CWEA Collections System Maintenance (Grade 1, 2, 3, 4)
Exam Questions and Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027 |
Graded A+ (Verified Solutions)
"High priority subsurface installations ae high pressure natural gas pipelines with normal operating
pressures greater than 415 kPa gauge, petroleum pipelines, conductors or cables that are potentially
hazardous to employees, or the public, if damaged." This paragraph indicates that before the start date of
an excavation, what should occur? - ansAn agreed upon site visit
550 gallons of sewage overflow and do not reach any surface waters. What category of overflow is this? -
ansCategory 3
A flow of 650 pgm would be how many mgd? - ans0.936
A hazard that may damage a TV camera going through a sewer is: - ansan offset joint
A person who completes a training program in accordance with the requirements of Title 8, Calif. Code of
Regulations, Minimum Guidelines of the Common Ground Alliance is considered a ______________
person - ansQualified Person
According to the State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-003-DWQ, each enrollee must
develop and implement a system-specific: - ansSSMP (Sewer System Management Plan)
After completing a Temporary Traffic Control setup for your work zone it is a good practice to: -
ansObserve how effective your TTC setup is working to control traffic and make the necessary changes
emergency stoppages in pipelines may be cleared safely by use of: - anshigh velocity cleaners
Flatter sewer line grades may cause added sewer maintenance expense and odor nuisance. This is
caused by what? - ansA decrease in velocity which allows organic and inorganic solids to settle out. This,
in turn, allows biological activity to happen which corrodes the pipe and releases hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
which smells like rotten eggs
For a nighttime Short Term Stationary Traffic Control Zone setup on low speed/ low volume street, the
minimum height of the traffic cones used shall be ________ - ans28 inches
How can the members of a balling crew communicate with each other? - ansHand Signals
How high do your traffic cones need to be if the speed limit around your work zone is 35 MPH? - ans18".
Cone height must be 18" if speed limit is 30 MPH or less and 28" if the speed limit is 45 MPH or more
How long do you have to report a category 1 SSO? - ans2 hours
How long do you have to report a category 2 or 3 SSO? - ans3 days
how many flaggers are REQUIRED to perform a basic flagging operation? - ansone
How many types of common shoring are there? - ans6
How often must an excavation site and adjacent areas be inspected for hazardous conditions? - ansDaily
,in developing an S.O.P. for air monitoring in a Permit Required Confined Space you would include what
two factors? - ansPlacement of the blower and a weather forecast
Infiltration can occur in a pipe when the pipe is: - anscracked, broken, fractures, has roots coming into it
etc.
Based on new Best Practices of the Common Ground Alliance for marking underground Utilities, the
Inquiry Identification Number for an Underground Service Alert (USA) is viable for how many days? -
ans28 days
Before starting a maintenance operation in a basement located in the backyard of a residence you
should: - anscontact the resident and politely ask permission to enter their backyard
Biological activity in long, sluggish-flow, flat grade sewer lines will likely cause: - ansodors
Clear water in entering a collection system is called what? - ansinfiltration
Maintenance programs are based on: - ansPreventative and corrective maintenance principles
Name and describe the three soil types - ansType A: cohesive soils like clay
Type B: Cohesive soil that have been disturbed or angular gravel
Type C: Granular Soils like sand. These are the least stable
Once enrolled in CIWQS, the "Collection System Questionnaire" must be updated at least every: - ans12
Months
Temporary traffic control lanes created as part of a Temporary Traffic control Zone setup on a street with
a 35 MPH maximum speed limit shall be a minimum width of ______ - ans10 ft
The gas most commonly associated with septic wastewater is - ansHydrogen Sulfide
The goal of preventative maintenance is to? - ansAvoid breakdowns, severe damage, or harmful
depreciation
The lack of an unpleasant odor in a manhole, lift station or other structures does not always mean that
dangerous gases are not present because: - anssome dangerous gasses are odorless (for example,
carbon monoxide)
Personnel entering a Permit Required Confined Space must have the following training - ansentry and
rescue
Proper operation and maintenance of wastewater collection is defined as: - anskeeping wastewater
flowing through pipes
protective shoring systems options include: - ansproper shoring or benching of the sides of the
excavation, supporting the sides of a tench with shoring using a shield in an excavation area.
rodents and insects can be controlled by - ansspraying manholes with an approved pesticide
Roots can enter collection systems through: - anscracked pipes, broken pipes, fractured pipes
,Sources of excessive clear water in a collection system are usually caused by: - ansinfiltration from a high
water table
The lowest point on the inside of a pipe is called what? - ansthe invert
The main advantage of using CCTV is what? - ansYou can see and record the length and severity of
defective pipe
The main reason we add sodium hypochlorite to sewers is to control: - ansBOD
The oxygen level alarm normally goes off if oxygen levels are below: - ans19.5 percent
What are poly pigs used for? - ansto clean sewer force mains. They are propelled by pressurized water
flow
What are some advantages of hydraulic shoring systems? - ansThey are light enough to be installed by
one worker: from top down
They are gauge-regulated to ensure even distribution of pressure along the trench line
They can have their trench faces "preloaded" to use the soils natural cohesion to prevent movement
They can be adapted easily to various trench depths and widths
what are some characteristics of a competent person? - ansTrained and knowledgeable, can identify soil
class, understands the importance of PPE and the SDS, knows how to identify problems
What are some common types of valves? - ansPlug, Gate, Butterfly, Ball, Check
The very top of the outside of a pipe is called what? - ansThe crown
To find protective gear before application of a product, you should: - anslook at the MSDS
To report in the Statewide SSO Data-base California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) regarding
the location of a Category 2 SSO, how must you report the location? - ansUsing the GPS coordinates
Tools used for sewer rodding include: - ansporcupine, root saw, square bar cork screw
Vitrified clay pipe is what type of pipe? - ansRigid
What are all 7 steps of LOTO procedure? - ans1. Identify potential hazards
2. notify all affected employees
3. turn off/disable/isolate controls
4. Lock out all energy control switched (sign and date!)
5. Test by turning on controls and accounting for personnel before the safety test
6. turn control to OFF
7. Perform task (when complete, only the person who tagged out may remove the lock and tag)
What are some cons to hydro jetting? - ansEfficiency decreases as pipe size decreases, may require
multiple passes to fully remove grease and roots
What are some examples of additives that can prevent FOG build up? - ansChemical degreasers,
emulsifying degreasers, enzymes and bacteria
, What are some examples of flexible pipe? - ansDuctile-iron pipe, steel pipe, thermoplastic pipe (PVC,
HDPE, ABS), Orangeburg
What are some examples of level control devices (devices that turn a pump at a pump station on and
off)? - ansBubbler Level Gauge, Mercury/Mechanical Float Switches, Ultra Sonic Sensor
What are some examples of rigid pipe? - ansVitrified clay pipe (VCP), Concrete pipe, other rigid pipe, cast
iron. They can support loads without as much back fill/ side support, but cannot distort without cracking or
breaking
What are the characteristics of a permit required confined space? - ansA possibly Hazardous
Atmosphere, the possibility of Engulfment, Internal Configuration that could trap and asphyxiate an
entrant, contains any other recognized health hazard
What are the components of a temporary traffic control? - ansTraffic space that allows traffic to pass by
activity, temporary lanes with a 10' minimum width and a 5' clearance from the excavation, and tapers
that are used in the transition area and moves traffic out of its normal path.
What are the different areas of traffic zones? - ansAdvance Warning Area, Transition Area, Activity Area
(buffer space and work space), Termination Area. Could be 4 or 5, justify your answer on the test!
What are the four classes of chemical hazards? - ansFlammability, Toxicity, Corrosivity, Reactivity
What are the four conditions necessary to create an explosion? - anscombustible gas, adequate oxygen,
heat and proper mixing of gas and oxygen
What are some examples of toxic chemicals? - ansdisinfectants, insect repellent, antifreeze, ammonia,
mothballs, motor oils, rat poison, windshield wiper fluid, weed killers
What are some factors that can make soil unstable? - ansExcessively wet, Loose, Excessive roots
What are some hydraulic cleaning methods? - ansFlushing, balling, kites, parachutes, poly pigs (pigging),
high velocity cleaning, jetting, skids and tiger tails.
What are some sewer testing methods? - ansAir, water, mandrill, smoke, dye, lamping
What are the access points of a gravity sewer system? - ansManholes, Lift stations, Building connections,
junction chambers, terminal cleanouts
What are the four parts of a manhole? - anslid, cone, barrel and base
What are the maximum allowable slopes or all the soil types? - ansType A: 3/4:1
Type B: 1:1
Type C: 1.5:1
What are the pros and cons of balling/kites and parachutes? - ansPros:dislodges debris, settled
inorganics, and small roots from the sewer line, prevents build-up of grease, mitigates H2S odor by
removing slime and can be used in large diameter sewers, kites can collapse to prevent flooding
Cons: risk of flooding buildings, doesn't work well on steep grades, makes stoppages worse if stoppage is
below the sewer ball.
Exam Questions and Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027 |
Graded A+ (Verified Solutions)
"High priority subsurface installations ae high pressure natural gas pipelines with normal operating
pressures greater than 415 kPa gauge, petroleum pipelines, conductors or cables that are potentially
hazardous to employees, or the public, if damaged." This paragraph indicates that before the start date of
an excavation, what should occur? - ansAn agreed upon site visit
550 gallons of sewage overflow and do not reach any surface waters. What category of overflow is this? -
ansCategory 3
A flow of 650 pgm would be how many mgd? - ans0.936
A hazard that may damage a TV camera going through a sewer is: - ansan offset joint
A person who completes a training program in accordance with the requirements of Title 8, Calif. Code of
Regulations, Minimum Guidelines of the Common Ground Alliance is considered a ______________
person - ansQualified Person
According to the State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-003-DWQ, each enrollee must
develop and implement a system-specific: - ansSSMP (Sewer System Management Plan)
After completing a Temporary Traffic Control setup for your work zone it is a good practice to: -
ansObserve how effective your TTC setup is working to control traffic and make the necessary changes
emergency stoppages in pipelines may be cleared safely by use of: - anshigh velocity cleaners
Flatter sewer line grades may cause added sewer maintenance expense and odor nuisance. This is
caused by what? - ansA decrease in velocity which allows organic and inorganic solids to settle out. This,
in turn, allows biological activity to happen which corrodes the pipe and releases hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
which smells like rotten eggs
For a nighttime Short Term Stationary Traffic Control Zone setup on low speed/ low volume street, the
minimum height of the traffic cones used shall be ________ - ans28 inches
How can the members of a balling crew communicate with each other? - ansHand Signals
How high do your traffic cones need to be if the speed limit around your work zone is 35 MPH? - ans18".
Cone height must be 18" if speed limit is 30 MPH or less and 28" if the speed limit is 45 MPH or more
How long do you have to report a category 1 SSO? - ans2 hours
How long do you have to report a category 2 or 3 SSO? - ans3 days
how many flaggers are REQUIRED to perform a basic flagging operation? - ansone
How many types of common shoring are there? - ans6
How often must an excavation site and adjacent areas be inspected for hazardous conditions? - ansDaily
,in developing an S.O.P. for air monitoring in a Permit Required Confined Space you would include what
two factors? - ansPlacement of the blower and a weather forecast
Infiltration can occur in a pipe when the pipe is: - anscracked, broken, fractures, has roots coming into it
etc.
Based on new Best Practices of the Common Ground Alliance for marking underground Utilities, the
Inquiry Identification Number for an Underground Service Alert (USA) is viable for how many days? -
ans28 days
Before starting a maintenance operation in a basement located in the backyard of a residence you
should: - anscontact the resident and politely ask permission to enter their backyard
Biological activity in long, sluggish-flow, flat grade sewer lines will likely cause: - ansodors
Clear water in entering a collection system is called what? - ansinfiltration
Maintenance programs are based on: - ansPreventative and corrective maintenance principles
Name and describe the three soil types - ansType A: cohesive soils like clay
Type B: Cohesive soil that have been disturbed or angular gravel
Type C: Granular Soils like sand. These are the least stable
Once enrolled in CIWQS, the "Collection System Questionnaire" must be updated at least every: - ans12
Months
Temporary traffic control lanes created as part of a Temporary Traffic control Zone setup on a street with
a 35 MPH maximum speed limit shall be a minimum width of ______ - ans10 ft
The gas most commonly associated with septic wastewater is - ansHydrogen Sulfide
The goal of preventative maintenance is to? - ansAvoid breakdowns, severe damage, or harmful
depreciation
The lack of an unpleasant odor in a manhole, lift station or other structures does not always mean that
dangerous gases are not present because: - anssome dangerous gasses are odorless (for example,
carbon monoxide)
Personnel entering a Permit Required Confined Space must have the following training - ansentry and
rescue
Proper operation and maintenance of wastewater collection is defined as: - anskeeping wastewater
flowing through pipes
protective shoring systems options include: - ansproper shoring or benching of the sides of the
excavation, supporting the sides of a tench with shoring using a shield in an excavation area.
rodents and insects can be controlled by - ansspraying manholes with an approved pesticide
Roots can enter collection systems through: - anscracked pipes, broken pipes, fractured pipes
,Sources of excessive clear water in a collection system are usually caused by: - ansinfiltration from a high
water table
The lowest point on the inside of a pipe is called what? - ansthe invert
The main advantage of using CCTV is what? - ansYou can see and record the length and severity of
defective pipe
The main reason we add sodium hypochlorite to sewers is to control: - ansBOD
The oxygen level alarm normally goes off if oxygen levels are below: - ans19.5 percent
What are poly pigs used for? - ansto clean sewer force mains. They are propelled by pressurized water
flow
What are some advantages of hydraulic shoring systems? - ansThey are light enough to be installed by
one worker: from top down
They are gauge-regulated to ensure even distribution of pressure along the trench line
They can have their trench faces "preloaded" to use the soils natural cohesion to prevent movement
They can be adapted easily to various trench depths and widths
what are some characteristics of a competent person? - ansTrained and knowledgeable, can identify soil
class, understands the importance of PPE and the SDS, knows how to identify problems
What are some common types of valves? - ansPlug, Gate, Butterfly, Ball, Check
The very top of the outside of a pipe is called what? - ansThe crown
To find protective gear before application of a product, you should: - anslook at the MSDS
To report in the Statewide SSO Data-base California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) regarding
the location of a Category 2 SSO, how must you report the location? - ansUsing the GPS coordinates
Tools used for sewer rodding include: - ansporcupine, root saw, square bar cork screw
Vitrified clay pipe is what type of pipe? - ansRigid
What are all 7 steps of LOTO procedure? - ans1. Identify potential hazards
2. notify all affected employees
3. turn off/disable/isolate controls
4. Lock out all energy control switched (sign and date!)
5. Test by turning on controls and accounting for personnel before the safety test
6. turn control to OFF
7. Perform task (when complete, only the person who tagged out may remove the lock and tag)
What are some cons to hydro jetting? - ansEfficiency decreases as pipe size decreases, may require
multiple passes to fully remove grease and roots
What are some examples of additives that can prevent FOG build up? - ansChemical degreasers,
emulsifying degreasers, enzymes and bacteria
, What are some examples of flexible pipe? - ansDuctile-iron pipe, steel pipe, thermoplastic pipe (PVC,
HDPE, ABS), Orangeburg
What are some examples of level control devices (devices that turn a pump at a pump station on and
off)? - ansBubbler Level Gauge, Mercury/Mechanical Float Switches, Ultra Sonic Sensor
What are some examples of rigid pipe? - ansVitrified clay pipe (VCP), Concrete pipe, other rigid pipe, cast
iron. They can support loads without as much back fill/ side support, but cannot distort without cracking or
breaking
What are the characteristics of a permit required confined space? - ansA possibly Hazardous
Atmosphere, the possibility of Engulfment, Internal Configuration that could trap and asphyxiate an
entrant, contains any other recognized health hazard
What are the components of a temporary traffic control? - ansTraffic space that allows traffic to pass by
activity, temporary lanes with a 10' minimum width and a 5' clearance from the excavation, and tapers
that are used in the transition area and moves traffic out of its normal path.
What are the different areas of traffic zones? - ansAdvance Warning Area, Transition Area, Activity Area
(buffer space and work space), Termination Area. Could be 4 or 5, justify your answer on the test!
What are the four classes of chemical hazards? - ansFlammability, Toxicity, Corrosivity, Reactivity
What are the four conditions necessary to create an explosion? - anscombustible gas, adequate oxygen,
heat and proper mixing of gas and oxygen
What are some examples of toxic chemicals? - ansdisinfectants, insect repellent, antifreeze, ammonia,
mothballs, motor oils, rat poison, windshield wiper fluid, weed killers
What are some factors that can make soil unstable? - ansExcessively wet, Loose, Excessive roots
What are some hydraulic cleaning methods? - ansFlushing, balling, kites, parachutes, poly pigs (pigging),
high velocity cleaning, jetting, skids and tiger tails.
What are some sewer testing methods? - ansAir, water, mandrill, smoke, dye, lamping
What are the access points of a gravity sewer system? - ansManholes, Lift stations, Building connections,
junction chambers, terminal cleanouts
What are the four parts of a manhole? - anslid, cone, barrel and base
What are the maximum allowable slopes or all the soil types? - ansType A: 3/4:1
Type B: 1:1
Type C: 1.5:1
What are the pros and cons of balling/kites and parachutes? - ansPros:dislodges debris, settled
inorganics, and small roots from the sewer line, prevents build-up of grease, mitigates H2S odor by
removing slime and can be used in large diameter sewers, kites can collapse to prevent flooding
Cons: risk of flooding buildings, doesn't work well on steep grades, makes stoppages worse if stoppage is
below the sewer ball.
