CWEA Collection Systems Maintenance EXAM
STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
BANK AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
<BRAND NEW VERSION>
1. A Flagger should Stand?
A. On the shoulder adjacent to traffic being controlled
B. In the closed lane before stopping vehicle traffic
C. In the traffic lane.
D. As stated in "A" or "B" above. - ANSWER ✓ D. As stated in "A" or
"B" above.
2. Legally responsible officials are required to report category 1 sanitary sewer
overflows?
A. Within 30 days
B. Before end of the day
C. As soon as possible
D. Within 2 hours - ANSWER ✓ D. Within 2 hours
3. When working in confined spaces or sewers, what form of lighting would
you use?
A. Mirrors to direct the sunlight or explosion proof lighting.
B. Ordinary electric lights
C. Propane, Gas, or kerosene lanterns
D. Special matches - ANSWER ✓ A. Mirrors to direct the sunlight or
explosion proof lighting.
4. Responsibilities of supervisors and managers for a safety program include:
a. not providing a written safety policy.
b. never provide safety training.
c. identify and correct unsafe work practices.
, d. never investigate accidents. - ANSWER ✓ c. identify and
correct unsafe work practices.
5. What is the intent of the OSHA regulations?
a. To provide adequate staffing.
b. To put managers in jail.
c. To provide a safe work environment.
d. To provide a safe home environment. - ANSWER ✓ c. To
provide a safe work environment.
6. What are the four major types of records a utility must maintain?
a. Equipment/maintenance, operations, procurement/inventory,
personal.
b. Equipment/maintenance, operations, procurement/inventory,
personnel.
c. Equipment/maintenance, operations, credit, personal.
d. Equipment/maintenance, sales, procurement/inventory,
personal. - ANSWER ✓ b. Equipment/maintenance,
operations, procurement/inventory, personnel.
7. Why are gasoline and volatile solvents objectionable when present in a
sewer? - ANSWER ✓ They produce an explosion hazard
8. You should never attempt to install, maintain, repair or replace electrical
equipment panels, controls, wiring or circuits unless - ANSWER ✓ You
know what you are doing, are qualified and are authorized
9. What are the different areas of traffic zones? - ANSWER ✓ Advance
Warning Area, Transition Area, Activity Area (buffer space and work
space), Termination Area. Could be 4 or 5, justify your answer on the test!
10.Why should hydrogen sulfide be controlled? - ANSWER ✓ to protect from
corrosion and odors
11.Personnel entering a Permit Required Confined Space must have the
following training - ANSWER ✓ entry and rescue
,12.To find protective gear before application of a product, you should: -
ANSWER ✓ look at the MSDS
13.The gas most commonly associated with septic wastewater is - ANSWER ✓
Hydrogen Sulfide
14.The lack of an unpleasant odor in a manhole, lift station or other structures
does not always mean that dangerous gases are not present because: -
ANSWER ✓ some dangerous gasses are odorless (for example, carbon
monoxide)
15.What are the four conditions necessary to create an explosion? - ANSWER
✓ combustible gas, adequate oxygen, heat and proper mixing of gas and
oxygen
16.What does the "transition area" mean in traffic control? - ANSWER ✓ It
moves traffic out of its normal path
17.What elements should be considered to improve worker safety in High speed
Temporary Traffic control Zones? - ANSWER ✓ Rerouting traffic around
the work site, positioning of law enforcement officers in the temporary
traffic control zone, and work zone training
18.What key features would you need to address when developing an S.O.P. for
a Lift Station failure? - ANSWER ✓ Traffic Control Plan, By-Pass
connections, and Spill containment
19.What tools are used with a power rodder? - ANSWER ✓ Spring Blades
20.Tools used for sewer rodding include: - ANSWER ✓ porcupine, root saw,
square bar cork screw
21.What tool would you use to cut VCP pipe? - ANSWER ✓ Chain Pipe Cutter
22.Which conditions should a gas detection device test for? - ANSWER ✓
Hydrogen sulfide, explosive/flammable gases, oxygen
, 23.What does "LEL" mean on a gas detection meter? - ANSWER ✓ Lower
Explosive Limit
24.The oxygen level alarm normally goes off if oxygen levels are below: -
ANSWER ✓ 19.5 percent
25.When developing an S.O.P. for scheduled maintenance of electrical
equipment, what program should be addressed as a primary safety guideline?
- ANSWER ✓ The L.O.T.O Program
26.What does L.O.T.O. Stand for? - ANSWER ✓ Lock out tag out
27.What document would you require to be referenced when developing an
S.O.p. for hazardous substace spill clean up? - ANSWER ✓ M.S.D.S.
28.in developing an S.O.P. for air monitoring in a Permit Required Confined
Space you would include what two factors? - ANSWER ✓ Placement of the
blower and a weather forecast
29.According to the State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-003-
DWQ, each enrollee must develop and implement a system-specific: -
ANSWER ✓ SSMP (Sewer System Management Plan)
30.How long do you have to report a category 1 SSO? - ANSWER ✓ 2 hours
31.To report in the Statewide SSO Data-base California Integrated Water
Quality System (CIWQS) regarding the location of a Category 2 SSO, how
must you report the location? - ANSWER ✓ Using the GPS coordinates
32.Biological activity in long, sluggish-flow, flat grade sewer lines will likely
cause: - ANSWER ✓ odors
33.Flatter sewer line grades may cause added sewer maintenance expense and
odor nuisance. This is caused by what? - ANSWER ✓ A decrease in velocity
which allows organic and inorganic solids to settle out. This, in turn, allows
biological activity to happen which corrodes the pipe and releases hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) which smells like rotten eggs
STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS
BANK AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
<BRAND NEW VERSION>
1. A Flagger should Stand?
A. On the shoulder adjacent to traffic being controlled
B. In the closed lane before stopping vehicle traffic
C. In the traffic lane.
D. As stated in "A" or "B" above. - ANSWER ✓ D. As stated in "A" or
"B" above.
2. Legally responsible officials are required to report category 1 sanitary sewer
overflows?
A. Within 30 days
B. Before end of the day
C. As soon as possible
D. Within 2 hours - ANSWER ✓ D. Within 2 hours
3. When working in confined spaces or sewers, what form of lighting would
you use?
A. Mirrors to direct the sunlight or explosion proof lighting.
B. Ordinary electric lights
C. Propane, Gas, or kerosene lanterns
D. Special matches - ANSWER ✓ A. Mirrors to direct the sunlight or
explosion proof lighting.
4. Responsibilities of supervisors and managers for a safety program include:
a. not providing a written safety policy.
b. never provide safety training.
c. identify and correct unsafe work practices.
, d. never investigate accidents. - ANSWER ✓ c. identify and
correct unsafe work practices.
5. What is the intent of the OSHA regulations?
a. To provide adequate staffing.
b. To put managers in jail.
c. To provide a safe work environment.
d. To provide a safe home environment. - ANSWER ✓ c. To
provide a safe work environment.
6. What are the four major types of records a utility must maintain?
a. Equipment/maintenance, operations, procurement/inventory,
personal.
b. Equipment/maintenance, operations, procurement/inventory,
personnel.
c. Equipment/maintenance, operations, credit, personal.
d. Equipment/maintenance, sales, procurement/inventory,
personal. - ANSWER ✓ b. Equipment/maintenance,
operations, procurement/inventory, personnel.
7. Why are gasoline and volatile solvents objectionable when present in a
sewer? - ANSWER ✓ They produce an explosion hazard
8. You should never attempt to install, maintain, repair or replace electrical
equipment panels, controls, wiring or circuits unless - ANSWER ✓ You
know what you are doing, are qualified and are authorized
9. What are the different areas of traffic zones? - ANSWER ✓ Advance
Warning Area, Transition Area, Activity Area (buffer space and work
space), Termination Area. Could be 4 or 5, justify your answer on the test!
10.Why should hydrogen sulfide be controlled? - ANSWER ✓ to protect from
corrosion and odors
11.Personnel entering a Permit Required Confined Space must have the
following training - ANSWER ✓ entry and rescue
,12.To find protective gear before application of a product, you should: -
ANSWER ✓ look at the MSDS
13.The gas most commonly associated with septic wastewater is - ANSWER ✓
Hydrogen Sulfide
14.The lack of an unpleasant odor in a manhole, lift station or other structures
does not always mean that dangerous gases are not present because: -
ANSWER ✓ some dangerous gasses are odorless (for example, carbon
monoxide)
15.What are the four conditions necessary to create an explosion? - ANSWER
✓ combustible gas, adequate oxygen, heat and proper mixing of gas and
oxygen
16.What does the "transition area" mean in traffic control? - ANSWER ✓ It
moves traffic out of its normal path
17.What elements should be considered to improve worker safety in High speed
Temporary Traffic control Zones? - ANSWER ✓ Rerouting traffic around
the work site, positioning of law enforcement officers in the temporary
traffic control zone, and work zone training
18.What key features would you need to address when developing an S.O.P. for
a Lift Station failure? - ANSWER ✓ Traffic Control Plan, By-Pass
connections, and Spill containment
19.What tools are used with a power rodder? - ANSWER ✓ Spring Blades
20.Tools used for sewer rodding include: - ANSWER ✓ porcupine, root saw,
square bar cork screw
21.What tool would you use to cut VCP pipe? - ANSWER ✓ Chain Pipe Cutter
22.Which conditions should a gas detection device test for? - ANSWER ✓
Hydrogen sulfide, explosive/flammable gases, oxygen
, 23.What does "LEL" mean on a gas detection meter? - ANSWER ✓ Lower
Explosive Limit
24.The oxygen level alarm normally goes off if oxygen levels are below: -
ANSWER ✓ 19.5 percent
25.When developing an S.O.P. for scheduled maintenance of electrical
equipment, what program should be addressed as a primary safety guideline?
- ANSWER ✓ The L.O.T.O Program
26.What does L.O.T.O. Stand for? - ANSWER ✓ Lock out tag out
27.What document would you require to be referenced when developing an
S.O.p. for hazardous substace spill clean up? - ANSWER ✓ M.S.D.S.
28.in developing an S.O.P. for air monitoring in a Permit Required Confined
Space you would include what two factors? - ANSWER ✓ Placement of the
blower and a weather forecast
29.According to the State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2006-003-
DWQ, each enrollee must develop and implement a system-specific: -
ANSWER ✓ SSMP (Sewer System Management Plan)
30.How long do you have to report a category 1 SSO? - ANSWER ✓ 2 hours
31.To report in the Statewide SSO Data-base California Integrated Water
Quality System (CIWQS) regarding the location of a Category 2 SSO, how
must you report the location? - ANSWER ✓ Using the GPS coordinates
32.Biological activity in long, sluggish-flow, flat grade sewer lines will likely
cause: - ANSWER ✓ odors
33.Flatter sewer line grades may cause added sewer maintenance expense and
odor nuisance. This is caused by what? - ANSWER ✓ A decrease in velocity
which allows organic and inorganic solids to settle out. This, in turn, allows
biological activity to happen which corrodes the pipe and releases hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) which smells like rotten eggs
