CWEA Collections Grade 1 Question and Answer
[2026/2027] | UPDATED ACTUAL Exam | Step-
by-Step Review
• Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SO) -✓✓ To accurately estimate the volume of a sanitary
sewer overflow, you must have Spill Start Time, Spill End Time, and Spill Rate.
• Sanitary Sewer System Management Plan -✓✓ The goal of a sanitary sewer system is
to provide a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate, and maintain all parts of
the system.
• Basic Elements of a Safety Program -✓✓ The basic elements include accident
investigation, injury frequency rates, and safety policy statement.
• Easement Considerations -✓✓ When obtaining an easement for construction and
maintenance of a collection system, access for equipment and personnel must be
considered.
• Immediate Response to Board or Council -✓✓ If you do not know all the answers, you
should respond with the information available and update them with more.
• Managing Substandard Performance -✓✓ Discuss the problem with the substandard
foreman and offer to help before any other action is taken.
• Pipe Material Selection -✓✓ In selecting pipe material for maximum service life, the life
expectancy of the pipe is the most important factor.
• Flow Capacity of a Sewer Line -✓✓ The flow capacity of a sewer line is affected by
backfill material, manhole spacing, and pipe size.
• Grade Conflict Solution -✓✓ When a grade conflict exists between a water main and a
sewer main, the best solution is to drop the sewer service under the water main and let
it work like a siphon.
• Challenges in Wastewater Collection Replacement -✓✓ The replacement of
wastewater collection systems in some downtown streets is difficult due to crowding of
other underground utilities.
• Rescue Service Practice Conditions -✓✓ Each member of the rescue service must
practice permit space rescues at least once a year in a simulated situation or by the
satisfactory performance of an actual rescue.
, • Camera Wedge Problem -✓✓ If the camera becomes wedged during a video
inspection, the first step in solving the problem is to dig up the area where the camera is
wedged.
• As Built Drawings -✓✓ Construction drawings issued to the contractor, corrected
construction drawings showing changes made in the field installation, detailed drawings
of proposed construction, and sectional maps on file.
• Category 1 Sanitary Sewer Overflows Reporting -✓✓ Legally Responsible Officials are
required to report within 30 days, before the end of the day, as soon as possible, or
within 2 hrs.
• Span & Control -✓✓ Relates to the number of subordinates who can be supervised
effectively by one supervisor, which at the top level of organizations is typically 2 to 4, 3
to 5, 6 to 8, or 9 to 11.
• Power Rodder Tools -✓✓ Tools used with a power rodder include finger grips, pruning
shears, spring blades, and videotape camera.
• Sewer Rodding Tools -✓✓ Tools used for sewer rodding include lag screw, porcupine,
root saw, and square bar cork screw.
• Selecting a Solution for Sewer Stoppage -✓✓ Considerations include adding a solution
to the upstream manhole to clear the stoppage, cause of stoppage, time of day, and
staffing requirements.
• Invert -✓✓ The lowest point on the inside of a pipeline.
• Emergency Stoppages in Pipelines -✓✓ May be cleared safely by use of balling, high
velocity cleaners, bucket machines, or kites.
• Underground Service Alert Inquiry Identification Number -✓✓ Based on new best
practices of the common ground alliance, it is viable for 21 days, 28 days, 14 days, or
30 days.
• Temporary Traffic Control Setup -✓✓ After completing a setup, it is a good practice to
observe how effective your TTC setup is working to control traffic and make necessary
changes.
• Explosive or Flammable Atmospheres -✓✓ Can develop at any time, after high
flushing velocities, only after gasoline truck spills, or whenever there are toxic gases in
the collections system.
[2026/2027] | UPDATED ACTUAL Exam | Step-
by-Step Review
• Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SO) -✓✓ To accurately estimate the volume of a sanitary
sewer overflow, you must have Spill Start Time, Spill End Time, and Spill Rate.
• Sanitary Sewer System Management Plan -✓✓ The goal of a sanitary sewer system is
to provide a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate, and maintain all parts of
the system.
• Basic Elements of a Safety Program -✓✓ The basic elements include accident
investigation, injury frequency rates, and safety policy statement.
• Easement Considerations -✓✓ When obtaining an easement for construction and
maintenance of a collection system, access for equipment and personnel must be
considered.
• Immediate Response to Board or Council -✓✓ If you do not know all the answers, you
should respond with the information available and update them with more.
• Managing Substandard Performance -✓✓ Discuss the problem with the substandard
foreman and offer to help before any other action is taken.
• Pipe Material Selection -✓✓ In selecting pipe material for maximum service life, the life
expectancy of the pipe is the most important factor.
• Flow Capacity of a Sewer Line -✓✓ The flow capacity of a sewer line is affected by
backfill material, manhole spacing, and pipe size.
• Grade Conflict Solution -✓✓ When a grade conflict exists between a water main and a
sewer main, the best solution is to drop the sewer service under the water main and let
it work like a siphon.
• Challenges in Wastewater Collection Replacement -✓✓ The replacement of
wastewater collection systems in some downtown streets is difficult due to crowding of
other underground utilities.
• Rescue Service Practice Conditions -✓✓ Each member of the rescue service must
practice permit space rescues at least once a year in a simulated situation or by the
satisfactory performance of an actual rescue.
, • Camera Wedge Problem -✓✓ If the camera becomes wedged during a video
inspection, the first step in solving the problem is to dig up the area where the camera is
wedged.
• As Built Drawings -✓✓ Construction drawings issued to the contractor, corrected
construction drawings showing changes made in the field installation, detailed drawings
of proposed construction, and sectional maps on file.
• Category 1 Sanitary Sewer Overflows Reporting -✓✓ Legally Responsible Officials are
required to report within 30 days, before the end of the day, as soon as possible, or
within 2 hrs.
• Span & Control -✓✓ Relates to the number of subordinates who can be supervised
effectively by one supervisor, which at the top level of organizations is typically 2 to 4, 3
to 5, 6 to 8, or 9 to 11.
• Power Rodder Tools -✓✓ Tools used with a power rodder include finger grips, pruning
shears, spring blades, and videotape camera.
• Sewer Rodding Tools -✓✓ Tools used for sewer rodding include lag screw, porcupine,
root saw, and square bar cork screw.
• Selecting a Solution for Sewer Stoppage -✓✓ Considerations include adding a solution
to the upstream manhole to clear the stoppage, cause of stoppage, time of day, and
staffing requirements.
• Invert -✓✓ The lowest point on the inside of a pipeline.
• Emergency Stoppages in Pipelines -✓✓ May be cleared safely by use of balling, high
velocity cleaners, bucket machines, or kites.
• Underground Service Alert Inquiry Identification Number -✓✓ Based on new best
practices of the common ground alliance, it is viable for 21 days, 28 days, 14 days, or
30 days.
• Temporary Traffic Control Setup -✓✓ After completing a setup, it is a good practice to
observe how effective your TTC setup is working to control traffic and make necessary
changes.
• Explosive or Flammable Atmospheres -✓✓ Can develop at any time, after high
flushing velocities, only after gasoline truck spills, or whenever there are toxic gases in
the collections system.
