Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of the Water Utility Industry?
What is the primary purpose of the Water Utility Industry?
The production and delivery of safe drinking water to consumers.
Those who work in the public water industry have a responsibility to meet standards created by which types of government entities?
Those who work in the public water industry have a responsibility to meet standards created by which types of government entities?
Federal and State.
What basic standards must water meet according to federal and state regulations?
What basic standards must water meet according to federal and state regulations?
Disinfected, delivered at adequate pressure, and be ample in quantity.
What should employees guard?
What should employees guard?
From which three threats should employees guard the water supply and facilities?
From which three threats should employees guard the water supply and facilities?
For how long are bacteriological analysis records kept?
For how long are bacteriological analysis records kept?
Chemical analysis records are kept for how long?
Chemical analysis records are kept for how long?
Records about actions taken to correct violations of primary drinking water regulations are kept for how long?
Records about actions taken to correct violations of primary drinking water regulations are kept for how long?
Documentation relating to sanitary surveys conducted are kept for how long after completion?
Documentation relating to sanitary surveys conducted are kept for how long after completion?
How long is documentation of a variance or exemption granted kept?
How long is documentation of a variance or exemption granted kept?
Results of required tests, measurements, or analysis must be reported within how many days?
Results of required tests, measurements, or analysis must be reported within how many days?
How long must a copy of Consumer Confidence reports be kept?
How long must a copy of Consumer Confidence reports be kept?
Which entity administers water operator licensing?
Which entity administers water operator licensing?
What does TCEQ stand for?
What does TCEQ stand for?
What is the description of a public water system?
What is the description of a public water system?
What do MUDs stand for?
What do MUDs stand for?
Water is essential to what?
Water is essential to what?
What are customers entitled to?
What are customers entitled to?
What type of public system is not required to compile monthly reports?
What type of public system is not required to compile monthly reports?
Job training for water utility operators is available through which organizations?
Job training for water utility operators is available through which organizations?
All public water systems are required to employ certified operators even if the system only does what?
All public water systems are required to employ certified operators even if the system only does what?
Cities, municipal utility districts, rural water supply corporations, mobile home parks, and campgrounds are examples of what?
Cities, municipal utility districts, rural water supply corporations, mobile home parks, and campgrounds are examples of what?
What are examples of community water systems?
What are examples of community water systems?
What is a non-community water system?
What is a non-community water system?
Travel trailer spaces, hotel and motel rooms, and service stations are examples of what type of water systems?
Travel trailer spaces, hotel and motel rooms, and service stations are examples of what type of water systems?
What is the federal agency that impacts the water industry?
What is the federal agency that impacts the water industry?
What does EPA stand for?
What does EPA stand for?
What is the most important federal law impacting the water utility industry?
What is the most important federal law impacting the water utility industry?
What types of national safety and quality standards does the Safe Drinking Water Act establish?
What types of national safety and quality standards does the Safe Drinking Water Act establish?
What is the state agency that regulates drinking water in Texas and administers the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act?
What is the state agency that regulates drinking water in Texas and administers the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act?
What must the water system notify the TCEQ about?
What must the water system notify the TCEQ about?
MUDs, Rural Water Supply Corporations, Drainage Districts, Ground Water Conservation Districts, Subsidence Districts, and River Authorities are what type of agencies, and what do they impact?
MUDs, Rural Water Supply Corporations, Drainage Districts, Ground Water Conservation Districts, Subsidence Districts, and River Authorities are what type of agencies, and what do they impact?
What is the relationship between you and the customer called?
What is the relationship between you and the customer called?
What does PR stand for?
What does PR stand for?
What are the three keys to good customer relations?
What are the three keys to good customer relations?
Customers have the most contact with whom?
Customers have the most contact with whom?
How can meter readers act as ambassadors of goodwill?
How can meter readers act as ambassadors of goodwill?
What can maintenance crews warn customers of?
What can maintenance crews warn customers of?
What can maintenance crews provide to protect the public?
What can maintenance crews provide to protect the public?
What is the plant operator responsible for?
What is the plant operator responsible for?
Water bills should be what four things?
Water bills should be what four things?
What type of attitude should the utility maintain?
What type of attitude should the utility maintain?
Employees should be kept informed of utility what?
Employees should be kept informed of utility what?
How should customer complaints be treated?
How should customer complaints be treated?
In small water systems, the operator is often what?
In small water systems, the operator is often what?
What are stuffers?
What are stuffers?
Stuffers can be many things. Name four.
Stuffers can be many things. Name four.
Delinquent payment notices should be what four things?
Delinquent payment notices should be what four things?
How often must community water systems provide customers with a report on the system's water quality?
How often must community water systems provide customers with a report on the system's water quality?
The annual system water quality report should be what?
The annual system water quality report should be what?
The annual system water quality report can build what?
The annual system water quality report can build what?
Good treatment of employees includes what three primary things?
Good treatment of employees includes what three primary things?
After action is taken on a complaint, what should the employee do?
After action is taken on a complaint, what should the employee do?
Give three reasons why water plant facilities should be kept neat and clean.
Give three reasons why water plant facilities should be kept neat and clean.
The employee should listen to special requests and look for ways to oblige the customer within what?
The employee should listen to special requests and look for ways to oblige the customer within what?
What is the chemical symbol for water?
What is the chemical symbol for water?
Name the three forms of water.
Name the three forms of water.
What is the hydrological cycle?
What is the hydrological cycle?
Average water use depends on what five things?
Average water use depends on what five things?
Where is Ground Water located?
Where is Ground Water located?
Name the three sources of surface water.
Name the three sources of surface water.
According to the TCEQ, future water supplies will be what?
According to the TCEQ, future water supplies will be what?
What is Raw Water?
What is Raw Water?
How is groundwater tapped?
How is groundwater tapped?
What is potable water?
What is potable water?
Before construction, the utility must submit engineering plans to whom?
Before construction, the utility must submit engineering plans to whom?
Operators should keep records of what five types of things?
Operators should keep records of what five types of things?
Reports by surface water systems must be received by the TCEQ at which location?
Reports by surface water systems must be received by the TCEQ at which location?
By when must reports for surface water systems be received by the TCEQ?
By when must reports for surface water systems be received by the TCEQ?
How often are groundwater systems required to compile reports?
How often are groundwater systems required to compile reports?
Reports for groundwater systems must be kept for what?
Reports for groundwater systems must be kept for what?
What types of systems are not required to compile monthly reports?
What types of systems are not required to compile monthly reports?
Water is never found in nature with what characteristic?
Water is never found in nature with what characteristic?
Name the five physical characteristics of water.
Name the five physical characteristics of water.
What are the chemical characteristics of water?
What are the chemical characteristics of water?
What is turbidity?
What is turbidity?
Color in water can result from what?
Color in water can result from what?
What is true color?
What is true color?
What is apparent color?
What is apparent color?
Give an example of true color.
Give an example of true color.
Give an example of apparent color.
Give an example of apparent color.
What do algae, bacteria, organic matter, gases, and chemicals give to water?
What do algae, bacteria, organic matter, gases, and chemicals give to water?
Chemicals in water are measured in what?
Chemicals in water are measured in what?
What does mg/L stand for?
What does mg/L stand for?
How often should surface water be sampled for chemical analysis?
How often should surface water be sampled for chemical analysis?
How often should groundwater be sampled for chemical analysis?
How often should groundwater be sampled for chemical analysis?
What causes hardness in water?
What causes hardness in water?
What is the range of the pH scale?
What is the range of the pH scale?
What is acidic on the pH scale? (number range)
What is acidic on the pH scale? (number range)
What is basic on the pH scale?
What is basic on the pH scale?
What is neutral on the pH scale?
What is neutral on the pH scale?
What are suspended solids?
What are suspended solids?
What are dissolved solids?
What are dissolved solids?
Name three common gases found in water.
Name three common gases found in water.
Chemically, water is made up of what?
Chemically, water is made up of what?
What is nature's way of recycling water?
What is nature's way of recycling water?
What is the quality water standard of public water supplies?
What is the quality water standard of public water supplies?
What is one of the most important purposes of a public water supply?
What is one of the most important purposes of a public water supply?
What does organic matter include?
What does organic matter include?
What is the most important treatment process for water?
What is the most important treatment process for water?
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Study Notes
Water Utility Industry Overview
- The primary purpose involves the production and delivery of safe drinking water to consumers.
- Workers in the public water industry are accountable to federal and state standards.
Water Quality Standards
- Water must be disinfected, delivered at adequate pressure, and available in sufficient quantity.
- Bacteriological analysis records must be maintained for 5 years; chemical analysis records for 10 years.
- Records of actions taken to correct primary drinking water regulation violations are kept for 3 years post-action.
Documentation and Reporting
- Sanitary survey documentation is retained for 10 years after completion.
- Variance or exemption records are held for 5 years after expiration.
- Test results must be reported within 10 days of completion.
- Consumer Confidence Reports (required by the EPA) must be retained for 5 years.
Regulatory Bodies
- TCEQ administers water operator licensing and regulates drinking water in Texas.
- The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) plays a significant role in water industry regulations.
Public Water Systems
- Defined as systems serving at least 25 individuals daily for 60 days per year; must have at least 15 service connections.
- Examples include cities, municipal utility districts, rural water supply corporations, mobile home parks, and campgrounds.
- Non-community water systems serve smaller populations or transient users.
Consumer Relations and Responsibilities
- Building customer relations hinges on courteous treatment and providing clear information.
- Meter readers are crucial for interaction with customers and can enhance public relations.
Water Treatment and Safety
- Facilities must be maintained clean and organized to reflect professionalism and public confidence.
- The chemical symbol for water is H2O, and it exists in solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (vapor) forms.
- Safety standards include defining potable water as free from disease and having a chlorine residual.
Water Sources and Quality Assessment
- Surface water collects from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs; groundwater is accessed via wells.
- Raw water refers to untreated surface or groundwater.
- The hydrological cycle describes the natural exchange of water between Earth and the atmosphere.
Water Properties and Testing
- Water characteristics include physical attributes (temperature, turbidity, color, taste, odor) and chemical traits (hardness, pH, solids).
- The pH scale ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic), with neutral being 7.
- Hardness results from calcium and magnesium concentrations.
Treatment Processes
- Disinfection remains the most critical treatment process to ensure water safety.
- Regular sampling for chemical analysis is mandated; surface water must be sampled yearly, while groundwater is sampled every three years.
Miscellaneous Facts
- Employees must engage with customers and address complaints promptly.
- Bill statements should be clear, itemized, and professional.
- Awareness of future water supply challenges highlighted by TCEQ indicates a need for sustainable practices.
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