Arkansas AR-SS Sewer &
Sanitation Contractor Practice
Exam | Questions, Verified
Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Complete
Contractor License Exam Prep
Study Guide | Updated 2026
1. What is the primary function of a sanitary sewer
main?
A. Supply potable water
B. Release sewer gases
C. Transport stormwater only
D. Transport collected wastewater to a treatment facility
Answer: Transport collected wastewater to a treatment
facility
Rationale: Sanitary sewer mains collect wastewater
from service connections and convey it toward
treatment or disposal facilities.
2. Which pipe material is commonly used for gravity
sanitary sewer construction?
A. Copper
B. PVC sewer pipe
C. Galvanized steel
D. Aluminum
Answer: PVC sewer pipe
,Rationale: PVC is widely used for gravity sewer
applications because it is corrosion resistant, relatively
lightweight, and provides smooth interior surfaces.
3. What is the invert of a sewer pipe?
A. The outside top of the pipe
B. The pipe's centerline
C. The lowest interior point of the pipe
D. The outside bottom of the trench
Answer: The lowest interior point of the pipe
Rationale: Invert elevations are fundamental to sewer
layout because they establish the vertical position of
the pipe and its flow line.
4. What is the crown of a sewer pipe?
A. The lowest point inside the pipe
B. The highest interior point of the pipe
C. The outside bottom of the pipe
D. The pipe joint
Answer: The highest interior point of the pipe
Rationale: The crown is the top inside surface of the
pipe.
5. What is the purpose of a sewer cleanout?
A. Increase pipe pressure
B. Store sewage
C. Vent the treatment plant
D. Provide access for cleaning and maintenance
Answer: Provide access for cleaning and maintenance
Rationale: Cleanouts provide access for rodding, jetting,
inspection, and removal of blockages.
,6. Which device is commonly used to prevent sewer
gases from entering a building?
A. Gate valve
B. Check valve
C. P-trap
D. Pressure regulator
Answer: P-trap
Rationale: A properly maintained water seal in a P-trap
prevents sewer gases from entering occupied spaces
through plumbing fixtures.
7. What is infiltration in a sanitary sewer system?
A. Stormwater entering through roof drains
B. Groundwater entering through defects or joints
C. Sewage entering a water main
D. Air entering through vents
Answer: Groundwater entering through defects or joints
Rationale: Infiltration generally enters a sewer from
groundwater through cracked pipes, defective joints,
manholes, or other structural openings.
8. What is inflow?
A. Groundwater entering through cracked pipe
B. Water entering a sewer from surface or stormwater
sources
C. Wastewater entering a septic tank
D. Air entering a force main
Answer: Water entering a sewer from surface or
stormwater sources
, Rationale: Inflow can come from improperly connected
roof drains, area drains, storm drains, or other direct
connections.
9. What is the primary purpose of sewer pipe slope?
A. Increase pipe pressure
B. Prevent pipe corrosion
C. Provide sufficient gravity flow and help maintain self-
cleansing conditions
D. Reduce pipe diameter
Answer: Provide sufficient gravity flow and help maintain
self-cleansing conditions
Rationale: Proper slope provides the hydraulic gradient
needed to move wastewater and helps reduce solids
deposition.
10. What does a sewer lateral normally connect?
A. Two treatment plants
B. Two water mains
C. A building or property to a sewer main
D. A water tank to a pump
Answer: A building or property to a sewer main
Rationale: A sewer lateral conveys wastewater from an
individual property to the public or private collection
sewer.
11. Why is proper bedding important when installing
sewer pipe?
A. It increases wastewater temperature
B. It eliminates the need for compaction
C. It provides uniform support beneath the pipe
D. It increases sewer gas production
Sanitation Contractor Practice
Exam | Questions, Verified
Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Complete
Contractor License Exam Prep
Study Guide | Updated 2026
1. What is the primary function of a sanitary sewer
main?
A. Supply potable water
B. Release sewer gases
C. Transport stormwater only
D. Transport collected wastewater to a treatment facility
Answer: Transport collected wastewater to a treatment
facility
Rationale: Sanitary sewer mains collect wastewater
from service connections and convey it toward
treatment or disposal facilities.
2. Which pipe material is commonly used for gravity
sanitary sewer construction?
A. Copper
B. PVC sewer pipe
C. Galvanized steel
D. Aluminum
Answer: PVC sewer pipe
,Rationale: PVC is widely used for gravity sewer
applications because it is corrosion resistant, relatively
lightweight, and provides smooth interior surfaces.
3. What is the invert of a sewer pipe?
A. The outside top of the pipe
B. The pipe's centerline
C. The lowest interior point of the pipe
D. The outside bottom of the trench
Answer: The lowest interior point of the pipe
Rationale: Invert elevations are fundamental to sewer
layout because they establish the vertical position of
the pipe and its flow line.
4. What is the crown of a sewer pipe?
A. The lowest point inside the pipe
B. The highest interior point of the pipe
C. The outside bottom of the pipe
D. The pipe joint
Answer: The highest interior point of the pipe
Rationale: The crown is the top inside surface of the
pipe.
5. What is the purpose of a sewer cleanout?
A. Increase pipe pressure
B. Store sewage
C. Vent the treatment plant
D. Provide access for cleaning and maintenance
Answer: Provide access for cleaning and maintenance
Rationale: Cleanouts provide access for rodding, jetting,
inspection, and removal of blockages.
,6. Which device is commonly used to prevent sewer
gases from entering a building?
A. Gate valve
B. Check valve
C. P-trap
D. Pressure regulator
Answer: P-trap
Rationale: A properly maintained water seal in a P-trap
prevents sewer gases from entering occupied spaces
through plumbing fixtures.
7. What is infiltration in a sanitary sewer system?
A. Stormwater entering through roof drains
B. Groundwater entering through defects or joints
C. Sewage entering a water main
D. Air entering through vents
Answer: Groundwater entering through defects or joints
Rationale: Infiltration generally enters a sewer from
groundwater through cracked pipes, defective joints,
manholes, or other structural openings.
8. What is inflow?
A. Groundwater entering through cracked pipe
B. Water entering a sewer from surface or stormwater
sources
C. Wastewater entering a septic tank
D. Air entering a force main
Answer: Water entering a sewer from surface or
stormwater sources
, Rationale: Inflow can come from improperly connected
roof drains, area drains, storm drains, or other direct
connections.
9. What is the primary purpose of sewer pipe slope?
A. Increase pipe pressure
B. Prevent pipe corrosion
C. Provide sufficient gravity flow and help maintain self-
cleansing conditions
D. Reduce pipe diameter
Answer: Provide sufficient gravity flow and help maintain
self-cleansing conditions
Rationale: Proper slope provides the hydraulic gradient
needed to move wastewater and helps reduce solids
deposition.
10. What does a sewer lateral normally connect?
A. Two treatment plants
B. Two water mains
C. A building or property to a sewer main
D. A water tank to a pump
Answer: A building or property to a sewer main
Rationale: A sewer lateral conveys wastewater from an
individual property to the public or private collection
sewer.
11. Why is proper bedding important when installing
sewer pipe?
A. It increases wastewater temperature
B. It eliminates the need for compaction
C. It provides uniform support beneath the pipe
D. It increases sewer gas production
