TCEQ OSSF LICENSE EXAM STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE
2025–2026 PREP |150 VERIFIED QUESTIONS, MATH
FORMULAS, & SITE EVALUATION ANSWERS
______ and ________ soil textural classes are always unsuitable for standard
absorptive OSSF - Correct Answer-✔✔class IA and IV
List each of the major soil horizons - Correct Answer-✔✔surface soil A, surface soil
B, and parent material
_____________ is a term describing the ability of water to migrate through a soil profile
under either _________ or __________ conditions. - Correct Answer-✔✔Hydraulic
conductivity, saturated, unsaturated
Interconnected pores in the soil profile allow ______ and _______ to enter the soil at its
surface and migrate downward - Correct Answer-✔✔air, water
List the four components of soil - Correct Answer-✔✔air, water, organics, inorganics
A drainfield is 50 feet by 90 feet and must be covered with an average of 15 inches of
sand loam. How many cubic yards of sandy loam soil must be purchased (find the
volume of a rectangular object)? - Correct Answer-✔✔208.3 cubic yards
What would be the volume of a 5-foot-diameter pump tank that is 5 feet tall with the
inlet 1 foot below the rim? - Correct Answer-✔✔587 gals
,What would be the percent slope on a lot 250 feet deep that drops 20 feet in elevation
over the depth of the lot? - Correct Answer-✔✔8%
How many cubic yards of gravel would be needed to fill a ditch 3 feet deep, 10 feet
wide, and 12 feet long with 18 inches of gravel? 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. - Correct
Answer-✔✔6.67 cubic yards
A septic tank is 6 feet in diameter and is 8 feet deep. How many gallons will it hold if
the overflow line is located half way up from the bottom? - Correct Answer-✔✔846
gals
Calculate the working liquid capacity (volume) for this septic tank. SEE PAGE 2-39!! -
Correct Answer-✔✔1077gals
What is the surface area (area in square feet) of an evapotranspiration system 40 feet
wide and 65 feet long? - Correct Answer-✔✔2,600 sqft
Figure the acreage for a piece of property that measures 256 feet on each of four
sides. - Correct Answer-✔✔1.5 acres
Figure the area of a lot that measures 60ft by 280ft - Correct Answer-✔✔16,800sqft
,0.39 acres
A disposal option that might be considered in a clay soil would be a ________. - Correct
Answer-✔✔drip or spray irrigation
, The primary treatment device providing the least or poorest treatment of domestic
wastewater would be _______. - Correct Answer-✔✔septic tank
Nitrogen or nitrate removal in soil occurs by _________. - Correct Answer-
✔✔vegetation uptake
The factors influencing the survival of bacteria in soil are _______. - Correct Answer-
✔✔moisture, temperature, pH, and organic matter.
Physical removal of bacteria by straining occurs when _______. - Correct Answer-
✔✔the bacteria are larger than the pore openings in the soil
A solid that can be filtered out of the wastewater is a _________. - Correct Answer-
✔✔suspended solid
Which of the following describes domestic wastewater as it leaves a home? - Correct
Answer-✔✔fresh, light in color, has dissolved oxygen
Which of the following are problems caused by malfunctioning septic tank systems? -
Correct Answer-✔✔surface water pollution, groundwater contamination, and
standing sewage in neighborhoods
An inorganic chemical that affects human health is - Correct Answer-✔✔nitrate
2025–2026 PREP |150 VERIFIED QUESTIONS, MATH
FORMULAS, & SITE EVALUATION ANSWERS
______ and ________ soil textural classes are always unsuitable for standard
absorptive OSSF - Correct Answer-✔✔class IA and IV
List each of the major soil horizons - Correct Answer-✔✔surface soil A, surface soil
B, and parent material
_____________ is a term describing the ability of water to migrate through a soil profile
under either _________ or __________ conditions. - Correct Answer-✔✔Hydraulic
conductivity, saturated, unsaturated
Interconnected pores in the soil profile allow ______ and _______ to enter the soil at its
surface and migrate downward - Correct Answer-✔✔air, water
List the four components of soil - Correct Answer-✔✔air, water, organics, inorganics
A drainfield is 50 feet by 90 feet and must be covered with an average of 15 inches of
sand loam. How many cubic yards of sandy loam soil must be purchased (find the
volume of a rectangular object)? - Correct Answer-✔✔208.3 cubic yards
What would be the volume of a 5-foot-diameter pump tank that is 5 feet tall with the
inlet 1 foot below the rim? - Correct Answer-✔✔587 gals
,What would be the percent slope on a lot 250 feet deep that drops 20 feet in elevation
over the depth of the lot? - Correct Answer-✔✔8%
How many cubic yards of gravel would be needed to fill a ditch 3 feet deep, 10 feet
wide, and 12 feet long with 18 inches of gravel? 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. - Correct
Answer-✔✔6.67 cubic yards
A septic tank is 6 feet in diameter and is 8 feet deep. How many gallons will it hold if
the overflow line is located half way up from the bottom? - Correct Answer-✔✔846
gals
Calculate the working liquid capacity (volume) for this septic tank. SEE PAGE 2-39!! -
Correct Answer-✔✔1077gals
What is the surface area (area in square feet) of an evapotranspiration system 40 feet
wide and 65 feet long? - Correct Answer-✔✔2,600 sqft
Figure the acreage for a piece of property that measures 256 feet on each of four
sides. - Correct Answer-✔✔1.5 acres
Figure the area of a lot that measures 60ft by 280ft - Correct Answer-✔✔16,800sqft
,0.39 acres
A disposal option that might be considered in a clay soil would be a ________. - Correct
Answer-✔✔drip or spray irrigation
, The primary treatment device providing the least or poorest treatment of domestic
wastewater would be _______. - Correct Answer-✔✔septic tank
Nitrogen or nitrate removal in soil occurs by _________. - Correct Answer-
✔✔vegetation uptake
The factors influencing the survival of bacteria in soil are _______. - Correct Answer-
✔✔moisture, temperature, pH, and organic matter.
Physical removal of bacteria by straining occurs when _______. - Correct Answer-
✔✔the bacteria are larger than the pore openings in the soil
A solid that can be filtered out of the wastewater is a _________. - Correct Answer-
✔✔suspended solid
Which of the following describes domestic wastewater as it leaves a home? - Correct
Answer-✔✔fresh, light in color, has dissolved oxygen
Which of the following are problems caused by malfunctioning septic tank systems? -
Correct Answer-✔✔surface water pollution, groundwater contamination, and
standing sewage in neighborhoods
An inorganic chemical that affects human health is - Correct Answer-✔✔nitrate
