ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Design of a Water Treatment Plant (WTP) starts with the knowledge of: - Correct
Answers -Related regulations
Sources for potable water
Water quantity/demand analysis
Source water characterization
Treatment processes
Safe Drinking Water Act - Correct Answers -Mandatory federal law for protecting public
potable water supplies from harmful contaminantsDoes not protect private well or spring
waterPrimary Standards to protect tap water by setting maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs) for naturally occurring and man-made chemicals/contaminantsSecondary
Drinking Water Regulations: Nonenforceable guidelines regulating contaminants that
may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects
(such as taste, odor, or color) in drinking water
EPA primary standards SDWA - Correct Answers -Identify contaminants that occur in
drinking water and may affect public health
•Determine a Maximum Concentration Level Goal (MCLG)oNo known or expected
health risk
oNot enforceable
•Specify a Maximum Concentration Level (MCL)oIntended to protect public health
oHas to have a feasible best available treatment technology
oEnforceable
•Or, set a treatment technique (TT)when it is not economically or technically feasible to
set an MCL
Ground water sources - Correct Answers -wells and springs. Also can be Salty or
brackish water, rain water harvest, and treated wastewater.
surface water sources - Correct Answers -rivers, lakes, reservoirs
Average Daily Flowrate (or, average daily demand) - Correct Answers -Average daily Q
to be supplied by the WTP to serve number of current customers
The Safe drinking water act (SDWA) is a mandatory federal law for protecting
_________ from harmful contaminants - Correct Answers -Potable drinking water
, The clean water Act (CWA) establishes a structure for regulating pollutant discharges
from _______ using a _________ permit - Correct Answers -point source , NPDES
Why are natural organic matters in raw water source of concern during the water
treatment process? - Correct Answers -When you disinfect NOMs with Chlorine the
reaction yields disinfection byproducts( DBPs) carcinogenic
Design Flowrate or Capacity - Correct Answers -The daily Q to be supplied by the WTP
over its design period or design life
Design Period - Correct Answers -A number of years for which the WTP is to be
adequately providing service.
Source water characteristics can be categorized as: - Correct Answers -Physical,
chemical-inorganic chemicals, chemical-organic chemicals.
Physical water characteristics - Correct Answers -Turbidity, Color, Odor, Taste and
Temperature
Chemical - inorganic chemicals water characteristics - Correct Answers -Major inorganic
chemicals:
Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, CO32-, HCO3-, SO42-etc.
Toxic inorganic chemicals:
Nitrates, cyanides and heavy metals
Chemical -Organic Chemicals - Correct Answers -Naturally occurring organic chemicals
in water:
Natural Organic Matters (NOMs), such as algae; leachate from leafy and woody
matters.
Microbial: - Correct Answers -Mostly concerned about Pathogens -Disease-causing
microorganisms
Include Bacteria, Virus and Protozoa
Groundwater - Correct Answers -Constant composition, Low turbidity, Low color, Low or
no DO, High hardness, High Fe, Mn, and Low pathogens
Surface water - Correct Answers -Variable composition, High turbidity, Colored, DO,
present, Low hardness, Taste and odor, and High pathogens
Surface Water Treatment - Correct Answers -Primary objectives are to:
Remove suspended material (turbidity), color, odor and NOMs
Eliminate pathogenic organisms
EXAM 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Design of a Water Treatment Plant (WTP) starts with the knowledge of: - Correct
Answers -Related regulations
Sources for potable water
Water quantity/demand analysis
Source water characterization
Treatment processes
Safe Drinking Water Act - Correct Answers -Mandatory federal law for protecting public
potable water supplies from harmful contaminantsDoes not protect private well or spring
waterPrimary Standards to protect tap water by setting maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs) for naturally occurring and man-made chemicals/contaminantsSecondary
Drinking Water Regulations: Nonenforceable guidelines regulating contaminants that
may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects
(such as taste, odor, or color) in drinking water
EPA primary standards SDWA - Correct Answers -Identify contaminants that occur in
drinking water and may affect public health
•Determine a Maximum Concentration Level Goal (MCLG)oNo known or expected
health risk
oNot enforceable
•Specify a Maximum Concentration Level (MCL)oIntended to protect public health
oHas to have a feasible best available treatment technology
oEnforceable
•Or, set a treatment technique (TT)when it is not economically or technically feasible to
set an MCL
Ground water sources - Correct Answers -wells and springs. Also can be Salty or
brackish water, rain water harvest, and treated wastewater.
surface water sources - Correct Answers -rivers, lakes, reservoirs
Average Daily Flowrate (or, average daily demand) - Correct Answers -Average daily Q
to be supplied by the WTP to serve number of current customers
The Safe drinking water act (SDWA) is a mandatory federal law for protecting
_________ from harmful contaminants - Correct Answers -Potable drinking water
, The clean water Act (CWA) establishes a structure for regulating pollutant discharges
from _______ using a _________ permit - Correct Answers -point source , NPDES
Why are natural organic matters in raw water source of concern during the water
treatment process? - Correct Answers -When you disinfect NOMs with Chlorine the
reaction yields disinfection byproducts( DBPs) carcinogenic
Design Flowrate or Capacity - Correct Answers -The daily Q to be supplied by the WTP
over its design period or design life
Design Period - Correct Answers -A number of years for which the WTP is to be
adequately providing service.
Source water characteristics can be categorized as: - Correct Answers -Physical,
chemical-inorganic chemicals, chemical-organic chemicals.
Physical water characteristics - Correct Answers -Turbidity, Color, Odor, Taste and
Temperature
Chemical - inorganic chemicals water characteristics - Correct Answers -Major inorganic
chemicals:
Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, CO32-, HCO3-, SO42-etc.
Toxic inorganic chemicals:
Nitrates, cyanides and heavy metals
Chemical -Organic Chemicals - Correct Answers -Naturally occurring organic chemicals
in water:
Natural Organic Matters (NOMs), such as algae; leachate from leafy and woody
matters.
Microbial: - Correct Answers -Mostly concerned about Pathogens -Disease-causing
microorganisms
Include Bacteria, Virus and Protozoa
Groundwater - Correct Answers -Constant composition, Low turbidity, Low color, Low or
no DO, High hardness, High Fe, Mn, and Low pathogens
Surface water - Correct Answers -Variable composition, High turbidity, Colored, DO,
present, Low hardness, Taste and odor, and High pathogens
Surface Water Treatment - Correct Answers -Primary objectives are to:
Remove suspended material (turbidity), color, odor and NOMs
Eliminate pathogenic organisms
