TEXAS ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITY (OSSF)
MAINTENANCE PROVIDER LICENSING EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE 2026
EXAM COVERAGE SUMMARY:
1. Texas Health and Safety Code and Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC Chapter 285)
2. Roles, responsibilities, and ethics of licensed OSSF Maintenance Providers
3. Types of On-Site Sewage Facility systems and treatment technologies
4. Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs), components, and operating principles
5. Spray distribution systems, drip irrigation, low-pressure dosing, and disposal methods
6. Pumps, alarms, timers, floats, control panels, and electrical safety
7. Routine inspection procedures, maintenance schedules, and troubleshooting
8. Effluent quality, disinfection methods, chlorine tablets, UV systems, and sampling requirements
9. Safety procedures, confined space awareness, personal protective equipment, and environmental
protection
10. Maintenance reporting, homeowner education, documentation, and regulatory compliance
SECTION 1: TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE AND TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
(30 TAC CHAPTER 285)
Questions 1–30
Q1. Which Texas Administrative Code (TAC) chapter contains the primary
regulations for On-Site Sewage Facility Systems (OSSFs) in Texas?
A) Chapter 220
B) Chapter 285
C) Chapter 302
D) Chapter 310
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: 30 TAC Chapter 285 specifically governs the design, installation,
operation, and maintenance of OSSF systems in Texas.
Q2. The Texas Health and Safety Code chapter that addresses on-site sewage
disposal systems is:
A) Chapter 341
1
,B) Chapter 366
C) Chapter 285
D) Chapter 401
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 establishes the statutory
framework for on-site sewage facilities.
Q3. Under 30 TAC §285.7(d), which type of OSSF system requires a permit from
the TCEQ rather than a local permitting authority?
A) All aerobic treatment systems
B) Systems with flow greater than 5,000 gallons per day
C) All conventional septic systems
D) Systems serving single-family homes only
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Any OSSF designed to handle flow greater than 5,000 gallons per day
requires a direct TCEQ permit.
Q4. According to 30 TAC Chapter 285, who is authorized to enforce OSSF
regulations in Texas?
A) TCEQ only
B) Local permitting authorities (LPAs) and TCEQ
C) The Texas Department of Health only
D) Local police departments
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Both TCEQ and designated LPAs share enforcement authority.
Q5. The requirement for a maintenance provider to be licensed is found in which
section of the Texas Health and Safety Code?
A) Section 366.025
B) Section 366.002
C) Section 366.051
D) Section 366.100
**Correct Answer: A**
2
,Rationale: Health and Safety Code §366.025 establishes licensing requirements
for OSSF maintenance providers.
Q6. Under 30 TAC §285.4, "Aerobic Treatment Unit" (ATU) is defined as:
A) Any system that uses only gravity for treatment
B) A system that uses mechanical components to introduce oxygen into the
wastewater
C) A system that uses only chemical disinfection
D) Any system that does not require a drain field
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: The definition specifies that ATUs introduce oxygen (air) mechanically
to promote aerobic bacterial treatment.
Q7. The minimum separation distance between an OSSF disposal field and a
private water well is:
A) 25 feet
B) 50 feet
C) 75 feet
D) 100 feet
**Correct Answer: D**
Rationale: 30 TAC §285.91 requires a 100-foot minimum separation between
disposal fields and private water wells.
Q8. The maximum daily flow used for sizing an OSSF for a three-bedroom single-
family home is:
A) 300 gallons per day
B) 400 gallons per day
C) 450 gallons per day
D) 500 gallons per day
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Standard flow is 150 gallons per bedroom per day (3 x 150 = 450 GPD).
3
, Q9. The rule governing "setbacks" and "minimum separation distances" in Texas is
found in:
A) 30 TAC §285.91
B) 30 TAC §285.30
C) 30 TAC §285.7
D) 30 TAC §285.200
**Correct Answer: A**
Rationale: 30 TAC §285.91 contains the comprehensive setback and separation
distance requirements.
Q10. Which local entity can be designated as a Local Permitting Authority (LPA)
for OSSF?
A) A county health department
B) A city health department
C) A river authority
D) All of the above
**Correct Answer: D**
Rationale: All three can be designated as LPAs under TCEQ rules.
Q11. The TCEQ requires that all OSSF maintenance providers have liability
insurance with a minimum coverage of:
A) $50,000
B) $100,000
C) $300,000
D) No specific amount specified in state rule but strongly recommended
**Correct Answer: D**
Rationale: While not explicitly stated in 30 TAC, professional liability insurance is
strongly recommended and required by most LPAs.
Q12. An OSSF system that is not maintained according to the approved
maintenance schedule may be considered:
A) Non-compliant
B) A nuisance
4
MAINTENANCE PROVIDER LICENSING EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE 2026
EXAM COVERAGE SUMMARY:
1. Texas Health and Safety Code and Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC Chapter 285)
2. Roles, responsibilities, and ethics of licensed OSSF Maintenance Providers
3. Types of On-Site Sewage Facility systems and treatment technologies
4. Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs), components, and operating principles
5. Spray distribution systems, drip irrigation, low-pressure dosing, and disposal methods
6. Pumps, alarms, timers, floats, control panels, and electrical safety
7. Routine inspection procedures, maintenance schedules, and troubleshooting
8. Effluent quality, disinfection methods, chlorine tablets, UV systems, and sampling requirements
9. Safety procedures, confined space awareness, personal protective equipment, and environmental
protection
10. Maintenance reporting, homeowner education, documentation, and regulatory compliance
SECTION 1: TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE AND TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
(30 TAC CHAPTER 285)
Questions 1–30
Q1. Which Texas Administrative Code (TAC) chapter contains the primary
regulations for On-Site Sewage Facility Systems (OSSFs) in Texas?
A) Chapter 220
B) Chapter 285
C) Chapter 302
D) Chapter 310
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: 30 TAC Chapter 285 specifically governs the design, installation,
operation, and maintenance of OSSF systems in Texas.
Q2. The Texas Health and Safety Code chapter that addresses on-site sewage
disposal systems is:
A) Chapter 341
1
,B) Chapter 366
C) Chapter 285
D) Chapter 401
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 establishes the statutory
framework for on-site sewage facilities.
Q3. Under 30 TAC §285.7(d), which type of OSSF system requires a permit from
the TCEQ rather than a local permitting authority?
A) All aerobic treatment systems
B) Systems with flow greater than 5,000 gallons per day
C) All conventional septic systems
D) Systems serving single-family homes only
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Any OSSF designed to handle flow greater than 5,000 gallons per day
requires a direct TCEQ permit.
Q4. According to 30 TAC Chapter 285, who is authorized to enforce OSSF
regulations in Texas?
A) TCEQ only
B) Local permitting authorities (LPAs) and TCEQ
C) The Texas Department of Health only
D) Local police departments
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: Both TCEQ and designated LPAs share enforcement authority.
Q5. The requirement for a maintenance provider to be licensed is found in which
section of the Texas Health and Safety Code?
A) Section 366.025
B) Section 366.002
C) Section 366.051
D) Section 366.100
**Correct Answer: A**
2
,Rationale: Health and Safety Code §366.025 establishes licensing requirements
for OSSF maintenance providers.
Q6. Under 30 TAC §285.4, "Aerobic Treatment Unit" (ATU) is defined as:
A) Any system that uses only gravity for treatment
B) A system that uses mechanical components to introduce oxygen into the
wastewater
C) A system that uses only chemical disinfection
D) Any system that does not require a drain field
**Correct Answer: B**
Rationale: The definition specifies that ATUs introduce oxygen (air) mechanically
to promote aerobic bacterial treatment.
Q7. The minimum separation distance between an OSSF disposal field and a
private water well is:
A) 25 feet
B) 50 feet
C) 75 feet
D) 100 feet
**Correct Answer: D**
Rationale: 30 TAC §285.91 requires a 100-foot minimum separation between
disposal fields and private water wells.
Q8. The maximum daily flow used for sizing an OSSF for a three-bedroom single-
family home is:
A) 300 gallons per day
B) 400 gallons per day
C) 450 gallons per day
D) 500 gallons per day
**Correct Answer: C**
Rationale: Standard flow is 150 gallons per bedroom per day (3 x 150 = 450 GPD).
3
, Q9. The rule governing "setbacks" and "minimum separation distances" in Texas is
found in:
A) 30 TAC §285.91
B) 30 TAC §285.30
C) 30 TAC §285.7
D) 30 TAC §285.200
**Correct Answer: A**
Rationale: 30 TAC §285.91 contains the comprehensive setback and separation
distance requirements.
Q10. Which local entity can be designated as a Local Permitting Authority (LPA)
for OSSF?
A) A county health department
B) A city health department
C) A river authority
D) All of the above
**Correct Answer: D**
Rationale: All three can be designated as LPAs under TCEQ rules.
Q11. The TCEQ requires that all OSSF maintenance providers have liability
insurance with a minimum coverage of:
A) $50,000
B) $100,000
C) $300,000
D) No specific amount specified in state rule but strongly recommended
**Correct Answer: D**
Rationale: While not explicitly stated in 30 TAC, professional liability insurance is
strongly recommended and required by most LPAs.
Q12. An OSSF system that is not maintained according to the approved
maintenance schedule may be considered:
A) Non-compliant
B) A nuisance
4
