Texas Wastewater A Exam Questions
& Answers With Guaranteed Accuracy
What is TCEQ doing to control "point source" pollution of the Texas waterways? -
CORRECT ANSWER-*Permitting of domestic wastewater plants
*Permitting of industrial wastewater plants
Describe proper design of force main wastewater lines. - CORRECT ANSWER-
Minimum two fps velocity with the smallest pump operating alone. Minimum four inch
diameter pipe with 150 psi rating.
What is Standard Dimension Ratio? - CORRECT ANSWER-Ratio of outside pipe
diameter (OD) to wall thickness (PVC)
Describe proper design of gravity wastewater lines. - CORRECT ANSWER-Designed to
flow half full ,under normal conditions, at a minimum of two fps and a maximum of ten
fps.
Manholes should have a minimum opening of? - CORRECT ANSWER-24 inches and
be at least 4 feet wide.
pH meters should be calibrated how often? What standards should be used for
calibration purposes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Daily with at least two buffers.
How does a "non-point source" of water pollution differ from a "point source"? -
CORRECT ANSWER-*Point source is easily to identify, monitor, and permit. *A non-
point source, while we may know it exists, it difficult to identify where it is discharged. In
most cases the discharge may be gradual over a very large area at multiple locations.
Therefore it is also hard if not impossible to monitor.
, D. Give three examples of "non-point source" pollution. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Storm
water run-off in areas not under storm water permitting.
b. Run-off from agricultural land c. Run-off from a mining operation
d. Run-off from cattle, hog, or chicken operation
Your activated sludge plant has thick blackish brown foam on it. What are the possible
problems and possible solutions? - CORRECT ANSWER-This is characteristic of
Nocardia filamentous bacteria. This filament and its relatives will be predominate when
sludge is old and food supply does not match the organisms available. Operating
conditions that support Nocardia are low food to microorganism ratio (F/M) and high
mean cell residence time (MCRT). Proper operational response would be to increase
wasting and get F/M and MCRT in line with the activated sludge process being utilized.
If the problem is extremely severe, chlorine may need to be applied to kill some of the
filamentous bacteria.
List at least six control tests which should be used to optimize the activated sludge
process. Provide a brief explanation of the purpose of each control test. - CORRECT
ANSWER-a. Dissolved oxygen
b. Return activated sludge (RAS) flows and MLSS concentration
c. Waste Activated sludge (WAS) flows and concentrations
d. pH
e. 30 Minute settleability test (SV30)
f. COD (BOD5 or CBOD5) required for permit compliance
g. MLSS and MLVSS concentration in the aeration basin
h. Influent flow, BOD and TSS concentration
i. Calculate F/M ratio, MCRT, and SVI
& Answers With Guaranteed Accuracy
What is TCEQ doing to control "point source" pollution of the Texas waterways? -
CORRECT ANSWER-*Permitting of domestic wastewater plants
*Permitting of industrial wastewater plants
Describe proper design of force main wastewater lines. - CORRECT ANSWER-
Minimum two fps velocity with the smallest pump operating alone. Minimum four inch
diameter pipe with 150 psi rating.
What is Standard Dimension Ratio? - CORRECT ANSWER-Ratio of outside pipe
diameter (OD) to wall thickness (PVC)
Describe proper design of gravity wastewater lines. - CORRECT ANSWER-Designed to
flow half full ,under normal conditions, at a minimum of two fps and a maximum of ten
fps.
Manholes should have a minimum opening of? - CORRECT ANSWER-24 inches and
be at least 4 feet wide.
pH meters should be calibrated how often? What standards should be used for
calibration purposes? - CORRECT ANSWER-Daily with at least two buffers.
How does a "non-point source" of water pollution differ from a "point source"? -
CORRECT ANSWER-*Point source is easily to identify, monitor, and permit. *A non-
point source, while we may know it exists, it difficult to identify where it is discharged. In
most cases the discharge may be gradual over a very large area at multiple locations.
Therefore it is also hard if not impossible to monitor.
, D. Give three examples of "non-point source" pollution. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Storm
water run-off in areas not under storm water permitting.
b. Run-off from agricultural land c. Run-off from a mining operation
d. Run-off from cattle, hog, or chicken operation
Your activated sludge plant has thick blackish brown foam on it. What are the possible
problems and possible solutions? - CORRECT ANSWER-This is characteristic of
Nocardia filamentous bacteria. This filament and its relatives will be predominate when
sludge is old and food supply does not match the organisms available. Operating
conditions that support Nocardia are low food to microorganism ratio (F/M) and high
mean cell residence time (MCRT). Proper operational response would be to increase
wasting and get F/M and MCRT in line with the activated sludge process being utilized.
If the problem is extremely severe, chlorine may need to be applied to kill some of the
filamentous bacteria.
List at least six control tests which should be used to optimize the activated sludge
process. Provide a brief explanation of the purpose of each control test. - CORRECT
ANSWER-a. Dissolved oxygen
b. Return activated sludge (RAS) flows and MLSS concentration
c. Waste Activated sludge (WAS) flows and concentrations
d. pH
e. 30 Minute settleability test (SV30)
f. COD (BOD5 or CBOD5) required for permit compliance
g. MLSS and MLVSS concentration in the aeration basin
h. Influent flow, BOD and TSS concentration
i. Calculate F/M ratio, MCRT, and SVI
