AWWA CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL
SPECIALIST EXAM SCRIPT 2026 FULL
EVALUATION VERIFIED A+
◉ What will most probably cause taste and odors, slime, and filter
clogging? Answer: Blue-green Algae
◉ Why can rapid sand filters handle higher filtration rates compared
to slow sand filters? Answer: Coarser sand
◉ Iron bacteria can interfere with ___________ because the bacteria
produce _____________that prevents the stabilization chemicals from
reaching the pipe surface. Answer: stabilization, a slime layer
◉ Hypochlorous acid is favored over hypochlorite ion when the pH
is _____________and the temperature is ___________. Answer: low, low
◉ What filter has an unstratified media distribution? Answer: slow
sand filters
◉ What is (are) the combine chlorine residual(s) at pH values
ranging from 6.5 to 8.5? Answer: Monochloramine and dichloramine
,◉ When iron alone is treated using manganese greensand filters, the
chlorine feed rate should be about _________________. Answer: 1.0 to 1.2
times the iron concentration
◉ chlorination of water that has high concentrations of natural
organic matter will produce Answer: THMs
◉ When disinfecting with chloramines, when can the ammonia be
added to the process? Answer: Before, same time as, or after the
chlorine
◉ What will settle out of the water in a short period of time?
Answer: Very fine silt
◉ Point-of-use activated carbon filters are most effective for
removing _________________. Answer: Chlorine
◉ Potassium permanganate is used as an oxidant for control of
____________________. Answer: Iron and manganese, organic precursors,
and taste and odors
◉ What must an operator periodically check regarding the cyclone
separator system? Answer: Storage bin or hopper to empty of sand
and grit
,◉ These types of chemicals chemically tie up scale-forming ions and
are eventually ingested by consumers. Answer: Sequestering agents
◉ An operator should record filter ______________ measurements,
condition, and depth of media on a ________ basis. Answer: bed
expansion, quarterly
◉ Lime will precipitate noncarbonate hardness from the water, but
it also orms noncarbonate salts that cause noncarbonate hardness.
What are these salts? Answer: CaSO4 and CaCl2
◉ What are absolute ratings based on with regard to membranes?
Answer: Largest pore opening
◉ How ar manganese greensand beds regenerated? Answer:
Backwashed with permanganate solution
◉ The most effective process for removing radon gas, when
considering cost and footprint, would be ____________. Answer: packed
tower aeration
◉ What is the primary advantage of placing a properly sized
anthracite coal layer over manganese greensand? Answer: Longer
filter run times
, ◉ What factor will cause problems for chlorination? Answer:
Foreign substances
◉ In the lime-soda ash softening process, smaller plants find that
________ is less expensive to purchase; regardless of the size of the
plant, ___________ needs to be mixed long enough because it dissolves
rather slowly. Answer: calcium hydroxide, lime
◉ What does the optimal pH establish when applied to iron and
manganese oxidation? Answer: Detention time
◉ A water plant using chloramines as a disinfectant has allowed
sizable amounts of turbidity to enter the distribution system. If this
occurs over a period of years, what will occur at the far end of the
distribution system? Answer: Taste and odor will develop, Bacterial
growth will be supported, and Nitrification
◉ The reduction of color would most likely occur after Answer:
coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation
◉ To eliminate hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the pH of the water should
be lowered to ____________ or less before beginning aeration. Answer:
6.0
SPECIALIST EXAM SCRIPT 2026 FULL
EVALUATION VERIFIED A+
◉ What will most probably cause taste and odors, slime, and filter
clogging? Answer: Blue-green Algae
◉ Why can rapid sand filters handle higher filtration rates compared
to slow sand filters? Answer: Coarser sand
◉ Iron bacteria can interfere with ___________ because the bacteria
produce _____________that prevents the stabilization chemicals from
reaching the pipe surface. Answer: stabilization, a slime layer
◉ Hypochlorous acid is favored over hypochlorite ion when the pH
is _____________and the temperature is ___________. Answer: low, low
◉ What filter has an unstratified media distribution? Answer: slow
sand filters
◉ What is (are) the combine chlorine residual(s) at pH values
ranging from 6.5 to 8.5? Answer: Monochloramine and dichloramine
,◉ When iron alone is treated using manganese greensand filters, the
chlorine feed rate should be about _________________. Answer: 1.0 to 1.2
times the iron concentration
◉ chlorination of water that has high concentrations of natural
organic matter will produce Answer: THMs
◉ When disinfecting with chloramines, when can the ammonia be
added to the process? Answer: Before, same time as, or after the
chlorine
◉ What will settle out of the water in a short period of time?
Answer: Very fine silt
◉ Point-of-use activated carbon filters are most effective for
removing _________________. Answer: Chlorine
◉ Potassium permanganate is used as an oxidant for control of
____________________. Answer: Iron and manganese, organic precursors,
and taste and odors
◉ What must an operator periodically check regarding the cyclone
separator system? Answer: Storage bin or hopper to empty of sand
and grit
,◉ These types of chemicals chemically tie up scale-forming ions and
are eventually ingested by consumers. Answer: Sequestering agents
◉ An operator should record filter ______________ measurements,
condition, and depth of media on a ________ basis. Answer: bed
expansion, quarterly
◉ Lime will precipitate noncarbonate hardness from the water, but
it also orms noncarbonate salts that cause noncarbonate hardness.
What are these salts? Answer: CaSO4 and CaCl2
◉ What are absolute ratings based on with regard to membranes?
Answer: Largest pore opening
◉ How ar manganese greensand beds regenerated? Answer:
Backwashed with permanganate solution
◉ The most effective process for removing radon gas, when
considering cost and footprint, would be ____________. Answer: packed
tower aeration
◉ What is the primary advantage of placing a properly sized
anthracite coal layer over manganese greensand? Answer: Longer
filter run times
, ◉ What factor will cause problems for chlorination? Answer:
Foreign substances
◉ In the lime-soda ash softening process, smaller plants find that
________ is less expensive to purchase; regardless of the size of the
plant, ___________ needs to be mixed long enough because it dissolves
rather slowly. Answer: calcium hydroxide, lime
◉ What does the optimal pH establish when applied to iron and
manganese oxidation? Answer: Detention time
◉ A water plant using chloramines as a disinfectant has allowed
sizable amounts of turbidity to enter the distribution system. If this
occurs over a period of years, what will occur at the far end of the
distribution system? Answer: Taste and odor will develop, Bacterial
growth will be supported, and Nitrification
◉ The reduction of color would most likely occur after Answer:
coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation
◉ To eliminate hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the pH of the water should
be lowered to ____________ or less before beginning aeration. Answer:
6.0
