics, and gasoline.

Interactions and Screening

Synergistic Effect: Refers to reactions between different waste streams.
Screening Efficiency: Coarse screens can remove 0.5 to 6.0 cubic feet of screenings per million gallons of wastewater.

Additional Treatment Benefits

Preaeration Benefits: Freshens wastewater, removes grease, and scours gases.
Sedimentation Tank Purpose: Facilitates the settling of solids and the rise of scum under low velocity conditions.

Settling Efficiency

Settling Performance in Primary Treatment:
- Settled Solids Removal: 90-95% of settleable solids.
- Suspended Solids Removal: 50-70%.
- BOD Removal: 35%.
- Total Organic Matter Removal: 20-30%.
Settlement Rate: Approximately 70% of suspended solids settle within 2 hours.

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Description

Test your knowledge on wastewater treatment processes with this quiz designed for the TX Class C Wastewater Treatment License. Each flashcard covers key terms and definitions, including stages of sewage treatment like preliminary treatment and technologies such as Rotating Biological Contactors.