WATER OPERATOR CLASS D STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
Ground water is tapped by - Answer-wells
Potable water - Answer-water that is free of disease-causing organisms, has a
chlorine residual and is safe for human consumption
Before construction, the utility must submit engineering plans to - Answer-the AWWA
Operators should keep records of 5 types of things - Answer-water usage; system
pressure; sample results; repairs; amount of chlorine used
Reports by Surface water systems must be received by the TCEQ at this location -
Answer-Austin
Reports for Surface water systems must be received by the TCEQ by - Answer-the
15th of the following month
How often are ground water systems are required to compile reports? - Answer-
monthly
Reports for Ground Water Systems must be kept for... - Answer-inspection or review
but are not required to mail them in
Types of systems that are not required to compile monthly reports - Answer-Ground
Water & Surface Water that serve less than 100 connections
Water is never found in nature with this characteristic - Answer-pure
Name the 5 physical characteristics of water - Answer-Temperature; Turbidity; Color;
Taste and Odor
Chemical Characteristics of water - Answer-Hardness; pH; Solids; Gases
Turbidity - Answer-the amount of suspended matter such as clay, silt, organic matter
and microorganisms in water
Color in water can result from - Answer-mineral or organic matter
True color - Answer-dissolved in water; cannot be removed by filtering
Apparent Color - Answer-suspended in water; can be filtered out
an example of true color - Answer-tea
,an example of apparent color - Answer-red water caused by oxidized iron
algae; bacteria; organic matter; gases; and chemicals give what to water - Answer-
taste and color
chemicals in water are measured in - Answer-mg/L
mg/L - Answer-milligrams per liter
How often should surface water be sampled for chemical analysis? - Answer-once a
year
How often should ground water be sampled for chemical analysis? - Answer-every 3
years
Hardness is caused by - Answer-calcium and magnesium and other minerals
The pH scale ranges from - Answer-0 to 14
acidic on the pH scale is (number range) - Answer-from 0 to 7
basic on the pH scale is - Answer-from 7 to 14
neutral on the pH scales is - Answer-7
Solids that can be removed by filtering - Answer-suspended
Solids that cannot be removed by filtering - Answer-dissolved
Name 3 Common gases found in water - Answer-hydrogen sulfide; carbon dioxide;
methane
chemically water is made up of - Answer-two atoms hydrogen; one atom oxygen
Nature's way of recycling water - Answer-the hydrological cycle
How should customer complaints be treated? - Answer-as legitimate and
investigated as soon as possible
In small water systems the operator is often - Answer-a meter reader, repair crew
and pump operator; the highest paid employee; a college graduate
Stuffers are - Answer-sent to customers in billing statements
Suffers can be many things. Name 4. - Answer-departments to call for service;
explanations of utility policy; a history of the utility; tips on water conservation
Delinquent payment notices should be (4 things) - Answer-tactful and tasteful; mailed
in an envelope; businesslike
,The EPA requires community water systems to The water system must provide
customers with a report on the system's water quality how often? - Answer-yearly
The annual system water quality report should be - Answer-attractive; easy to
understand
The annual system water quality report can build what - Answer-goodwill and trust
with the customer
Good treatment of employees includes 3 primary things - Answer-fair wages;
benefits; safe working conditions
After action is taken on a complaint the employee should do this to to make sure
everything is satisfactory(OK). - Answer-follow up with a phone call, post card or e-
mail
Give 3 reasons that water plant facilities should be kept neat and clean - Answer-to
indicate a professional attitude; to keep public support; to keep confidence in the
water quality
The employee should listen to special requests and look for ways to oblige the
customer within - Answer-utility policy
The chemical symbol for water - Answer-H2O
Three forms of water - Answer-solid(ice); liquid(water); water(vapor/gas)
Hydrological cycle - Answer-the natural exchange of water between the earth and
atmosphere
Average water use depends on these 5 things - Answer-temperature; rainfall; cost;
supply; economic level
Ground Water is located - Answer-located below the earth's surface (underground)
Name the three places that surface water comes from. - Answer-rivers; lakes;
reservoirs
According to the TCEQ, future water supplies will be - Answer-more scarce
Raw Water - Answer-Surface water or ground water prior to treatment
the quality water standard of public water supplies is - Answer-drinking
one of the most important purposes of a public water supply - Answer-fire fighting
Organic matter includes - Answer-matter that is alive or once was alive
The most important treatment process is - Answer-disinfection
, the treatment process which destroys disease-causing organisms - Answer-
disinfection
Public water systems are required to compile a monthly report showing - Answer-
disinfection
Most ground water is relatively free of - Answer-turbidity
Turbidity can be a major problem in - Answer-surface water
Color level should be - Answer-less than or equal to 15 units
Turbidity is measured in this unit - Answer-NTUs
Taste and Odor Units - Answer-TONs
Water is considered hard when - Answer-it exceeds 100 mg/L of calcium carbonate
A gallon of water weighs - Answer-8.34 pounds
1 mg/L of water equals - Answer-1 ppm by weight
ppm - Answer-part per million
List 5 characteristics of Hydrogen Sulfide - Answer-heavier than air; colorless;
flammable; toxic; has a rotten egg odor
Excessive nitrates in drinking water can cause - Answer-blue baby syndrome in
infants
Excessive amounts of fluoride may cause - Answer-mottling/staining of teeth
byproducts of chlorination - Answer-Trihalomethanes THMs; Haloacetic Acids HAAs
Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids may cause problems with (4 health related
items) - Answer-the liver; kidneys; central nervous systems; increase cancer risks
What is the Action level for Copper? (by the Lead and Copper rule) - Answer-1.3
mg/L
What is the Action level for Lead? (by the Lead and Copper rule) - Answer-.015
Turbidity limits - Answer-less than or equal to .3 NTU
What is the acceptable Fluoride range in water? - Answer-.7 to 1.0 mg/L
Nitrates Limits - Answer-less than or equal to 20mg/L as nitrogen
Dissolved solids limits - Answer-less than or equal to 1000 mg/L
GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
Ground water is tapped by - Answer-wells
Potable water - Answer-water that is free of disease-causing organisms, has a
chlorine residual and is safe for human consumption
Before construction, the utility must submit engineering plans to - Answer-the AWWA
Operators should keep records of 5 types of things - Answer-water usage; system
pressure; sample results; repairs; amount of chlorine used
Reports by Surface water systems must be received by the TCEQ at this location -
Answer-Austin
Reports for Surface water systems must be received by the TCEQ by - Answer-the
15th of the following month
How often are ground water systems are required to compile reports? - Answer-
monthly
Reports for Ground Water Systems must be kept for... - Answer-inspection or review
but are not required to mail them in
Types of systems that are not required to compile monthly reports - Answer-Ground
Water & Surface Water that serve less than 100 connections
Water is never found in nature with this characteristic - Answer-pure
Name the 5 physical characteristics of water - Answer-Temperature; Turbidity; Color;
Taste and Odor
Chemical Characteristics of water - Answer-Hardness; pH; Solids; Gases
Turbidity - Answer-the amount of suspended matter such as clay, silt, organic matter
and microorganisms in water
Color in water can result from - Answer-mineral or organic matter
True color - Answer-dissolved in water; cannot be removed by filtering
Apparent Color - Answer-suspended in water; can be filtered out
an example of true color - Answer-tea
,an example of apparent color - Answer-red water caused by oxidized iron
algae; bacteria; organic matter; gases; and chemicals give what to water - Answer-
taste and color
chemicals in water are measured in - Answer-mg/L
mg/L - Answer-milligrams per liter
How often should surface water be sampled for chemical analysis? - Answer-once a
year
How often should ground water be sampled for chemical analysis? - Answer-every 3
years
Hardness is caused by - Answer-calcium and magnesium and other minerals
The pH scale ranges from - Answer-0 to 14
acidic on the pH scale is (number range) - Answer-from 0 to 7
basic on the pH scale is - Answer-from 7 to 14
neutral on the pH scales is - Answer-7
Solids that can be removed by filtering - Answer-suspended
Solids that cannot be removed by filtering - Answer-dissolved
Name 3 Common gases found in water - Answer-hydrogen sulfide; carbon dioxide;
methane
chemically water is made up of - Answer-two atoms hydrogen; one atom oxygen
Nature's way of recycling water - Answer-the hydrological cycle
How should customer complaints be treated? - Answer-as legitimate and
investigated as soon as possible
In small water systems the operator is often - Answer-a meter reader, repair crew
and pump operator; the highest paid employee; a college graduate
Stuffers are - Answer-sent to customers in billing statements
Suffers can be many things. Name 4. - Answer-departments to call for service;
explanations of utility policy; a history of the utility; tips on water conservation
Delinquent payment notices should be (4 things) - Answer-tactful and tasteful; mailed
in an envelope; businesslike
,The EPA requires community water systems to The water system must provide
customers with a report on the system's water quality how often? - Answer-yearly
The annual system water quality report should be - Answer-attractive; easy to
understand
The annual system water quality report can build what - Answer-goodwill and trust
with the customer
Good treatment of employees includes 3 primary things - Answer-fair wages;
benefits; safe working conditions
After action is taken on a complaint the employee should do this to to make sure
everything is satisfactory(OK). - Answer-follow up with a phone call, post card or e-
Give 3 reasons that water plant facilities should be kept neat and clean - Answer-to
indicate a professional attitude; to keep public support; to keep confidence in the
water quality
The employee should listen to special requests and look for ways to oblige the
customer within - Answer-utility policy
The chemical symbol for water - Answer-H2O
Three forms of water - Answer-solid(ice); liquid(water); water(vapor/gas)
Hydrological cycle - Answer-the natural exchange of water between the earth and
atmosphere
Average water use depends on these 5 things - Answer-temperature; rainfall; cost;
supply; economic level
Ground Water is located - Answer-located below the earth's surface (underground)
Name the three places that surface water comes from. - Answer-rivers; lakes;
reservoirs
According to the TCEQ, future water supplies will be - Answer-more scarce
Raw Water - Answer-Surface water or ground water prior to treatment
the quality water standard of public water supplies is - Answer-drinking
one of the most important purposes of a public water supply - Answer-fire fighting
Organic matter includes - Answer-matter that is alive or once was alive
The most important treatment process is - Answer-disinfection
, the treatment process which destroys disease-causing organisms - Answer-
disinfection
Public water systems are required to compile a monthly report showing - Answer-
disinfection
Most ground water is relatively free of - Answer-turbidity
Turbidity can be a major problem in - Answer-surface water
Color level should be - Answer-less than or equal to 15 units
Turbidity is measured in this unit - Answer-NTUs
Taste and Odor Units - Answer-TONs
Water is considered hard when - Answer-it exceeds 100 mg/L of calcium carbonate
A gallon of water weighs - Answer-8.34 pounds
1 mg/L of water equals - Answer-1 ppm by weight
ppm - Answer-part per million
List 5 characteristics of Hydrogen Sulfide - Answer-heavier than air; colorless;
flammable; toxic; has a rotten egg odor
Excessive nitrates in drinking water can cause - Answer-blue baby syndrome in
infants
Excessive amounts of fluoride may cause - Answer-mottling/staining of teeth
byproducts of chlorination - Answer-Trihalomethanes THMs; Haloacetic Acids HAAs
Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids may cause problems with (4 health related
items) - Answer-the liver; kidneys; central nervous systems; increase cancer risks
What is the Action level for Copper? (by the Lead and Copper rule) - Answer-1.3
mg/L
What is the Action level for Lead? (by the Lead and Copper rule) - Answer-.015
Turbidity limits - Answer-less than or equal to .3 NTU
What is the acceptable Fluoride range in water? - Answer-.7 to 1.0 mg/L
Nitrates Limits - Answer-less than or equal to 20mg/L as nitrogen
Dissolved solids limits - Answer-less than or equal to 1000 mg/L
