Water Operator Class D Study Guide Questions and Correct Solutions

The primary purpose of the Water Utility Industry - The production and delivery of safe drinking water to consumers Those who work in the public water industry have a responsibility to meet standards created by these types of government entities. - Federal and State basic federal and state standards state that Water must be: - disinfected, delivered at adequate pressure, and be ample in quantity. Employees should guard what - the water supply and facilities Employees should guard the water supply and facilities from these three things. - contamination, vandalism and terrorism Bacteriological analysis records are kept for - 5 years Chemical analysis records are kept for - 10 years Records about action taken to correct violations of primary drinking water regulations are kept for - 3 years after last action taken Written documentation relating to sanitary surveys conducted are kept for - 10 years after the survey is completed Documentation of a variance or exemption granted is kept for - 5 years after its expiration Results of required tests, measurements or analysis must be reported - within 10 days following its completion A copy of Consumer Confidence reports (EPA Required)must be kept for - 5 years Administers water operator licensing - TCEQ TCEQ - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Description of a public water system - Regularly serves at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.Services at least 15 service connections. MUDs - Municipal Utility Districts Water is essential to - Life and health Customers are entitled to - courteous treatment & answers to questions about water This type of public system is not required to compile monthly reports - systems that serve less than 100 connections OR purchase treated water Job training for water utility operators is available through these 3 organizations - American Water Works Association, Texas Engineering Extension Service, Texas Water Utilities Association All public water systems are required to employ certified operators even if the system only - redistributes treated water bought from another source cities, municipal utility districts,rural water supply corporations mobile home parks, campgrounds are examples of: - Public Water Systems Examples of community water systems - cities, municipal utility districts,rural water supply corporations, mobile home parks, campgrounds Non-community water system - Any public water system that is not a community system travel trailer spaces, Hotel and motel rooms, service stations are examples of this type of water systems - non-community water systems The federal agency that impacts the water industry - EPA EPA - Environmental Protection Agency The most important federal law impacting the water utility industry is the - Safe Drinking Water Act The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes these 4 national safety and quality standards - Physical, Chemical, Bacteriological, Radiological The state agency that regulated drinking water in Texas and administers the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act - TCEQ The water system must notify the TCEQ when (5 items) - there is a change or alteration of the system; a new facility to be build; water supply health hazards; change in water quality; change in water source MUDs; Rural Water Supply Corporations; Drainage Districts; Ground Water Conservation Districts; Subsidence Districts and River Authorities -- These are what type of agencies and what do they impact? - Regional and local agencies that impact the water utility industry The relationship between you and the customer - Public Relations PR - Public Relations Wat are the three keys to good customer relations - Everything the utility does is PR; Customers are entitles to courteous treatment; Every employee is a PR person Customers have the most contact with - Meter Readers Meter readers can be ambassadors of goodwill by doing these 5 things - wearing identifying clothing; being neat and courteous; Teaching customers how to read their meter; Explaining utility policies such as delinquent notices or disputed readings; Taking care or property