MARYLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT
OPERATOR CLASS 2 CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
MARYLAND WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR CLASS 2 CERTIFICATION EXAM
10 MOST RELEVANT AND TESTED COVERAGE AREAS
1. Maryland Class 2 Operator Certification, Regulations, and Responsibilities
2. Raw Water Characteristics and Treatment-Process Fundamentals
3. Chemical Feed Systems, Feed Rates, and Chemical Handling
4. Chlorination, Chlorine Demand, Residuals, and Disinfection
5. pH, Alkalinity, Acids, Bases, and Chemical Adjustment
6. Fluoridation and Fluoride Feed Control
7. Coagulation, Mixing, and Basic Treatment-Chemistry Principles
8. Water Quality Monitoring, Sampling, Laboratory Testing, and Records
9. Plant Operation, Equipment Maintenance, Safety, and Troubleshooting
10. Water Treatment Mathematics, Dosage, Flow, Volume, and Applied Calculations
, Page 2 of 132
QUESTIONS 1–200
1.
A Maryland Class 2 water treatment plant is primarily characterized by which treatment capability?
A. Distribution-system pressure management
B. Chemical treatment processes
C. Complete conventional treatment
D. Advanced membrane treatment
Answer: B
Rationale: Maryland identifies Class 2 water treatment systems as chemical-treatment plants. Typical
processes include chlorination, pH control, and fluoridation. Distribution is separately classified, while
complete conventional treatment corresponds to a higher plant classification.
2.
Which combination most closely represents the typical treatment processes associated with a Maryland
Class 2 water plant?
, Page 3 of 132
A. Aeration, sedimentation, filtration
B. Reverse osmosis, arsenic removal, UV
C. Chlorination, pH control, fluoridation
D. Ion exchange, contact oxidation, filtration
Answer: C
Rationale: Maryland's published classification identifies Class 2 as chemical treatment involving
chlorination, pH control, and fluoridation. Filtration and more extensive iron-removal processes are
associated with higher classifications.
3.
Which organization administers Maryland's certification program for water treatment plant operators?
A. Maryland Department of Transportation
B. Maryland Department of Agriculture
C. Maryland Public Service Commission
D. Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators
Answer: D
, Page 4 of 132
Rationale: The Maryland Board of Waterworks and Waste Systems Operators establishes certification
standards and administers the operator certification system under the Maryland Department of the
Environment.
4.
Why does Maryland classify water-treatment facilities according to treatment technology?
A. To ensure operators are qualified for the processes they operate
B. To determine customer water rates
C. To establish municipal tax assessments
D. To assign individual laboratory accreditation
Answer: A
Rationale: Maryland explains that facility classification according to treatment technology is intended to
ensure that operators possess certification appropriate to the treatment processes they operate.
5.
A temporary operator in Maryland generally works under the direction of whom?