class b surface water operator exam UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1. Identify the parameters of con- 1. solids/ turbidity-measure of matter in water
cern for source water improve-
ments. 2.temperature-affect on water density
3. color, taste, and odor-microorganisms produces
metabolites like Methylisoborneol (MIB) and Geosmin.
Watershed->NOM->TOC that include humic and fulvic
acid
4. nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients- cause microorgan-
ism to grow and they come from septic systems, waste-
water plants discharge, farm runoff...
5. organic carbon- 2 groups: NOC and SOC/VOC
natural organic carbon (NOM): include fulvic and humic
acid that come from rock formation.
synthetic organic carbon and volatile organic carbon
(SOC/VOC): come from industrial and chemical waste
6. microbial pathogens- contaminates such as GIARDIA
and CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. present in rivers and streams are
caused by septic systems, wastewater plants discharge,
farm runoff...
a + fecal coliform test mens the contaminates are present
7. metals-can be toxic and bio-accumulative., regulated by
the SWDA that sets the Max. Contaminant Level (MCL).
8. oil and grease-prevent oxygen from dissolving in water
, 9. dissolved oxygen- lack of oxygen in water, hydrogen sul-
fide and sulfur are present & causes iron and manganese
to be released causing taste and odor problems
2. Describe source water improve- reservoirs- have slow movement which allows solids to
ment methods settle
aeration- saturate water with oxygen.
oxidizes iron and manganese, remove dissolved gases,
cools hot water...
reservoir destratification- remove temperature layers.
3. TRUE OR FALSE: copper sulfate False, dose depends on water temperature
effectively controls all types of al-
gae at low doses
4. Solids and turbidity come from Algae
urban runoff, streambank ero-
sion, agricultural runoff, and
.
a. point sources
b. stack emissions
c. treatment sludge
d. algae
5. Sources of nitrogen and phos- The air
phorus are septic systems, land-
fill leachate, urban and agricul-
tural runoff, animal feed lots,
and .
a. the air
b. wind
, c. sunlight
d. all listed
6. Some metals are removed by Coagulation and absorption
and .
a. screening, filtration
b. coagulation, adsorption
c. coagulation, screening
d. aeration, adsorption
7. Reservoirs provide a quiet zone slow movement
of for sedimentation
a. no movement
b. wave action
c. wind currents
d. slow movement
8. Aeration oxidizes iron and man- insoluble precipitates
ganese forming removed
by sedimentationa. insoluble
precipitates
b. soluble precipitates
c. coagulated solids
d. insoluble coagulants
9. Disadvantages of spray aerators Biological growth
are moisture from drift, water
loss to evaporation, down time in
freezing weather, and .
a. wood rot
b. loud noise
c. biological growth
d. strong odor
, 10. Cascade aerators are waterfall Sunlight
devices that create turbulence
for oxygen transfer, odor and
gas removal, and some disinfec-
tion by .
a. wind
b. sunlight
c. agitation
d. aeration
11. A pH change in aerated source Carbon dioxide
water occurs if was pre-
sent.
a. calcium carbonate
b. ferric sulfate
c. sodium bicarbonate
d. carbon dioxide
12. is an odorless gas that Methane
flashes off upon aeration.
a. Methane
b. Hydrogen sulfide
c. Ammonia
d. Oxygen
13. Free-flowing streams usually Fe and Mn.
have small traces of and
, due to runoff, then con-
centrates them in reservoirs.
a. Fe, Mn
b. CO2, H2S
CORRECT Answers
1. Identify the parameters of con- 1. solids/ turbidity-measure of matter in water
cern for source water improve-
ments. 2.temperature-affect on water density
3. color, taste, and odor-microorganisms produces
metabolites like Methylisoborneol (MIB) and Geosmin.
Watershed->NOM->TOC that include humic and fulvic
acid
4. nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients- cause microorgan-
ism to grow and they come from septic systems, waste-
water plants discharge, farm runoff...
5. organic carbon- 2 groups: NOC and SOC/VOC
natural organic carbon (NOM): include fulvic and humic
acid that come from rock formation.
synthetic organic carbon and volatile organic carbon
(SOC/VOC): come from industrial and chemical waste
6. microbial pathogens- contaminates such as GIARDIA
and CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. present in rivers and streams are
caused by septic systems, wastewater plants discharge,
farm runoff...
a + fecal coliform test mens the contaminates are present
7. metals-can be toxic and bio-accumulative., regulated by
the SWDA that sets the Max. Contaminant Level (MCL).
8. oil and grease-prevent oxygen from dissolving in water
, 9. dissolved oxygen- lack of oxygen in water, hydrogen sul-
fide and sulfur are present & causes iron and manganese
to be released causing taste and odor problems
2. Describe source water improve- reservoirs- have slow movement which allows solids to
ment methods settle
aeration- saturate water with oxygen.
oxidizes iron and manganese, remove dissolved gases,
cools hot water...
reservoir destratification- remove temperature layers.
3. TRUE OR FALSE: copper sulfate False, dose depends on water temperature
effectively controls all types of al-
gae at low doses
4. Solids and turbidity come from Algae
urban runoff, streambank ero-
sion, agricultural runoff, and
.
a. point sources
b. stack emissions
c. treatment sludge
d. algae
5. Sources of nitrogen and phos- The air
phorus are septic systems, land-
fill leachate, urban and agricul-
tural runoff, animal feed lots,
and .
a. the air
b. wind
, c. sunlight
d. all listed
6. Some metals are removed by Coagulation and absorption
and .
a. screening, filtration
b. coagulation, adsorption
c. coagulation, screening
d. aeration, adsorption
7. Reservoirs provide a quiet zone slow movement
of for sedimentation
a. no movement
b. wave action
c. wind currents
d. slow movement
8. Aeration oxidizes iron and man- insoluble precipitates
ganese forming removed
by sedimentationa. insoluble
precipitates
b. soluble precipitates
c. coagulated solids
d. insoluble coagulants
9. Disadvantages of spray aerators Biological growth
are moisture from drift, water
loss to evaporation, down time in
freezing weather, and .
a. wood rot
b. loud noise
c. biological growth
d. strong odor
, 10. Cascade aerators are waterfall Sunlight
devices that create turbulence
for oxygen transfer, odor and
gas removal, and some disinfec-
tion by .
a. wind
b. sunlight
c. agitation
d. aeration
11. A pH change in aerated source Carbon dioxide
water occurs if was pre-
sent.
a. calcium carbonate
b. ferric sulfate
c. sodium bicarbonate
d. carbon dioxide
12. is an odorless gas that Methane
flashes off upon aeration.
a. Methane
b. Hydrogen sulfide
c. Ammonia
d. Oxygen
13. Free-flowing streams usually Fe and Mn.
have small traces of and
, due to runoff, then con-
centrates them in reservoirs.
a. Fe, Mn
b. CO2, H2S
