AWWA MEMBRANE TREATMENT OPERATOR
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS Q&A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of membrane filtration in
water treatment?
A. Chemical disinfection
B. Removal of suspended and dissolved contaminants
C. pH adjustment
D. Sludge digestion
Rationale: Membranes physically separate contaminants.
Correct answer: B
2. Which membrane process uses pressure to force water
through a semi-permeable barrier?
A. Sedimentation
B. Reverse osmosis
C. Flocculation
D. Aeration
Rationale: RO uses pressure-driven separation.
Correct answer: B
,3. Ultrafiltration membranes primarily remove which
contaminants?
A. Dissolved salts
B. Viruses and bacteria
C. Chlorine
D. Nitrates only
Rationale: UF removes microorganisms and particulates.
Correct answer: B
4. What is the main driving force in membrane filtration?
A. Gravity
B. Electrical charge
C. Pressure differential
D. Temperature gradient
Rationale: Pressure pushes water through membranes.
Correct answer: C
5. Which process removes the smallest particles including
ions?
A. Microfiltration
B. Ultrafiltration
C. Reverse osmosis
D. Sedimentation
Rationale: RO removes dissolved ions.
Correct answer: C
,6. What is membrane fouling?
A. Improved filtration
B. Accumulation of materials on membrane surface
C. Increased pressure only
D. Chemical dosing
Rationale: Fouling reduces performance.
Correct answer: B
7. Which chemical is commonly used to clean membranes?
A. Sodium chloride
B. Citric acid
C. Oxygen
D. Aluminum sulfate
Rationale: Acid removes scale deposits.
Correct answer: B
8. What is transmembrane pressure (TMP)?
A. Temperature difference
B. Pressure across membrane
C. Flow velocity
D. Chemical concentration
Rationale: TMP drives filtration.
Correct answer: B
, 9. Which membrane type has the largest pore size?
A. Reverse osmosis
B. Ultrafiltration
C. Microfiltration
D. Nanofiltration
Rationale: MF has largest pores.
Correct answer: C
10. Nanofiltration is mainly used for removal of:
A. Large debris
B. Hardness and organic molecules
C. Sand particles
D. Oxygen
Rationale: NF removes divalent ions.
Correct answer: B
11. What causes increased differential pressure in
membranes?
A. Clean water
B. Fouling and scaling
C. Low flow
D. High temperature only
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS Q&A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of membrane filtration in
water treatment?
A. Chemical disinfection
B. Removal of suspended and dissolved contaminants
C. pH adjustment
D. Sludge digestion
Rationale: Membranes physically separate contaminants.
Correct answer: B
2. Which membrane process uses pressure to force water
through a semi-permeable barrier?
A. Sedimentation
B. Reverse osmosis
C. Flocculation
D. Aeration
Rationale: RO uses pressure-driven separation.
Correct answer: B
,3. Ultrafiltration membranes primarily remove which
contaminants?
A. Dissolved salts
B. Viruses and bacteria
C. Chlorine
D. Nitrates only
Rationale: UF removes microorganisms and particulates.
Correct answer: B
4. What is the main driving force in membrane filtration?
A. Gravity
B. Electrical charge
C. Pressure differential
D. Temperature gradient
Rationale: Pressure pushes water through membranes.
Correct answer: C
5. Which process removes the smallest particles including
ions?
A. Microfiltration
B. Ultrafiltration
C. Reverse osmosis
D. Sedimentation
Rationale: RO removes dissolved ions.
Correct answer: C
,6. What is membrane fouling?
A. Improved filtration
B. Accumulation of materials on membrane surface
C. Increased pressure only
D. Chemical dosing
Rationale: Fouling reduces performance.
Correct answer: B
7. Which chemical is commonly used to clean membranes?
A. Sodium chloride
B. Citric acid
C. Oxygen
D. Aluminum sulfate
Rationale: Acid removes scale deposits.
Correct answer: B
8. What is transmembrane pressure (TMP)?
A. Temperature difference
B. Pressure across membrane
C. Flow velocity
D. Chemical concentration
Rationale: TMP drives filtration.
Correct answer: B
, 9. Which membrane type has the largest pore size?
A. Reverse osmosis
B. Ultrafiltration
C. Microfiltration
D. Nanofiltration
Rationale: MF has largest pores.
Correct answer: C
10. Nanofiltration is mainly used for removal of:
A. Large debris
B. Hardness and organic molecules
C. Sand particles
D. Oxygen
Rationale: NF removes divalent ions.
Correct answer: B
11. What causes increased differential pressure in
membranes?
A. Clean water
B. Fouling and scaling
C. Low flow
D. High temperature only
