TEXAS WASTEWATER B EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q &A 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
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1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a
wastewater treatment plant?
A. Produce drinking water
B. Reduce pollutants in wastewater
C. Generate electricity
D. Monitor industrial emissions
Answer: B. Reduce pollutants in wastewater
Rationale: The main goal of wastewater treatment is to remove
physical, chemical, and biological contaminants before
discharge into the environment.
2. What is the typical first step in municipal wastewater
treatment?
A. Disinfection
B. Sedimentation
C. Preliminary treatment (screening & grit removal)
D. Biological treatment
,Answer: C. Preliminary treatment (screening & grit removal)
Rationale: Preliminary treatment removes large solids and grit
that could damage equipment in later processes.
3. Which of the following is a common physical method used
to remove suspended solids from wastewater?
A. Filtration
B. Chlorination
C. Nitrification
D. Activated sludge
Answer: A. Filtration
Rationale: Filtration and sedimentation are physical methods
for removing suspended solids. Biological processes handle
dissolved organics.
4. What is the primary function of a grit chamber?
A. Remove dissolved organic matter
B. Settle heavy inorganic particles like sand and gravel
C. Neutralize pH
D. Kill pathogens
Answer: B. Settle heavy inorganic particles like sand and gravel
Rationale: Grit chambers protect pumps and other equipment
from abrasive materials.
,5. In biological wastewater treatment, which process converts
ammonia (NH₃) to nitrate (NO₃⁻)?
A. Denitrification
B. Nitrification
C. Phosphorus removal
D. Anaerobic digestion
Answer: B. Nitrification
Rationale: Nitrification is an aerobic process performed by
bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrate.
6. The term BOD in wastewater treatment refers to:
A. Biological oxidation demand
B. Biochemical oxygen demand
C. Bacterial organic degradation
D. Base of dissolved solids
Answer: B. Biochemical oxygen demand
Rationale: BOD measures the amount of oxygen required by
microorganisms to decompose organic matter in wastewater.
7. Which disinfectant is most commonly used in wastewater
treatment?
A. Iodine
B. Ozone
C. Chlorine
D. Hydrogen peroxide
, Answer: C. Chlorine
Rationale: Chlorine is widely used because it is effective,
relatively inexpensive, and easy to apply.
8. What is the purpose of an aeration tank in activated sludge
treatment?
A. Remove grit
B. Supply oxygen to microorganisms
C. Filter solids
D. Neutralize pH
Answer: B. Supply oxygen to microorganisms
Rationale: Aeration promotes aerobic bacteria activity to digest
organic pollutants.
9. Which type of sludge digestion reduces the volume of
sludge and stabilizes it?
A. Primary sludge
B. Secondary sludge
C. Anaerobic digestion
D. Grit removal
Answer: C. Anaerobic digestion
Rationale: Anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms in the
absence of oxygen to reduce sludge volume and produce
biogas.
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q &A 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a
wastewater treatment plant?
A. Produce drinking water
B. Reduce pollutants in wastewater
C. Generate electricity
D. Monitor industrial emissions
Answer: B. Reduce pollutants in wastewater
Rationale: The main goal of wastewater treatment is to remove
physical, chemical, and biological contaminants before
discharge into the environment.
2. What is the typical first step in municipal wastewater
treatment?
A. Disinfection
B. Sedimentation
C. Preliminary treatment (screening & grit removal)
D. Biological treatment
,Answer: C. Preliminary treatment (screening & grit removal)
Rationale: Preliminary treatment removes large solids and grit
that could damage equipment in later processes.
3. Which of the following is a common physical method used
to remove suspended solids from wastewater?
A. Filtration
B. Chlorination
C. Nitrification
D. Activated sludge
Answer: A. Filtration
Rationale: Filtration and sedimentation are physical methods
for removing suspended solids. Biological processes handle
dissolved organics.
4. What is the primary function of a grit chamber?
A. Remove dissolved organic matter
B. Settle heavy inorganic particles like sand and gravel
C. Neutralize pH
D. Kill pathogens
Answer: B. Settle heavy inorganic particles like sand and gravel
Rationale: Grit chambers protect pumps and other equipment
from abrasive materials.
,5. In biological wastewater treatment, which process converts
ammonia (NH₃) to nitrate (NO₃⁻)?
A. Denitrification
B. Nitrification
C. Phosphorus removal
D. Anaerobic digestion
Answer: B. Nitrification
Rationale: Nitrification is an aerobic process performed by
bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrate.
6. The term BOD in wastewater treatment refers to:
A. Biological oxidation demand
B. Biochemical oxygen demand
C. Bacterial organic degradation
D. Base of dissolved solids
Answer: B. Biochemical oxygen demand
Rationale: BOD measures the amount of oxygen required by
microorganisms to decompose organic matter in wastewater.
7. Which disinfectant is most commonly used in wastewater
treatment?
A. Iodine
B. Ozone
C. Chlorine
D. Hydrogen peroxide
, Answer: C. Chlorine
Rationale: Chlorine is widely used because it is effective,
relatively inexpensive, and easy to apply.
8. What is the purpose of an aeration tank in activated sludge
treatment?
A. Remove grit
B. Supply oxygen to microorganisms
C. Filter solids
D. Neutralize pH
Answer: B. Supply oxygen to microorganisms
Rationale: Aeration promotes aerobic bacteria activity to digest
organic pollutants.
9. Which type of sludge digestion reduces the volume of
sludge and stabilizes it?
A. Primary sludge
B. Secondary sludge
C. Anaerobic digestion
D. Grit removal
Answer: C. Anaerobic digestion
Rationale: Anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms in the
absence of oxygen to reduce sludge volume and produce
biogas.
