ADEQ WASTEWATER COLLECTIONS 1
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
A pump is delivering less than the expected rate of discharge. What can cause this to
happen?
A) Discharge head too low B) Discharge head too high C) Check valve open D) Pump is
primed - ANSWERSB) Discharge head too high
Wearing rings are installed in a pump to - ANSWERSConcentrate wear on an
economically replaceable pan
A lantern ring is a - ANSWERSSpacer ring in a pump packing gland to improve seat
water distribution
Check valves are used on the discharge side of centrifugal pumps to -
ANSWERSPrevent water in discharge line from flowing back
What information must be on a warning tag attached to a switch that has been locked
out? - ANSWERSSignature of person who locked out the switch, who is the only person
authorized to remove tag
Enclosed, open, and semi-closed are terms used for the designation and selection of -
ANSWERSImpellers
Leakage of seal water around the packing on a centrifugal pump is required because it
acts as a(n) - ANSWERSLubricant
Why are gasoline and volatile solvents objectionable where present in a sewer?
A) They produce an explosion hazard B) They tend to cause the solids to vaporize C)
They will coagulate floatables and cause stoppages D) They represent wasted
recourses - ANSWERSA) They produce an explosion hazard
Biological activity in long, sluggish-flow, flat-grade sewer lines will likely
A) Decrease line sediment B) Create oxygen deficiency in the air in manholes, sewers,
or wet wells C) Stop toxic gas production D) Increase the "carrying capacity" of the line -
ANSWERSB) Create oxygen deficiency in the air in manholes, sewers, or wet wells
Task least likely to be preformed by collection systems personnel is
,A) Cleaning sewer stoppages B) Making water connections C) Inspecting/testing
manholes D) Maintaining collection systems equipment - ANSWERSB) Making water
connections
Biological hazards in collection system operations include
A) Noxious or toxic gases or vapors B) Oxygen deficiency C) Physical injuries D)
Hepatitis A - ANSWERSD) Hepatitis A
What must be checked before entering a manhole?
A) Atmosphere in manhole B) Safety equipment C) Proper barricades or warning
devices around a manhole D) All of the above - ANSWERSD) All of the above
When opening a power rodder properly, do the following
A) Push the rodding tool into an obstruction and hold it there B) Rotate rod in one
position C) Make sure all the torque is out of a broken rod D) Rod past dropped joints or
through a crushed pipe - ANSWERSC) Make sure all the torque is out of a broken rod
You should get out of the manhole as soon as
A) Lower explosive level alarm activates B) H2S exceeds 5 ppm C) Flow increases
slightly D) None of the above - ANSWERSA) Lower explosive level alarm activates
A common name appurtenance used to keep an accidental flow of wastewater from
entering a building is called
A) Barrel B) Cleanout C) Backwater valve D) Catch basin - ANSWERSC) Backwater
valve
Which of the following first aid actions would you perform first if an operator inhales
chlorine gas?
A) Immediately remove victim from the contaminated area B) Immediately call a
physician or paramedic C) Immediately begin appropriate treatment D) Do nothing
because chlorine gas is nontoxic - ANSWERSB) Immediately call a physician or
paramedic
Which of these chemicals may be used for odor control in sewers?
A) Chlorine B) Muriatic acid C) Potassium chloride D) Sodium chloride - ANSWERSA)
Chlorine
Sources of excessively clear water in a collection system include
,A) A problem at the wastewater treatment plant B) A sanitary sewer leak C) Exfiltration
from a high water table D) Infiltration from a high water table - ANSWERSD) Infiltration
from a high water table
With the completion of a sewer cleaning job, which one of the following must be done at
the manhole?
A) Complete and sign timesheets B) Wash down the truck C) Wash down street around
work area, making sure the wash water is broomed into the M.H. D) None of the above -
ANSWERSWash down street around work area, making sure the wash water is
broomed into the M.H.
Lift station failures include ________ failure. A) dip tube B) electrical system C) inverted
siphon D) All of the above - ANSWERSB) electrical system
A kilowatt (KW) is equivalent to
What information would you consider while clearing a stoppage in a sewer?
A) Nothing-start adding pressurized water to clear the stoppage B) Cause of stoppage
C) Time of day D) Staffing requirements - ANSWERSB) Cause of stoppage
What tools are used with a power rodder?
A) Finger grips B) Pruning shears C) Spring blades D) Videotape camera -
ANSWERSC) Spring blades
Which of the following should be inspected when responding to a lift station alarm?
A) Amount of screenings and trash removals B) Wet well inlet velocities C) Operation of
gas masks D) Motor control center and power panel - ANSWERSD) Motor control
center and power panel
The minimum scouring velocity normally used for sanitary collection lines is A) 1.0 ft/sec
B) 2.0 ft/sec C) 5.0 ft/sec D) 10.0 ft/sec - ANSWERSB) 2.0 ft/sec
Tools used for sewer rodding include
A) Lag screw B) Porcupine C) Wildebeest D) Set screw - ANSWERSB) Porcupine
What equipment is effective in removing an emergency stoppage?
A) Strip chart recorder B) Ultrasonic meter C) Front-end loader D) Hand rodder -
ANSWERSD) Hand rodder
, Employers must provide employees with information about possible health effects from
contact with hazardous materials. This is called "right-to-know" legislation. Which
document provides "right-to-know"?
A) Material Safety Data Sheet B) NPDES permit C) Sewer ordinance D) Clean Water
Act - ANSWERSA) Material Safety Data Sheet
A) .67 amperes at a voltage of 120 B) 746 watts C) 1.34 horsepower D) 1,000
megacycles - ANSWERSC) 1.34 horsepower
Roots can enter collection systems through A) Air gaps B) Manhole covers C) Pipe
cracks D) Inflatable dams - ANSWERSC) Pipe cracks
The purpose of a lift station sign-in log is to
A) Budget lift station visits B) Identify who makes changes in station operation C) Track
employee movement for disciplinary actions D) All of the above - ANSWERSB) Identify
who makes changes in station operation
What will happen if the discharge valve on a centrifugal pump is partially closed?
A) Amperage will increase, discharge head will increase B) Amperage will decrease,
discharge head will increase C) Amperage will decrease, discharge head will remain
constant D) Amperage will decrease, discharge head will decrease - ANSWERSD)
Amperage will decrease, discharge head will decrease
As the impeller wears on a pump, the pump efficiency will
A) Decrease B) Improve C) Increase D) Not change - ANSWERSA) Decrease
"Schedule 40" refers to pipe
A) flow capacity B) friction loss C) tubing strength D) wall thickness - ANSWERSD) wall
thickness
centrifugal pump parts include
A) diaphragm B) piston C) rotor D) volute - ANSWERSD) volute
When packing a centrifugal pump, the-packing gland should be tightened
A) slowly over a period of several hours B) to 20 ft-lb C) with wrench and then backed
off a quarter turn D) none of the above - ANSWERSA) slowly over a period of several
hours
A venturi meter measures quantity of fluid by
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
A pump is delivering less than the expected rate of discharge. What can cause this to
happen?
A) Discharge head too low B) Discharge head too high C) Check valve open D) Pump is
primed - ANSWERSB) Discharge head too high
Wearing rings are installed in a pump to - ANSWERSConcentrate wear on an
economically replaceable pan
A lantern ring is a - ANSWERSSpacer ring in a pump packing gland to improve seat
water distribution
Check valves are used on the discharge side of centrifugal pumps to -
ANSWERSPrevent water in discharge line from flowing back
What information must be on a warning tag attached to a switch that has been locked
out? - ANSWERSSignature of person who locked out the switch, who is the only person
authorized to remove tag
Enclosed, open, and semi-closed are terms used for the designation and selection of -
ANSWERSImpellers
Leakage of seal water around the packing on a centrifugal pump is required because it
acts as a(n) - ANSWERSLubricant
Why are gasoline and volatile solvents objectionable where present in a sewer?
A) They produce an explosion hazard B) They tend to cause the solids to vaporize C)
They will coagulate floatables and cause stoppages D) They represent wasted
recourses - ANSWERSA) They produce an explosion hazard
Biological activity in long, sluggish-flow, flat-grade sewer lines will likely
A) Decrease line sediment B) Create oxygen deficiency in the air in manholes, sewers,
or wet wells C) Stop toxic gas production D) Increase the "carrying capacity" of the line -
ANSWERSB) Create oxygen deficiency in the air in manholes, sewers, or wet wells
Task least likely to be preformed by collection systems personnel is
,A) Cleaning sewer stoppages B) Making water connections C) Inspecting/testing
manholes D) Maintaining collection systems equipment - ANSWERSB) Making water
connections
Biological hazards in collection system operations include
A) Noxious or toxic gases or vapors B) Oxygen deficiency C) Physical injuries D)
Hepatitis A - ANSWERSD) Hepatitis A
What must be checked before entering a manhole?
A) Atmosphere in manhole B) Safety equipment C) Proper barricades or warning
devices around a manhole D) All of the above - ANSWERSD) All of the above
When opening a power rodder properly, do the following
A) Push the rodding tool into an obstruction and hold it there B) Rotate rod in one
position C) Make sure all the torque is out of a broken rod D) Rod past dropped joints or
through a crushed pipe - ANSWERSC) Make sure all the torque is out of a broken rod
You should get out of the manhole as soon as
A) Lower explosive level alarm activates B) H2S exceeds 5 ppm C) Flow increases
slightly D) None of the above - ANSWERSA) Lower explosive level alarm activates
A common name appurtenance used to keep an accidental flow of wastewater from
entering a building is called
A) Barrel B) Cleanout C) Backwater valve D) Catch basin - ANSWERSC) Backwater
valve
Which of the following first aid actions would you perform first if an operator inhales
chlorine gas?
A) Immediately remove victim from the contaminated area B) Immediately call a
physician or paramedic C) Immediately begin appropriate treatment D) Do nothing
because chlorine gas is nontoxic - ANSWERSB) Immediately call a physician or
paramedic
Which of these chemicals may be used for odor control in sewers?
A) Chlorine B) Muriatic acid C) Potassium chloride D) Sodium chloride - ANSWERSA)
Chlorine
Sources of excessively clear water in a collection system include
,A) A problem at the wastewater treatment plant B) A sanitary sewer leak C) Exfiltration
from a high water table D) Infiltration from a high water table - ANSWERSD) Infiltration
from a high water table
With the completion of a sewer cleaning job, which one of the following must be done at
the manhole?
A) Complete and sign timesheets B) Wash down the truck C) Wash down street around
work area, making sure the wash water is broomed into the M.H. D) None of the above -
ANSWERSWash down street around work area, making sure the wash water is
broomed into the M.H.
Lift station failures include ________ failure. A) dip tube B) electrical system C) inverted
siphon D) All of the above - ANSWERSB) electrical system
A kilowatt (KW) is equivalent to
What information would you consider while clearing a stoppage in a sewer?
A) Nothing-start adding pressurized water to clear the stoppage B) Cause of stoppage
C) Time of day D) Staffing requirements - ANSWERSB) Cause of stoppage
What tools are used with a power rodder?
A) Finger grips B) Pruning shears C) Spring blades D) Videotape camera -
ANSWERSC) Spring blades
Which of the following should be inspected when responding to a lift station alarm?
A) Amount of screenings and trash removals B) Wet well inlet velocities C) Operation of
gas masks D) Motor control center and power panel - ANSWERSD) Motor control
center and power panel
The minimum scouring velocity normally used for sanitary collection lines is A) 1.0 ft/sec
B) 2.0 ft/sec C) 5.0 ft/sec D) 10.0 ft/sec - ANSWERSB) 2.0 ft/sec
Tools used for sewer rodding include
A) Lag screw B) Porcupine C) Wildebeest D) Set screw - ANSWERSB) Porcupine
What equipment is effective in removing an emergency stoppage?
A) Strip chart recorder B) Ultrasonic meter C) Front-end loader D) Hand rodder -
ANSWERSD) Hand rodder
, Employers must provide employees with information about possible health effects from
contact with hazardous materials. This is called "right-to-know" legislation. Which
document provides "right-to-know"?
A) Material Safety Data Sheet B) NPDES permit C) Sewer ordinance D) Clean Water
Act - ANSWERSA) Material Safety Data Sheet
A) .67 amperes at a voltage of 120 B) 746 watts C) 1.34 horsepower D) 1,000
megacycles - ANSWERSC) 1.34 horsepower
Roots can enter collection systems through A) Air gaps B) Manhole covers C) Pipe
cracks D) Inflatable dams - ANSWERSC) Pipe cracks
The purpose of a lift station sign-in log is to
A) Budget lift station visits B) Identify who makes changes in station operation C) Track
employee movement for disciplinary actions D) All of the above - ANSWERSB) Identify
who makes changes in station operation
What will happen if the discharge valve on a centrifugal pump is partially closed?
A) Amperage will increase, discharge head will increase B) Amperage will decrease,
discharge head will increase C) Amperage will decrease, discharge head will remain
constant D) Amperage will decrease, discharge head will decrease - ANSWERSD)
Amperage will decrease, discharge head will decrease
As the impeller wears on a pump, the pump efficiency will
A) Decrease B) Improve C) Increase D) Not change - ANSWERSA) Decrease
"Schedule 40" refers to pipe
A) flow capacity B) friction loss C) tubing strength D) wall thickness - ANSWERSD) wall
thickness
centrifugal pump parts include
A) diaphragm B) piston C) rotor D) volute - ANSWERSD) volute
When packing a centrifugal pump, the-packing gland should be tightened
A) slowly over a period of several hours B) to 20 ft-lb C) with wrench and then backed
off a quarter turn D) none of the above - ANSWERSA) slowly over a period of several
hours
A venturi meter measures quantity of fluid by
