WASTEWATER TREATMENT
OPERATOR EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW TESTED QUESTIONS
ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ acid. Answer: A substance that increases the hydrogen ion
concentration of a solution.
lowers PH
corrosive
◉ activated sludge. Answer: produced in raw or settled wastewater
by the growth of bacteria, in the presence of dissolved oxygen.
◉ activated sludge process. Answer: A biological wastewater
treatment process which speeds up the decomposition of wastes in
the wastewater being treated. Activated Sludge is added to
wastewater and the mixture (mixed liquor) is aerated and agitated.
After some time in the aeration tank, the activated sludge is allowed
to settle out by sedimentation and is disposed of (wasted) or reused
(returned to the aeration tank) as needed, the remaining wastewater
then undergoes more treatment.
◉ adsorption. Answer: The process of binding or sticking to a
surface.
,◉ advanced waste treatment. Answer: Any process of water
renovation that upgrades treated wastewater to meet specific reuse
requirements.
◉ aeration. Answer: the process by which air is circulated through,
mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.
◉ aerobes. Answer: Bacteria that require oxygen to grow
◉ aerobic bacteria. Answer: bacteria that use oxygen for cellular
respiration
◉ air lift. Answer: type of pump, air injected at the bottom to lift
water to the top, like percolator coffee pot
◉ algae. Answer: microscopic plants. live in or on water or on
structures near water, make o2 during day, use o2 at night, affect PH
and DO
◉ aliquot. Answer: A portion of a well-mixed sample removed for
testing
◉ alkalinity. Answer: ability of water to buffer acids
,◉ anaerobic. Answer: Process that does not require oxygen
◉ anaerobic bacteria. Answer: bacteria that do not require oxygen to
survive
◉ anaerobic digestion. Answer: is the decomposition of waste under
anaerobic conditions to produce biogas and a compost-like residue
◉ anoxic. Answer: oxygen deficient less than .5 ppm
◉ bacteria. Answer: (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular
spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that
reproduce by fission
◉ baffle. Answer: board used to direct flow, uniform velocities,
absorb energy, divert, guide, agitate liquids
◉ base. Answer: a compound that produces hydroxide ions in
solution. raises PH
◉ biomass. Answer: the total mass of organisms in a given area or
volume.
, ◉ biosolids. Answer: A primarily organic solid product produced by
wastewater treatment processes that can be beneficially recycled.
The word biosolids is replacing the word sludge when referring to
treated waste.
◉ Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Answer: A measure of the
amount of dissolved oxygen required to break down the organic
material in a given volume of water through aerobic biological
activity
◉ blank. Answer: sample being tested is not added
◉ buffer. Answer: A solution that minimizes changes in pH when
extraneous acids or bases are added to the solution.
◉ bulking. Answer: a condition arising when sludge floats rather
than settles in secondary sewage treatment. can be caused by
filamentous bacteria
◉ Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD). Answer: only
the BOD required to remove carbon. based
◉ cavitation. Answer: formation and collapse of gas bubbles due to
low pressure. can cause pitting. makes noise.
OPERATOR EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW TESTED QUESTIONS
ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ acid. Answer: A substance that increases the hydrogen ion
concentration of a solution.
lowers PH
corrosive
◉ activated sludge. Answer: produced in raw or settled wastewater
by the growth of bacteria, in the presence of dissolved oxygen.
◉ activated sludge process. Answer: A biological wastewater
treatment process which speeds up the decomposition of wastes in
the wastewater being treated. Activated Sludge is added to
wastewater and the mixture (mixed liquor) is aerated and agitated.
After some time in the aeration tank, the activated sludge is allowed
to settle out by sedimentation and is disposed of (wasted) or reused
(returned to the aeration tank) as needed, the remaining wastewater
then undergoes more treatment.
◉ adsorption. Answer: The process of binding or sticking to a
surface.
,◉ advanced waste treatment. Answer: Any process of water
renovation that upgrades treated wastewater to meet specific reuse
requirements.
◉ aeration. Answer: the process by which air is circulated through,
mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.
◉ aerobes. Answer: Bacteria that require oxygen to grow
◉ aerobic bacteria. Answer: bacteria that use oxygen for cellular
respiration
◉ air lift. Answer: type of pump, air injected at the bottom to lift
water to the top, like percolator coffee pot
◉ algae. Answer: microscopic plants. live in or on water or on
structures near water, make o2 during day, use o2 at night, affect PH
and DO
◉ aliquot. Answer: A portion of a well-mixed sample removed for
testing
◉ alkalinity. Answer: ability of water to buffer acids
,◉ anaerobic. Answer: Process that does not require oxygen
◉ anaerobic bacteria. Answer: bacteria that do not require oxygen to
survive
◉ anaerobic digestion. Answer: is the decomposition of waste under
anaerobic conditions to produce biogas and a compost-like residue
◉ anoxic. Answer: oxygen deficient less than .5 ppm
◉ bacteria. Answer: (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular
spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that
reproduce by fission
◉ baffle. Answer: board used to direct flow, uniform velocities,
absorb energy, divert, guide, agitate liquids
◉ base. Answer: a compound that produces hydroxide ions in
solution. raises PH
◉ biomass. Answer: the total mass of organisms in a given area or
volume.
, ◉ biosolids. Answer: A primarily organic solid product produced by
wastewater treatment processes that can be beneficially recycled.
The word biosolids is replacing the word sludge when referring to
treated waste.
◉ Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). Answer: A measure of the
amount of dissolved oxygen required to break down the organic
material in a given volume of water through aerobic biological
activity
◉ blank. Answer: sample being tested is not added
◉ buffer. Answer: A solution that minimizes changes in pH when
extraneous acids or bases are added to the solution.
◉ bulking. Answer: a condition arising when sludge floats rather
than settles in secondary sewage treatment. can be caused by
filamentous bacteria
◉ Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD). Answer: only
the BOD required to remove carbon. based
◉ cavitation. Answer: formation and collapse of gas bubbles due to
low pressure. can cause pitting. makes noise.
