PENNSYLVANIA SEWAGE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SEO)
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION 2026
Exam Format: 100 multiple-choice questions
Time Limit: 3.5 hours
Passing Requirements: Minimum 50% correct in each subject area and overall minimum 70% correct
SECTION 1: ACT 537 AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK (Questions 1-20)
1. What is the name of the legislation passed in 1966 to address sewage needs in Pennsylvania?
A) Act 208
B) Act 537
C) Clean Water Act
D) Safe Drinking Water Act
ANSWERr: B) Act 537
Rationale: The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, commonly known as Act 537, was enacted in 1966 to
address sewage planning and management needs across the Commonwealth.
2. The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) requires municipalities to:
A) Only manage community sewage systems
B) Develop and implement sewage management planning and regulation of both community and
individual sewage systems
C) Contract all sewage enforcement to the state
,D) Only regulate industrial wastewater
ANSWERr: B) Develop and implement sewage management planning and regulation of both community
and individual sewage systems
Rationale: Act 537 requires municipalities to submit plans for sewage management and appoint sewage
enforcement officers to issue permits and inspect systems.
3. Under DEP regulations, every local agency is required to have:
A) One sewage enforcement officer
B) Both a primary and an alternate sewage enforcement officer (SEO)
C) At least three sewage enforcement officers
D) No SEO if they contract with the state
ANSWERr: B) Both a primary and an alternate sewage enforcement officer (SEO)
Rationale: Local agencies are required to employ both primary and alternate Sewage Enforcement
Officers under DEP regulations.
4. Who is responsible for administering Act 537?
A) DEP only
B) Local agencies only
C) Municipalities
D) Both DEP and local agencies
ANSWERr: D) Both DEP and local agencies
,Rationale: Act 537 is administered through a partnership between the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) and local agencies/municipalities.
5. The rules and regulations promulgated under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act are contained
within which chapters of Title 25?
A) Chapters 71, 72, and 73
B) Chapters 50, 51, and 52
C) Chapters 100, 101, and 102
D) Chapters 10, 11, and 12
ANSWERr: A) Chapters 71, 72, and 73
Rationale: The regulations implementing Act 537 are contained within Chapters 71, 72, and 73 of Title
25 of the Pennsylvania Code.
6. What is the purpose of Chapter 73 of Title 25?
A) Administration of sewage facilities permitting program
B) Standards for onlot sewage treatment facilities
C) Certification of sewage enforcement officers
D) Water quality standards
ANSWERr: B) Standards for onlot sewage treatment facilities
Rationale: Chapter 73 is titled "Standards for Onlot Sewage Treatment Facilities" and establishes
requirements for the design, location, and construction of sewage facilities.
7. Chapter 72 of Title 25 is titled:
, A) Standards for Onlot Sewage Treatment Facilities
B) Administration of Sewage Facilities Permitting Program
C) Sewage Enforcement Officer Certification
D) Water Pollution Control
ANSWERr: B) Administration of Sewage Facilities Permitting Program
Rationale: Chapter 72 is titled "Administration of Sewage Facilities Permitting Program".
8. A municipality has a choice as to whether to administer Act 537. (True or False)
A) True
B) False
ANSWERr: B) False
Rationale: Municipalities are required to administer Act 537; it is not optional.
9. The SEO is an official of the:
A) State government
B) Federal government
C) Local agency
D) Private sector
ANSWERr: C) Local agency
Rationale: The sewage enforcement officer is an official of the local agency.
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION 2026
Exam Format: 100 multiple-choice questions
Time Limit: 3.5 hours
Passing Requirements: Minimum 50% correct in each subject area and overall minimum 70% correct
SECTION 1: ACT 537 AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK (Questions 1-20)
1. What is the name of the legislation passed in 1966 to address sewage needs in Pennsylvania?
A) Act 208
B) Act 537
C) Clean Water Act
D) Safe Drinking Water Act
ANSWERr: B) Act 537
Rationale: The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, commonly known as Act 537, was enacted in 1966 to
address sewage planning and management needs across the Commonwealth.
2. The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537) requires municipalities to:
A) Only manage community sewage systems
B) Develop and implement sewage management planning and regulation of both community and
individual sewage systems
C) Contract all sewage enforcement to the state
,D) Only regulate industrial wastewater
ANSWERr: B) Develop and implement sewage management planning and regulation of both community
and individual sewage systems
Rationale: Act 537 requires municipalities to submit plans for sewage management and appoint sewage
enforcement officers to issue permits and inspect systems.
3. Under DEP regulations, every local agency is required to have:
A) One sewage enforcement officer
B) Both a primary and an alternate sewage enforcement officer (SEO)
C) At least three sewage enforcement officers
D) No SEO if they contract with the state
ANSWERr: B) Both a primary and an alternate sewage enforcement officer (SEO)
Rationale: Local agencies are required to employ both primary and alternate Sewage Enforcement
Officers under DEP regulations.
4. Who is responsible for administering Act 537?
A) DEP only
B) Local agencies only
C) Municipalities
D) Both DEP and local agencies
ANSWERr: D) Both DEP and local agencies
,Rationale: Act 537 is administered through a partnership between the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) and local agencies/municipalities.
5. The rules and regulations promulgated under the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act are contained
within which chapters of Title 25?
A) Chapters 71, 72, and 73
B) Chapters 50, 51, and 52
C) Chapters 100, 101, and 102
D) Chapters 10, 11, and 12
ANSWERr: A) Chapters 71, 72, and 73
Rationale: The regulations implementing Act 537 are contained within Chapters 71, 72, and 73 of Title
25 of the Pennsylvania Code.
6. What is the purpose of Chapter 73 of Title 25?
A) Administration of sewage facilities permitting program
B) Standards for onlot sewage treatment facilities
C) Certification of sewage enforcement officers
D) Water quality standards
ANSWERr: B) Standards for onlot sewage treatment facilities
Rationale: Chapter 73 is titled "Standards for Onlot Sewage Treatment Facilities" and establishes
requirements for the design, location, and construction of sewage facilities.
7. Chapter 72 of Title 25 is titled:
, A) Standards for Onlot Sewage Treatment Facilities
B) Administration of Sewage Facilities Permitting Program
C) Sewage Enforcement Officer Certification
D) Water Pollution Control
ANSWERr: B) Administration of Sewage Facilities Permitting Program
Rationale: Chapter 72 is titled "Administration of Sewage Facilities Permitting Program".
8. A municipality has a choice as to whether to administer Act 537. (True or False)
A) True
B) False
ANSWERr: B) False
Rationale: Municipalities are required to administer Act 537; it is not optional.
9. The SEO is an official of the:
A) State government
B) Federal government
C) Local agency
D) Private sector
ANSWERr: C) Local agency
Rationale: The sewage enforcement officer is an official of the local agency.
