Apwa Certified Stormwater Manager (Csm)
Practice Exam: Master The Watershed
SECTION 1: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (45%)
**1. What is the primary goal of stormwater management
programs?**
A. Increase groundwater extraction
B. Reduce potable water use
C. Protect water quality and reduce flooding
D. Eliminate all runoff
**Correct answer:** C. Protect water quality and reduce
flooding
**Rationale:** Effective stormwater management focuses on
minimizing flooding risks and preventing pollutants from
degrading surface and groundwater quality.
---
**2. The Clean Water Act primarily regulates stormwater
through which program?**
,A. Drinking water standards
B. Floodplain zoning
C. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)
D. Wetlands mitigation banking
**Correct answer:** C. The National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES)
**Rationale:** NPDES permits control point-source discharges,
including municipal and industrial stormwater. The Clean Water
Act establishes the NPDES permit program as the primary
regulatory mechanism for stormwater discharges.
---
**3. What does MS4 stand for?**
A. Municipal Stormwater Safety System
B. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
C. Multi-State Surface Water System
D. Managed Stormwater Storage Structure
**Correct answer:** B. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System
, **Rationale:** MS4s are publicly owned stormwater
conveyance systems regulated under the Clean Water Act.
They are designed to collect and convey stormwater separately
from sanitary sewage.
---
**4. Which pollutant is most commonly associated with urban
stormwater runoff?**
A. Mercury
B. Arsenic
C. Sediment
D. Carbon dioxide
**Correct answer:** C. Sediment
**Rationale:** Sediment is the most widespread pollutant in
urban stormwater runoff and often transports other
contaminants. It is a primary concern in stormwater
management programs.
---
**5. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) represents:**
Practice Exam: Master The Watershed
SECTION 1: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (45%)
**1. What is the primary goal of stormwater management
programs?**
A. Increase groundwater extraction
B. Reduce potable water use
C. Protect water quality and reduce flooding
D. Eliminate all runoff
**Correct answer:** C. Protect water quality and reduce
flooding
**Rationale:** Effective stormwater management focuses on
minimizing flooding risks and preventing pollutants from
degrading surface and groundwater quality.
---
**2. The Clean Water Act primarily regulates stormwater
through which program?**
,A. Drinking water standards
B. Floodplain zoning
C. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)
D. Wetlands mitigation banking
**Correct answer:** C. The National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES)
**Rationale:** NPDES permits control point-source discharges,
including municipal and industrial stormwater. The Clean Water
Act establishes the NPDES permit program as the primary
regulatory mechanism for stormwater discharges.
---
**3. What does MS4 stand for?**
A. Municipal Stormwater Safety System
B. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
C. Multi-State Surface Water System
D. Managed Stormwater Storage Structure
**Correct answer:** B. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System
, **Rationale:** MS4s are publicly owned stormwater
conveyance systems regulated under the Clean Water Act.
They are designed to collect and convey stormwater separately
from sanitary sewage.
---
**4. Which pollutant is most commonly associated with urban
stormwater runoff?**
A. Mercury
B. Arsenic
C. Sediment
D. Carbon dioxide
**Correct answer:** C. Sediment
**Rationale:** Sediment is the most widespread pollutant in
urban stormwater runoff and often transports other
contaminants. It is a primary concern in stormwater
management programs.
---
**5. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) represents:**
