Water Operator Class 3 Practice Test

Questions and Answers

What is the MCL for TTHM's?

0.06 ppm

0.01 ppm

0.08 ppm (correct)

0.015 ppm

What is the MCL for HAA5's?

0.015 ppm

0.08 ppm

0.06 ppm (correct)

0.01 ppm

What is the MCL for Arsenic?

0.01 ppm (correct)

0.015 ppm

0.08 ppm

0.06 ppm

What is the MCL for Lead?

0.015 ppm Signup and view all the answers

A turbidity meter must be calibrated every ______ days.

90 Signup and view all the answers

What is the MCL for turbidity?

Less than 0.3 for 95% of the time. Signup and view all the answers

What must pH meters be calibrated using?

2 buffers Signup and view all the answers

What indicates algae blooms in reservoir water?

A grassy or fishy taste Signup and view all the answers

What causes mudballs?

Improper backwashing of filters Signup and view all the answers

Lime can only be used to soften water with [blank].

Carbonate Signup and view all the answers

What is the hardness of water leaving a Zeolite softener?

0 ppm Signup and view all the answers

What is the top layer of a slow sand filter called?

Schmutzdecke Signup and view all the answers

What processes does a solids contact unit combine?

Coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation Signup and view all the answers

What is the PMCL for fluoride?

4 ppm Signup and view all the answers

Flock will settle better in what type of water?

Warmer Signup and view all the answers

What type of pH is required for the greensand manganese removal process?

High pH Signup and view all the answers

What do aeration processes release from water?

Volatile organic compounds & gases (odor) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most accurate method of determining chlorine residual?

Amperometric titration Signup and view all the answers

What is used to titrate an alkalinity sample?

Sulfuric acid Signup and view all the answers

What is a beaker used for?

Mixing and measuring Signup and view all the answers

What does NTU stand for?

Nephelometric turbidity units Signup and view all the answers

How long must bacteria results be kept?

5 years Signup and view all the answers

How long must chemical results be kept?

10 years Signup and view all the answers

What are the four ways water meters operate?

Propeller Signup and view all the answers

What does a preventative maintenance program include?

Cost Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does a standpipe offer?

Lower insurance rates Signup and view all the answers

What does GIS stand for?

Geographic Information System Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of high flow rates in pumps?

Cavitation (boiling) Signup and view all the answers

What are three ways sludge is removed from a settling basin?

Traveling bridges Signup and view all the answers

What are the four zones of a settling basin?

Outlet Signup and view all the answers

Are polyphosphates injected before or after chlorination?

Before Signup and view all the answers

What is a nonionic polymer usually used for?

Filter aid Signup and view all the answers

What are three 'bugs' targeted by the SWTR?

Cryptosporidium Signup and view all the answers

What should be done with backwash water?

Returned to plant head Signup and view all the answers

What does activated carbon remove from water?

THM's Signup and view all the answers

What are methods for removing THM's from water?

Oxidation Signup and view all the answers

Does algae produce more or less oxygen at night compared to day?

Less Signup and view all the answers

A LOG removal of 4 is what percent?

99.99% Signup and view all the answers

What is one outstanding advantage of ozone?

Removes color, taste, odor Signup and view all the answers

What are three forms of combined chlorine residual?

Monochloramines Signup and view all the answers

What are TOC's a precursor in the formation of?

THM's Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a pipet?

Deliver very accurate volumes Signup and view all the answers

What is a spore?

Bug in a dormant state Signup and view all the answers

What tools are used to align a coupling between a motor and a pump?

Straight edge, feeler gauge Signup and view all the answers

Rate of flow controllers work on what principle?

Differential pressure Signup and view all the answers

What is hydraulic grade line?

Head pressure at various points Signup and view all the answers

What is an RPZ backflow preventor used for?

Tall buildings Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of total electrical use do electric motors in a water plant account for?

90% Signup and view all the answers

Excessive nitrates in water causes what condition?

Methemoglobinemia Signup and view all the answers

Filter beds should expand how much when backwashing?

50% Signup and view all the answers

What condition indicates a reservoir is rich in nutrients such as phosphates and nitrogen?

Eutrophic Signup and view all the answers

How would you start a power management program?

Identify each source of energy use. Signup and view all the answers

What is an end point?

Color change at end of titration Signup and view all the answers

What is the MCL for nitrates?

10 mg/L Signup and view all the answers

What is the IDHL level for chlorine gas?

10 ppm Signup and view all the answers

If you breathe chlorine gas, what should you drink?

Milk Signup and view all the answers

What's one of the two situations that can cause a well screen to become clogged?

Iron bacteria Signup and view all the answers

How do you notify the public about an acute MCL violation on a community system?

Paper 14 days, Radio or TV 72 hours, Mail 45 days Signup and view all the answers

What are three ways algae can affect filter plants?

Clog intake screens, affect coagulation, shorten filter runs Signup and view all the answers

What are the indicator and titrant when testing for chlorides?

Potassium chromate Signup and view all the answers

What is the MCL for coliform if you take 40 or more samples per month?

No more than 5% of samples Signup and view all the answers

What determines the quality of the water entering the distribution system from a filter plant?

Quality of water leaving filter Signup and view all the answers

What is a coupon used for?

Detect corrosiveness Signup and view all the answers

A fully open chlorine bottle is how many turns?

1 turn Signup and view all the answers

What is chlorine repair kit 'A' used for?

150 bottle Signup and view all the answers

What can be used to prevent back siphonage?

Vacuum breaker Signup and view all the answers

What are sodium chlorite and chlorine used for?

Chlorine dioxide is made by mixing Signup and view all the answers

Why is ozone made on site?

It is unstable Signup and view all the answers

What can a multistage pump create a large amount of?

Head pressure Signup and view all the answers

What can pump curves include?

Flow Signup and view all the answers

What can happen due to overlubrication in centrifugal pumps?

Overheat Signup and view all the answers

What is percolation?

Water soaking down through soil Signup and view all the answers

What is the white pill in a sample bag?

Sodium thiosulfate (kills chlorine) Signup and view all the answers

What can cause water to be corrosive?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What are two nuisance organisms?

Nematodes, Crenothrix Signup and view all the answers

What are the SMCL for Iron and for Manganese?

0.05 Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sequester' mean in water treatment?

Joining one chemical to another to prevent precipitation Signup and view all the answers

What year was the SDWA signed into law?

1974 Signup and view all the answers

What does a higher c-factor imply about a pipe?

Smoother Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage is used for a filter plant?

Clear well Signup and view all the answers

Where should shut-off valves be located?

1000 ft apart Signup and view all the answers

How far should hydrants be located from each other?

500 ft Signup and view all the answers

What is the most commonly used joint in piping?

Push on joint Signup and view all the answers

What does CFR stand for?

Code of Federal Regulations Signup and view all the answers

What type of valve is used to regulate flow?

Globe valve Signup and view all the answers

What distance should road signs be apart?

200 ft Signup and view all the answers

What does SCADA stand for?

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System Signup and view all the answers

What carries finished water out of a filter?

Underdrain Signup and view all the answers

What are the four cycles of a zeolite softener?

Service, Backwash, Brine, Rinse Signup and view all the answers

What type of process is a zeolite softener?

Ion exchange Signup and view all the answers

What is the action level for lead?

.015 mg/L Signup and view all the answers

What are types of well screens?

Continuous slot Signup and view all the answers

What is activated carbon used to remove?

Taste Signup and view all the answers

How often should a hypochlorinator be calibrated?

Each shift Signup and view all the answers

What ions compose hardness?

Calcium and Magnesium Ions Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the state sanitary code covers potable water?

Part 12 Signup and view all the answers

What does NTU stand for in turbidity measurement?

Nephelometric Turbidity Units Signup and view all the answers

What is cathodic protection used for?

Corrosion control Signup and view all the answers

What are the four zones of a settling basin?

Outlet Signup and view all the answers

What processes are combined in an upflow clarifier?

Flocculation Signup and view all the answers

When operating a manganese greensand filter, what color should the water be just before entering the filter?

Slightly pink Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Water Quality Standards and Measurements

TTHM MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) is 0.08 ppm.
HAA5 MCL: MCL for Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) is 0.06 ppm.
Arsenic MCL: MCL for arsenic in drinking water is 0.01 ppm.
Lead MCL: MCL for lead is set at 0.015 ppm.
Nitrate MCL: The MCL for nitrates is 10 mg/L.
Coliform MCL: For 40 or more samples per month, no more than 5% can be coliform-positive.

Water Treatment Techniques

Turbidity Calibration: Turbidity meters should be calibrated every 90 days.
Turbidity Standard: The MCL for turbidity requires less than 0.3 NTU for 95% of the time.
Filtration Process: The top layer of a slow sand filter is known as the schmutzdecke.
Coagulation Process: Coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation are critical processes in water treatment.

Equipment and Operations

pH Calibration: pH meters require calibration with 2 buffers.
Sludge Removal: Sludge is removed from settling basins using mechanical rakes, drag chains, or traveling bridges.
Aeration: Aeration is crucial for releasing volatile organic compounds and gases from water.

Water Quality Issues

Algae Blooms: A fishy or grassy taste in reservoir water may indicate algal blooms, which can complicate water treatment.
Corrosion Indicators: Low pH, high CO2 levels, and low oxygen can cause corrosion in water systems.

Regulatory and Maintenance Practices

SDWA Enactment: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was signed into law in 1974.
Public Notification: To inform the public about an acute MCL violation, notifications should be made through paper (14 days), radio/TV (72 hours), and mail (45 days).
Record Keeping: Bacterial test results must be kept for 5 years, while chemical results should be retained for 10 years.

Miscellaneous

Backflow Prevention: Use of a vacuum breaker is necessary to prevent back siphonage.
Zeolite Softener Cycles: A zeolite softener undergoes four cycles: service, backwash, brine, and rinse.
Combined Chlorine: The forms of combined chlorine residual include monochloramines, dichloramines, and trichloramines.
Energy Management: Understanding energy use and maintaining records are essential for initiating a power management program.
Floc Settling: Floc will settle better in warmer water than in cooler conditions.

Water Composition

Hardness Composition: Water hardness is primarily composed of calcium and magnesium ions.
Turbidity Units: NTU stands for Nephelometric Turbidity Units, a measure of turbidity in water.

Chemicals and Reagents

Chlorine Dioxide Preparation: Produced by mixing sodium chlorite and chlorine.
Deadly Gas Response: Drinking milk is a recommended action if chlorine gas is inhaled.
Sodium Thiosulfate: The white pill in a sample bag is sodium thiosulfate, used to neutralize chlorine.

Performance Indicators

Filter Operation: The quality of water leaving a filter determines the water quality entering the distribution system.
Monitoring Algae: Algae can clog intake screens, affect coagulation efficiency, and shorten filter runs, creating challenges in water treatment efficiency.

These concise notes cover essential points regarding water treatment standards, processes, equipment operation, public health regulations, and chemical handling, serving as a study guide for water operators.

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Description

This flashcard quiz focuses on essential concepts for Water Operator Class 3. You will learn about Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) for various substances such as TTHMs, HAA5s, arsenic, and lead. Test your knowledge and prepare effectively for the certification examination.