CWEA Collections System Maintenance Grade 3 Exam with Questions and Well Verified Answers [Graded A+] 2026/2027

CWEA CWEA CWEA Collections System Maintenance Grade 3 Exam with Questions and Well Verified Answers [Graded A+] 2026/2027 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. - Correct Answer-D. As stated in "A" or "B" above. 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 - Correct Answer-D. Within 2 hours 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 - Correct Answer-A. Mirrors to direct the sunlight or explosion proof lighting. What can happen if water-based substances are used to extinguish electrical fires? a. Nothing but extinguish the fire b. The fumes are not harmful c. Receive an electrical shock d. They will corrode the electrical contacts - Correct Answer-c. Receive an electrical shock When testing a manhole for explosive gases when should the first tests be made? a. After removing the manhole cover b. Before removing the manhole cover c. At any time d. After ventilation - Correct Answer-b. Before removing the manhole cover Atmospheric hazards encountered in manholes can include: a. non-explosive atmospheres. b. non-toxic atmosphere. c. lack of oxygen. d. non-flammable atmospheres. - Correct Answer-c. lack of oxygen. CWEA CWEA When setting up to ventilate a manhole, the air inlet should be how many feet above street level? a. 4.0 b. 3.0 c. 2.0 d. 1.0 - Correct Answer-c. 2.0 Which chemical may be used for odor control in a sewer system? a. Calcium chloride b. Hydrogen peroxide c. Oxidized aluminum d. Sodium chloride - Correct Answer-b. Hydrogen peroxide What information must be on a warning tag attached to a switch that has been locked out? a. Directions for removing tag. b. Name of nearest physician to call in case of emergency. c. Signature of person who locked out switch and who is the only person authorized to remove tag. d. Time to unlock switch. - Correct Answer-c. Signature of person who locked out switch and who is the only person authorized to remove tag. Under what conditions must each member of the rescue service practice permit space rescues? a. At least once a year in a simulated situation or by the satisfactory performance of an actual rescue. b. At least twice a year in simulated situations. c. At least once a year in simulated situation using non-representative space conditions d. At least four times a year. - Correct Answer-a. At least once a year in a simulated situation or by the satisfactory performance of an actual rescue. How is a permit-required space described? a. Has or may contain atmospheric, engulfment, design, or other serious health/safety hazard. b. Is large enough to enter and work in and is meant for continuous occupancy. c. Is large enough to enter and work in and has an unrestricted entry/exit. d. Never contains an atmospheric or engulfment hazard. - Correct Answer-a. Has or may contain atmospheric, engulfment, design, or other serious health/safety hazard. What are the three duties of personnel in a Confined Space entry? a. Authorized entrants, parking attendants, entry supervisors. b. Unauthorized entrants, attendants, entry supervisors. c. Authorized entrants, attendants, entry supervisors. d. Authorized entrants, attendants, evening supervisors - Correct Answer-c. Authorized entrants, attendants, entry supervisors. CWEA CWEA What is an important element of hydrogen sulfide production? a. Flow velocity. b. Pipe materials. c. Amount of odor present. d. Amount of inorganic materials. - Correct Answer-a. Flow velocity. Which of the following is the most common factor leading to the generation of hydrogen sulfide in sewers? a. Anaerobic conditions. b. Constantly high velocity of flow in sewers. c. Low concentrations of ferrous sulfide. d. Presence of highly soluble fats and oils. - Correct Answer-a. Anaerobic conditions. A category 2 SSO is: a. any SSO which does not reach surface waters. b. not reportable. c. preventable. d. any SSO which is not category 1. - Correct Answer-d. any SSO which is not category 1. Which tool would you use for cleaning under a pipe, or hard dirt near a pipe? a. Miner's pick. b. Wrench. c. Drill. d. Hammer. - Correct Answer-a. Miner's pick. A torque wrench is used to tighten which device? a. Pipe clamp. b. Drill chuck. c. Light bulb. d. Sheet metal screw - Correct Answer-a. Pipe clamp. Which unit uses high water pressure and a vacuum to clean sewer lines? a. Jetter b. Mechanical rodder c. Combination unit d. Bucket machine - Correct Answer-c. Combination unit In sewer maintenance, what is a pig? a. A ball forced through a sewer line. b. A power rod. c. Any foul smelling equipment. d. The hydraulic rodding truck. - Correct Answer-a. A ball forced through a sewer line. CWEA CWEA When pouring a concrete slab, which of the following tools is used to finish the concrete? a. Grasshopper. b. Tamper. c. Trowel. d. Vibrator. - Correct Answer-c. Trowel. What tool is used to snare a broken section of sewer rod? a. Square stock corkscrew. b. Auger. c. Pickup tool. d. Pull out tool. - Correct Answer-c. Pickup tool. Why is the replacement of wastewater collection systems in some downtown streets difficult? a. Crowding of other underground utilities. b. Records have not been maintained properly and the collection system is lost. c. Some people have landscaped their backyards over the collection system and do not want their yards dug up. d. The streets will have to be paved again - Correct Answer-a. Crowding of other underground utilities. How can the velocity of water flowing in a sewer be estimated? a. Driving between manholes and reading the speedometer. b. Measuring the Manning's roughness coefficient for the sewer. c. Measuring the time it takes for the dye to be carried by the wastewater between the two manholes. d. Measuring the time it takes to run between the two manholes. - Correct Answer-c. Measuring the time it takes for the dye to be carried by the wastewater between the two manholes. Drawings which are considered "As Built" would be? a. Construction drawings issued to the contractor. b. Corrected construction drawings showing changes made in the field installation. c. Detailed drawings of proposed construction. d. Sectional maps on file. - Correct Answer-b. Corrected construction drawings showing changes made in the field installation. In lieu of a shorting system, the sides or the walls of an excavation, or trench, may be: a. sloped 3:1. b. sloped 1:3. c. sloped 2:1. d. sloped 1:1. - Correct Answer-a. sloped 3:1. When a water main must be laid under a sewer main, the sewer pipe must be: a. lined with epoxy. CWEA CWEA b. cleaned carefully. c. replaced with water type pipe with pressure tight joints. d. taken out while the water main is being installed. - Correct Answer-c. replaced with water type pipe with pressure tight joints. Hydrogen peroxide controls odors in sewers by: a. decreasing the dissolved oxygen. b. neutralizing the PH. c. oxidizing sulfide compounds. d. providing a source of hydrogen ions. - Correct Answer-c. oxidizing sulfide compounds. Construction of a wastewater pipeline under a highway or railway without disrupting the traffic is done by? a. Drag lining. b. Dredging. c. Embankment excavation. d. Boring and jacking. - Correct Answer-d. Boring and jacking. When a grade conflict exists between a water main and a sewer main, which of the following is the best solution? a. Build a manhole around the sewer main and continue the water main through the manhole. b. Drop the sewer service under the water main and let it work like a siphon. c. Have the water main adjusted and hold the grade on the sewer main. d. Raise the sewer over the water main and install a sewer pump station. - Correct Answer-c. Have the water main adjusted and hold the grade on the sewer main. The reason newly constructed collection system sewers should be inspected is to: a. determine if the contractor has complied with plans and specifications. b. determine if smoke tests will be successful. c. determine if dye tests will be successful. d. determine if the streets are paved. - Correct Answer-a. determine if the contractor has complied with plans and specifications. A source of infiltration in a collection system is: a. new pipes. b. proper joint pipes. c. pipe liners d. broken pipe joints - Correct Answer-d. broken pipe joints What are the advantages of a video tape recording system? a. Cheaper than a Polaroid camera. b. Record and play private video tapes. CWEA CWEA c. The ability to see what's happening when the camera is underwater. d. The length and severity of defective areas that can be recorded for later study. - Correct Answer-d. The length and severity of defective areas that can be recorded for later study. Before conducting smoke testing you should: a. warn the public after smoke testing is completed. b. notify local police and fire departments only if a fire is started. c. notify local animal control departments in advance of testing. d. notify public, local police, and fire departments in advance of testing. - Correct Answer-d. notify public, local police, and fire departments in advance of testing. Manholes are installed in sewer lines for the access of: a. backflow devices. b. personnel and materials c. traffic control devices. d. survey equipment. - Correct Answer-b. personnel and materials Anaerobic wastewater is frequently corrosive to materials it contacts, especially: a. coal tar enamel. b. concrete. c. stainless Steel. d. plastic. - Correct Answer-b. concrete. Pipe materials that are the least susceptible to corrosion by acids formed from gases generated in sewers is: a. ACP. b. CIP. c. RCP. d. VCP. - Correct Answer-d. VCP. Repairs to manholes include: a. adjusting the alignment. b. correcting cavitation damages. c. raising frame and cover to grade. d. tightening packing - Correct Answer-c. raising frame and cover to grade. Liners are installed in sewers to correct problems caused by: a. grade alignment. b. grease. c. grit. d. infiltration. - Correct Answer-d. infiltration. A kilowatt is the equivalent of: a. 0.67 amperes at a voltage of 120. b. 1.34 horsepower. c. 746 watts. CWEA CWEA d. 1,000 megacycles. - Correct Answer-b. 1.34 horsepower. What factors should be considered when providing trench shoring? a. Grade of sewer. b. Pipe material. c. Structures or sources of vibration near trenches. d. Cost of shoring. - Correct Answer-c. Structures or sources of vibration near trenches. When sewer line grades are too flat, an odor problem is likely to result. The most likely cause of the odor problem is decreased velocity which: a. allows decomposable solids to settle. b. decreases the treatment time in the lines. c. increases the treatment time of inorganic solids. d. allow decomposable solids to be suspended. - Correct Answer-a. allows decomposable solids to settle. After a collection system problem has been solved, you should: a. wait until next week to fill out the report forms. b. take a break. c. go home. d. evaluate the effectiveness of the results. - Correct Answer-d. evaluate the effectiveness of the results. Improper connections can be detected through: a. DO tests. b. soundings. c. TV inspection. d. radar. - Correct Answer-c. TV inspection. Which of these pH readings indicates an acidic wastewater? a. 3 b. 12 c. 7 d. 9 - Correct Answer- The record log of hydraulic cleaning operation should include: a. type and amount of material removed from downstream manhole. b. feet of rod used. c. camera malfunctions. d. feet of cable used. - Correct Answer- To test for pipe deflection and joint offset, you would conduct which of the following tests? a. Smoke. b. Air. c. Mandrill. d. Water. - Correct Answer- CWEA CWEA While the CCTC is being pulled through the line, the: a. camera must never stop. b. camera should be forced through any obstruction. c. operator must never stop looking at the monitor. d. operator must never use a tag line. - Correct Answer- If the camera becomes wedged during a video inspection, which of the following would be your first step in solving the problem? a. Dig up the area where the camera is wedged. b. Attempt to free the camera with the tag line. c. Attach pull cable to a backhoe and pull is out. d. Wait awhile to see if it will free itself. - Correct Answer- A Category 1 SSO is: a. any volume reaching surface waters. b. any volume entering a storm drain and not recovered . c. any spill greater than 1000 gallons. d. all of the above. - Correct Answer- In a 25 MPH zone, Distance of Flagger Station in Advance of the Work Space should be: a. 155 feet b. 15 feet c. 25 feet d. Unimportant - Correct Answer- A condition which can cause cavitation in a pump is: a. an air leak on suction side. b. clear water being pumped. c. a fully opened suction valve. d. operating within design curve. - Correct Answer- Where is a check valve for a lift station pump installed? a. Between the discharge isolation valve and the discharge port of the pump. b. Between the suction isolation valve and the line through the wet well wall. c. Between the suction port of the pump and the suction isolation valve for the pump. d. Downstream, just beyond the discharge isolation valve for the pump. - Correct Answer- Upon inspection of a lift station, an operator observes that the pump is not running and the circuit breakers will not reset. Which of the following is most likely the cause? a. A misaligned belt drive. b. An improper wet well sensor adjustment. c. A clogged pump. d. A blown fuse. - Correct Answer- CWEA CWEA The electrical disconnect for a pumping station motor can trip out under which condition? a. Pump cavitation. b. Low temperature. c. Strike by lightning. d. Worn packing. - Correct Answer- "enclosed", "open", and "semi-closed" are terms used to describe what pump part? a. Stuffing box b. Lantern ring c. Impeller d. Bearings - Correct Answer- What is a typical bubbler type controller failure? a. Air compressor failed b. Broken float line c. Short in electrode leads d. Electrode coated with grease - Correct Answer- What is the most common type of pump used in lift stations? a. Piston b. Ejector c. Centrifugal d. Diaphragm - Correct Answer- Vibrations in pumps may be caused by improper motor-pump: a. alignment. b. curves. c. piping. d. power factor. - Correct Answer- What type of pump is not seriously damaged if the discharge valve is closed for a short time while the pump is running? a. Centrifugal pump. b. Diaphragm pump. c. Piston pump. d. Plunger pump. - Correct Answer- A mechanical ventilation system in a lift station wet well should be able to exchange the air in the wet well how many times an hour? a. 10 b. 20 c. 30 d. 60 - Correct Answer- CWEA CWEA A pump is pumping less than its expected rate of discharge. What could be the cause? a. Speed of motor too high. b. Pump is primed. c. Impeller clogged. d. Discharge head too low. - Correct Answer- A maintenance budget: a. is not concerned with capitol replacement. b. does not consider equipment-operating conditions. c. must be justifiable. d. does not relate to future needs. - Correct Answer- Which of the following governs employee behavior? a. Unions b. Rules prepared by the manager c. The grapevine d. The buddy system - Correct Answer- A good manager: a. sets goals. b. waits for an emergency to happen. c. resists changes. d. blames others for his mistakes. - Correct Answer- Planning which covers a period of five to fifteen years is called: a. scheduling. b. long range. c. updating. d. future modeling. - Correct Answer- The main purpose of a policy is to: a. explain how higher management wants work done. b. excuse managers from making decisions. c. provide guidelines for not making decisions. d. provide coverage against loss. - Correct Answer- Performance appraisal forms: a. should not be discussed with the employee. b. make the employee evaluation process consistent. c. should not contain a rating scale. d. must be limited to three judging factors. - Correct Answer- Who develops Material Safety Data sheets? a. Management b. Manufacturer c. Salesman CWEA CWEA d. Safety officer - Correct Answer- 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. - Correct Answer- 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. - Correct Answer- 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. - Correct Answer- Behavior that is considered sexual harassment is: a. invited, annoying, offensive, humiliating, hostile. b. non-hostile, invited, annoying, offensive, humiliating. c. uninvited, hostile, annoying, offensive, humiliating. d. uninvited, hostile, annoying, defensive, non-humiliating - Correct Answer- What is the best approach for field personnel to handle complaints from citizens? a. Be trained to handle the more common ones and report the others to supervisors b. Refer all complaints to the manager's office c. Handle only if the time permits d. Ignore them - Correct Answer- Public relations are important because we: a. like our jobs. b. need lots of training. c. want to finish our work in a hurry. d. work for the public. - Correct Answer- Staffing a new system should be viewed primarily as the function of: a. every operator. b. personnel department. c. the employee. d. the supervisory management. - Correct Answer- Decentralization of organization refers to? a. Nominating new supervisors. CWEA CWEA b. Looking at all positions, and possibly redelegating authority. c. Firing all employees and hiring new ones. d. Eliminating some departments. - Correct Answer- What do organization charts represent? a. How the collection system structures are organized. b. How to locate sewers. c. The structure of an agency. d. The way to select solutions to problems. - Correct Answer- While evaluating an applicant for employment, which one of the following may enter into your decision? a. Age b. Education level c. Minority classification d. Gender - Correct Answer- The best way to record all work is done through a: a. closed circuit TV. b. Polaroid system. c. tape recorder. d. work order system - Correct Answer- The most important function of record keeping is: a. record how much money was budgeted and how much was spent. b. record the past and provide a sound basis on which to plan the future. c. record what was done and when it was done. d. record where the company has been, and how they got where they are today. - Correct Answer- What should financial management provide for a collection system? a. Capital improvement funds, careful budgeting, financial stability. b. Careful budgeting, financial stability, prudent investment of financial reserves. c. Careful budgeting, financial stability, lowest possible bond rates. d. Lowest possible bond rates, financial stability, capital improvement funds. - Correct Answer- An organization chart for a utility can be helpful for several reasons. Which of the following is the least valid objective of an organization chart? a. To establish proper chain of command authority. b. To help develop a budget. c. To help in making up project schedules. d. To help in scheduling emergencies - Correct Answer-