VIRGINIA WATERWORKS OPERATOR CLASS 5 EXAM
---
# SECTION 1: VIRGINIA LICENSING & REGULATIONS
## (18VAC160-30 & 12VAC5-590)
---
**Question 1**
According to 18VAC160-30-110, what is the minimum education requirement to qualify
for the Class 5 Waterworks Operator examination?
A) Associate degree in science
B) High school diploma or equivalent (GED)
C) Completion of 8th grade
D) No formal education required
**Correct Answer: B**
*Explanation: The Virginia Administrative Code explicitly requires a high school diploma
or its equivalent (GED) for Class 5 licensure. Formal education beyond high school is
not mandatory for this class.*
---
**Question 2**
If a Class 5 applicant does NOT have a high school diploma or equivalent, how much
minimum experience is required?
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
,C) 1 year (12 months)
D) 2 years
**Correct Answer: C**
*Explanation: Without a high school diploma or GED, the applicant must have one year
(12 months) of experience at a Class 5 or higher facility.*
---
**Question 3**
For an applicant with a high school diploma, what is the minimum experience
requirement for Class 5 Waterworks Operator licensure?
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
C) 1 year
D) 2 years
**Correct Answer: A**
*Explanation: With a high school diploma or equivalent, the minimum experience
requirement is three months at a Class 5 or higher facility.*
---
**Question 4**
A Class 5 waterworks licensee may operate which of the following?
A) A waterworks serving 400 or more persons that provides no treatment
B) A waterworks serving fewer than 400 persons with conventional filtration
C) A waterworks serving 5,000 or more persons with chemical coagulation
D) Any waterworks regardless of size or treatment
,**Correct Answer: A**
*Explanation: A Class 5 waterworks licensee may operate a waterworks serving 400
or more persons that provides no treatment or employs only specific treatment
processes (hypochlorination, corrosion control with calcite/magnesium oxide, or
sequestration).*
---
**Question 5**
According to 12VAC5-590-461, hypochlorination is defined as:
A) The addition of chlorine gas to drinking water
B) The addition of chlorine or chlorine compounds (such as calcium or sodium
hypochlorite)
C) The use of ultraviolet light for disinfection
D) The addition of ozone to kill bacteria
**Correct Answer: B**
*Explanation: Hypochlorination specifically refers to the addition of chlorine or chlorine
compounds, including calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite, for disinfection
purposes.*
---
**Question 6**
Which specific treatment processes are permitted for a Class 5 waterworks?
A) Conventional filtration and coagulation
B) Ozonation and UV disinfection
C) Hypochlorination, calcite contactors, or sequestration
D) Reverse osmosis and membrane filtration
, **Correct Answer: C**
*Explanation: Class 5 waterworks are limited to hypochlorination for disinfection,
corrosion control with calcite or magnesium oxide contactors, or sequestration by
solution feed.*
---
**Question 7**
Under Virginia's Waterworks Regulations (12VAC5-590), how often must a Class 5
operator attend a system that provides no treatment?
A) Once a month
B) Twice a month
C) Once a week
D) Daily
**Correct Answer: B**
*Explanation: The regulation requires attendance at least twice each month when no
treatment is performed at the system.*
---
**Question 8**
Which Virginia agency is primarily responsible for enforcing the Lead and Copper Rule
for public water systems?
A) Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
B) Virginia Department of Health (VDH) – Office of Drinking Water (ODW)
C) Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
D) Virginia Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
**Correct Answer: B**
---
# SECTION 1: VIRGINIA LICENSING & REGULATIONS
## (18VAC160-30 & 12VAC5-590)
---
**Question 1**
According to 18VAC160-30-110, what is the minimum education requirement to qualify
for the Class 5 Waterworks Operator examination?
A) Associate degree in science
B) High school diploma or equivalent (GED)
C) Completion of 8th grade
D) No formal education required
**Correct Answer: B**
*Explanation: The Virginia Administrative Code explicitly requires a high school diploma
or its equivalent (GED) for Class 5 licensure. Formal education beyond high school is
not mandatory for this class.*
---
**Question 2**
If a Class 5 applicant does NOT have a high school diploma or equivalent, how much
minimum experience is required?
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
,C) 1 year (12 months)
D) 2 years
**Correct Answer: C**
*Explanation: Without a high school diploma or GED, the applicant must have one year
(12 months) of experience at a Class 5 or higher facility.*
---
**Question 3**
For an applicant with a high school diploma, what is the minimum experience
requirement for Class 5 Waterworks Operator licensure?
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
C) 1 year
D) 2 years
**Correct Answer: A**
*Explanation: With a high school diploma or equivalent, the minimum experience
requirement is three months at a Class 5 or higher facility.*
---
**Question 4**
A Class 5 waterworks licensee may operate which of the following?
A) A waterworks serving 400 or more persons that provides no treatment
B) A waterworks serving fewer than 400 persons with conventional filtration
C) A waterworks serving 5,000 or more persons with chemical coagulation
D) Any waterworks regardless of size or treatment
,**Correct Answer: A**
*Explanation: A Class 5 waterworks licensee may operate a waterworks serving 400
or more persons that provides no treatment or employs only specific treatment
processes (hypochlorination, corrosion control with calcite/magnesium oxide, or
sequestration).*
---
**Question 5**
According to 12VAC5-590-461, hypochlorination is defined as:
A) The addition of chlorine gas to drinking water
B) The addition of chlorine or chlorine compounds (such as calcium or sodium
hypochlorite)
C) The use of ultraviolet light for disinfection
D) The addition of ozone to kill bacteria
**Correct Answer: B**
*Explanation: Hypochlorination specifically refers to the addition of chlorine or chlorine
compounds, including calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite, for disinfection
purposes.*
---
**Question 6**
Which specific treatment processes are permitted for a Class 5 waterworks?
A) Conventional filtration and coagulation
B) Ozonation and UV disinfection
C) Hypochlorination, calcite contactors, or sequestration
D) Reverse osmosis and membrane filtration
, **Correct Answer: C**
*Explanation: Class 5 waterworks are limited to hypochlorination for disinfection,
corrosion control with calcite or magnesium oxide contactors, or sequestration by
solution feed.*
---
**Question 7**
Under Virginia's Waterworks Regulations (12VAC5-590), how often must a Class 5
operator attend a system that provides no treatment?
A) Once a month
B) Twice a month
C) Once a week
D) Daily
**Correct Answer: B**
*Explanation: The regulation requires attendance at least twice each month when no
treatment is performed at the system.*
---
**Question 8**
Which Virginia agency is primarily responsible for enforcing the Lead and Copper Rule
for public water systems?
A) Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
B) Virginia Department of Health (VDH) – Office of Drinking Water (ODW)
C) Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
D) Virginia Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
**Correct Answer: B**
