TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATOR
LICENSING LEVEL I EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
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1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a public water
system?
A. Generate industrial wastewater
B. Provide safe and potable drinking water
C. Supply water for recreational lakes
D. Treat agricultural runoff
Answer: B
Ensuring safe drinking water is the core function of a public water
system.
2. Which organization sets the national drinking water standards?
A. WHO
B. FDA
C. EPA
D. USDA
Answer: C
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes national
drinking water regulations.
,3. Turbidity in drinking water mainly indicates the presence of:
A. Dissolved metals
B. Suspended particles
C. Radioactive materials
D. Pathogenic viruses
Answer: B
Turbidity measures cloudiness due to suspended solids.
4. Which treatment process is used first in conventional surface water
treatment?
A. Filtration
B. Disinfection
C. Coagulation
D. Softening
Answer: C
Coagulation begins the removal of suspended particles in conventional
treatment.
5. Chlorine is primarily used in water treatment to:
A. Remove hardness
B. Reduce alkalinity
C. Kill pathogens
D. Remove turbidity
Answer: C
Chlorine acts as a disinfectant to destroy harmful microorganisms.
6. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates:
,A. Irrigation water
B. Bottled water
C. Public drinking water systems
D. Food processing water only
Answer: C
SDWA covers public drinking water systems, not bottled water.
7. pH is a measure of:
A. Water hardness
B. Mineral content
C. Acidity or alkalinity
D. Corrosivity only
Answer: C
pH measures how acidic or basic water is.
8. A common unit for measuring chlorine concentration is:
A. ppm
B. gpm
C. psi
D. ft/s
Answer: A
Chlorine concentration is measured in parts per million (ppm).
9. The primary goal of the distribution system is to:
A. Treat wastewater
B. Move treated water to consumers
C. Reduce chemicals in the plant
, D. Increase water hardness
Answer: B
Distribution systems deliver treated water to end users.
10. Coliform bacteria are used as:
A. Taste indicators
B. Odor indicators
C. Indicators of potential contamination
D. Indicators of turbidity
Answer: C
Coliforms signal possible contamination by pathogens.
11. A clearwell is used for:
A. Settling sludge
B. Disinfection contact time
C. Removing hardness
D. Filtration backwash
Answer: B
Clearwells provide required chlorine contact time.
12. Backwashing a filter is required when:
A. pH is too high
B. Flow rate decreases
C. Chlorine residual increases
D. Hardness level drops
Answer: B
LICENSING LEVEL I EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a public water
system?
A. Generate industrial wastewater
B. Provide safe and potable drinking water
C. Supply water for recreational lakes
D. Treat agricultural runoff
Answer: B
Ensuring safe drinking water is the core function of a public water
system.
2. Which organization sets the national drinking water standards?
A. WHO
B. FDA
C. EPA
D. USDA
Answer: C
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes national
drinking water regulations.
,3. Turbidity in drinking water mainly indicates the presence of:
A. Dissolved metals
B. Suspended particles
C. Radioactive materials
D. Pathogenic viruses
Answer: B
Turbidity measures cloudiness due to suspended solids.
4. Which treatment process is used first in conventional surface water
treatment?
A. Filtration
B. Disinfection
C. Coagulation
D. Softening
Answer: C
Coagulation begins the removal of suspended particles in conventional
treatment.
5. Chlorine is primarily used in water treatment to:
A. Remove hardness
B. Reduce alkalinity
C. Kill pathogens
D. Remove turbidity
Answer: C
Chlorine acts as a disinfectant to destroy harmful microorganisms.
6. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates:
,A. Irrigation water
B. Bottled water
C. Public drinking water systems
D. Food processing water only
Answer: C
SDWA covers public drinking water systems, not bottled water.
7. pH is a measure of:
A. Water hardness
B. Mineral content
C. Acidity or alkalinity
D. Corrosivity only
Answer: C
pH measures how acidic or basic water is.
8. A common unit for measuring chlorine concentration is:
A. ppm
B. gpm
C. psi
D. ft/s
Answer: A
Chlorine concentration is measured in parts per million (ppm).
9. The primary goal of the distribution system is to:
A. Treat wastewater
B. Move treated water to consumers
C. Reduce chemicals in the plant
, D. Increase water hardness
Answer: B
Distribution systems deliver treated water to end users.
10. Coliform bacteria are used as:
A. Taste indicators
B. Odor indicators
C. Indicators of potential contamination
D. Indicators of turbidity
Answer: C
Coliforms signal possible contamination by pathogens.
11. A clearwell is used for:
A. Settling sludge
B. Disinfection contact time
C. Removing hardness
D. Filtration backwash
Answer: B
Clearwells provide required chlorine contact time.
12. Backwashing a filter is required when:
A. pH is too high
B. Flow rate decreases
C. Chlorine residual increases
D. Hardness level drops
Answer: B
