OSSF INSTALLER 1 LICENSE EXAM AND CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED

OSSF INSTALLER 1 LICENSE EXAM AND CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED "What septic systems require planning by Professional Engineer? - CORRECT ANSWER low pressure dosing, absorptive mounds, soil substitution, secondary treatment, anything aerobic" "What does it mean to alter a septic system? - CORRECT ANSWER To change an on-site sewage facility" "Authorization to construct - CORRECT ANSWER first part of the permit" "Authorized agent - CORRECT ANSWER delegated the authority by the executive director to implement and enforce the rules" "Certified professional soil scientist - CORRECT ANSWER individual who has met the certification requirements of the American Society of Agronomy to engage in the practice of soil science" "Designated representative - CORRECT ANSWER An individual who holds a valid license to review permit applications, site evaluations, or planning materials, or conduct inspections on on-site sewage facilities." "Floodplain (100-year) - CORRECT ANSWER has a 1% chance of flooding each year" "Recharge feature - CORRECT ANSWER Permeable geologic or manmade feature located on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, hydrologic interconnectedness and rapid infiltration can occur" "Sewage - CORRECT ANSWER is primarily organic and biodegradable or decomposable, and originates as human, animal, or plant waste" "Site evaluator - CORRECT ANSWER conducts preconstruction site evaluations, performs soil analysis, a site survey, or other activities necessary to determine the suitability of a site for OSSF" "Can a professional engineer perform sit evaluation without SE license - CORRECT ANSWER Yes" "What is a well - CORRECT ANSWER defined under Texas Water Code, Chapters 26, 32, and 33, and 16 TAC Chapter 76" "How often does an install renew their registration - CORRECT ANSWER every 3 years" "Types of penalties for violating OSSF regulations - CORRECT ANSWER injunction, civil or criminal" "Health and Safety Code, Chapter 366 - CORRECT ANSWER Updated February 7, 2017" "On-Site Sewage Facilities, Title 30, TAC Chapter 285 - CORRECT ANSWER Effective December 29, 2016" "Occupational Licenses and Registrations, Title 30, TAC Chapter 30, Subchapters A and G - CORRECT ANSWER Effective September 29, 2016" "Major steps in permitting process - CORRECT ANSWER Site/soil evaluation Select OSSF system System planning Submit for permit Review permit application Authorization to construct issued Construction Inspection Notice of approval" "What are bacteria that can cause disease called - CORRECT ANSWER pathogens" "Microorganisms in wastewater include - CORRECT ANSWER bacteria, viruses, protozoa and melminths" "What is a solid that can be filtered from waste called - CORRECT ANSWER TOS total suspended solids" "What is a solid that cannot be filtered from wastewater called - CORRECT ANSWER TDS total dissolved solids" "What OSSF should be used in clay soil - CORRECT ANSWER drip or spray irrigation" "Adsorption will occur - CORRECT ANSWER in water with high hardiness and pH 6.5-7" "Can a septic tank be considered a pretreatment system - CORRECT ANSWER yes" "A standard disposal system does NOT include - CORRECT ANSWER gravel less pipes" "A nonstandard disposal system does NOT include - CORRECT ANSWER drip irrigation" "What should a site evaluation include - CORRECT ANSWER soil and geologic conditions, lot size, topography and slope, setbacks /separation distances, flood hazard info" "Soil from largest to smallest - CORRECT ANSWER gravel (2+mm) sand (.05-2mm) silt (.002-.05mm) clay (less than .002mm)" "What are the 4 major components of soil - CORRECT ANSWER organic, air filled, water filled, mineral" "Soil texture - CORRECT ANSWER the relative proportion of sand, silt and clay in soil" "Porosity - CORRECT ANSWER the percentage of soil that is occupied by pores or space" "Specific yeild - CORRECT ANSWER the amount of water drained from soil by gravity" "Specific retention - CORRECT ANSWER amount of water remaining after gravity drainage" "Permeability - CORRECT ANSWER the capacity of a material to transmit water" "Uniform grains have high porosity - CORRECT ANSWER true" "Non uniform grains have low porosity - CORRECT ANSWER true" "Fractured rock has what type of porosity - CORRECT ANSWER high" "Clay porosity and specific yield - CORRECT ANSWER 45-55% and 1-10" "Gravel porosity and specific yield - CORRECT ANSWER 25-40% and 15-30" "Sand porosity and specific yield - CORRECT ANSWER 25-40% and 10-30" "What are the 3 chemical properties of soil - CORRECT ANSWER cation exchange capacity, salinity and pH" "What is the soil horizon - CORRECT ANSWER a layer lying below another layer and parallel to the surface" "Top layer soil profile - CORRECT ANSWER organic layer mixed with minerals" "Middle layer of soil profile - CORRECT ANSWER weather produced soil with little organic matter" "Bottom layer of soil profile - CORRECT ANSWER unweathered bedrock" "What is Class 1a soil - CORRECT ANSWER sandy with 30% or more gravel- unsuitable for drainfield use" "What is Class 1b soil - CORRECT ANSWER sandy" "What is class 2 soil - CORRECT ANSWER coarse loam" "What is class 3 soil - CORRECT ANSWER fine loam, sandy clay" "What is class 4 soil - CORRECT ANSWER clay- unsuitable for drainfield use" "Slope unsuitable for drainfield - CORRECT ANSWER over 30% or complex slopes" "What 2 types of soil are unsuitable - CORRECT ANSWER Class 1a, sand with > 30% gravel and clay" "Minimum lot size for OSSF - CORRECT ANSWER 1 acre if private water supply 1/2 acre if on city water" "Ideal topography for OSSF - CORRECT ANSWER nearly level with gentle slope for rainwater runoff" "What % slope is unsuitable for OSSF - CORRECT ANSWER greater than 30%" "Where should OSSF NOT be located in regards to topography - CORRECT ANSWER in a depression or in a complex slope area dissected by gullies and ravines" "How can topography be measured - CORRECT ANSWER GPS, laser, optical instrument" "What is the surface grade - CORRECT ANSWER the slope of a line expressed as a percent in feet or inches per 100 feet" "Minimum distance for tank and distribution field - CORRECT ANSWER public water well 50/150 feet public or private water line 10/10 feet streams, ponds, etc 50/75 feet (except LDP is 25ft) foundations 5/5 feet easements 1 foot total slope where seepage may occur 5/25 feet Edwards aquifer 50/150 feet" "Formula for calculating slope - CORRECT ANSWER difference in elevation over distance multiplied by 100 ex: high point 15 feet, distance 200 feet = 0.75 x 100= 7.5% slope" "Typical wastewater composition - CORRECT ANSWER Total solids 700-1,000 mg/L Total suspended solids 180-300mg/L Total Nitrogen 40-50mg/L Grease 90-110 mg/L" "What is the usage rate per day for 3 bedroom house - CORRECT ANSWER 300/240 gallons with water savers" "What types of systems can Installer 1 construct and repair? - CORRECT ANSWER standard absorptive drainfield unlined ET evaporative drainfield Leaching chamber drainfield Pumped effluent drainfield Gravel less pipe drainfield Soil substitution Holding tank" "Can an Installer 1 construct a conventional system with a septic tank as pretreatment? - CORRECT ANSWER yes" "What is the minimum gallons in this first tank of a 3 tank system - CORRECT ANSWER at least 1/3 but not less than 500" "Minimum liquid capacity calculation (V) - CORRECT ANSWER for less than 500 gallons, around 3 times gallons per day (Q) 501-1000 V= 2.5 gallon per day Greater than 1,000 V= 1,750 plus 0.75 gallon per day" "What types of material are acceptable for septic tanks? - CORRECT ANSWER steel reinforced concrete, fiberglass, reinforced plastic polyethylene, material approved by TCEQ" "In a well operating system, where will most of scum and solids be removed from - CORRECT ANSWER first chamber" "How high above tank operating level should inflow line be? - CORRECT ANSWER At least 3 inches" "Where should the entry point for final outlet be? - CORRECT ANSWER 25-50% of depth below surface" "Why should fittings be made of stainless steel? - CORRECT ANSWER to resist corrosion from anaerobic environment" "When do you need to install a riser - CORRECT ANSWER when depth from surface to tank exceed 12 inches" "What is minimum depth of liquid in tank? - CORRECT ANSWER 30 inches" "What is a standard absorptive drainfield - CORRECT ANSWER most widely used system in Texas and US, gravel filled system/ leach field, has biological mat" "What is freeze line in Texas - CORRECT ANSWER 18 inches below grade" "Standard drainfield size is in square feet - CORRECT ANSWER bottom of excavation plus 1 foot of sidewall 5x6 excavation-> 7x8 drainfield size 10x14 excavation-> 12x16 drainfield size" "What is the long term soil acceptance rate? (Ra) - CORRECT ANSWER Class 1a >0.5 gallons per absorptive area (sq ft) per day Class 1b 0.38 Class 2 0.25 Class 3 0.20 Class 4 0.10" "Calculation for size of drainfield in square feet - CORRECT ANSWER volume in gallons per day divided by soil acceptance rate AA= Q/Ra" "Wastewater loading equals what - CORRECT ANSWER volume in gallons per day (Q)" "Excavation length for 2 foot wide excavation and sewage flow of 100 gallons per day - CORRECT ANSWER Class 1b 66ft, Class 2 100ft, Class 3 125ft" "What is the minimum excavation width for all excavation lengths? - CORRECT ANSWER No less than 1.5 feet wide" "What are some standard drainfield requirements for pipe - CORRECT ANSWER minimum 3 inch SDR35 or stronger, minimum 5 ft length and have continuous fall (tank to drainfield) perforated pipe with a maximum single line length of 150 feet (total drainfield)" "What are some standard drainfield requirements for installation - CORRECT ANSWER minimum 18 inch depth, max 3 ft depth minimum 18 inch width maximum separation between trenches 3 feet of undisturbed soil" "What are requirements for bottom of excavation of standard drainfield - CORRECT ANSWER level to within 1 inch per 25 feet or 0.33% slope" "What are some standard drainfield requirements for fill - CORRECT ANSWER minimum 12 inches of porous media with at least 6 inches under pipe clean and generally uniform between 0.75 and 2.0 inches" "Types of pipe allowed in drainfield only - CORRECT ANSWER 3 or 4 inch PVC with SDR35 or stronger 4 inch corrugated polyethylene, ASTM F405 in rigid 10ft joints 3 or 4 inch polyethylene smooth wall ASTM F810 or PVC ASTM F892 or PVC ASTM 2729 or any pipe approved by TCEQ" "What does an ET bed look like - CORRECT ANSWER covered by plant material, plants grow down to drainfiled and pulls water through roots" "When should a LINED Evapotranspiration field be used? - CORRECT ANSWER shallow groundwater, thin soil, extra permeable" "When should a UNLINED Evapotranspiration field be used? - CORRECT ANSWER clay, caliche, non permeable soils, also called ETA system, can be installed by Installer 1" "Should water saving devices be used with ET systems - CORRECT ANSWER They MUST be used" "Size of ET drainfield calculation - CORRECT ANSWER only used surface are of field, not including sidewall A(ft2) = 1.6Q/RET" "What is drainfield formula A(ft2) = 1.6Q/RET - CORRECT ANSWER A = top surface area of field only, not including sidewall 1.6(Q) when Q = water usage per day Ret = net local evaporation from Table VII from 2008 rules" "What is a diversion or control valve in an ET system - CORRECT ANSWER the connection between 2 or more fields, a way to let fields "rest" in between use" "What type of soil can be used for backfill in an ET system - CORRECT ANSWER ONLY Class 2, sandy loam" "ET requirements for porous media - CORRECT ANSWER must extend at least one foot beyond drainline horizontally" "What type of pipe system can be used in ET system - CORRECT ANSWER gravel filled field OR gravel less pipe" "What is gravel less pipe made of? - CORRECT ANSWER 8-10 inch diameter of corrugated polyethylene pipe having 2 rows of perforations approx 120* apart along pipe's bottom half" "Formula for 10 inch gravel less pit pipe - CORRECT ANSWER L = A(ft2)/4.5ft (W) L = length A = Standard absorptive area" "What is a leaching chamber drainfield - CORRECT ANSWER a bottomless chamber, tunnel like, installed in drainfield with open bottom in direct contact with floor of excavation" "Calculation for length of leaching chamber - CORRECT ANSWER Length = .6A/(W+2) without water saving device Length = .75A/ (W+2) with water saving device" "Type of soil for installation of leaching chamber - CORRECT ANSWER backfilled with Soil Class 1b, 2, or 3 cannot be installed in Class 1a or Class 4 soil" "Where should you make level checks at install? - CORRECT ANSWER House sewer, septic tank, effluent line, soil absorption bed" "Name 3 jobsite safety checks - CORRECT ANSWER Have underground lines been located and tagged- Texas Call One Has inspection been conducted Have precautions been taken for overhead lines Are work area protections and warning devices in place Have site and soil conditions been evaluated Have environmental conditions been evaluated (moisture, dust, noise, fumes) Have below ground structures been located and evaluated Do workers have personal PPE" "House sewer regulations - CORRECT ANSWER flows from home to tank, at least 3 inches higher than tank outlet slope must be at least 1/8 inch fall per foot of pipe min elevation difference = length of sewer in feet/ 8 at least 12 inch drop in elevation from bottom of outlet to bottom of absorption area" "Excavation of drainfield requirments - CORRECT ANSWER bottom must be 12 inches lower than treatment outlet bottom constructed leveled to no more than 1 inch fall over 25 feet, but not more than 3 inches total max slope of trench should not exceed 1 inch per 25 feet" "Who can approve changes to OSSF system - CORRECT ANSWER Only permitting authority- either local or TCEQ" "When should changes be presented for approval - CORRECT ANSWER before ANY major changes are made before MOST minor changes are made" "When should new plans be drawn - CORRECT ANSWER After any changes made on site" "What direction will flow elevation be the further from stub out - CORRECT ANSWER increasingly lower on a gravity system" "How does a Philadelphia rod work - CORRECT ANSWER a lower numerical number equals higher elevation" "What are some reasons for a failed system - CORRECT ANSWER excessive volume of water, introduction of high strength chemicals, non typical waste materials" "Should the installer educate homeowner on OSSF maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER YES" "Should an OSSF system be treated like a city wastewater collection system - CORRECT ANSWER NO" "Should a disposal be used and excessive grease be put in septic tank - CORRECT ANSWER NO" "How often should septic tanks be cleaned - CORRECT ANSWER Per TCEQ, 2-3 years" "Where should water softener backflow be discharged to - CORRECT ANSWER directly to drainfield, not connected to septic tank" "How many gallons per day can a small leak from a toilet use - CORRECT ANSWER 100 gallons or more" "How far apart does scum and sludge layer need to be for pumping - CORRECT ANSWER maximum of 4 inches" "What are the 2 most common symptoms of a failing OSSF system - CORRECT ANSWER water flowing back into house and pooling on the ground" “When did law requiring Installer 1 license go into effect? - CORRECT ANSWER March 1, 1990" "What is evaporation? - CORRECT ANSWER water coming from ground" "What is transpiration? - CORRECT ANSWER water coming from plants" "Are bore holes, injection wells or cesspools legal? - CORRECT ANSWER no" "Can artesian wells be contaminated from bore holes? - CORRECT ANSWER yes" "When did license for Installer 2 and Designated Rep go into effect? - CORRECT ANSWER 1998" "Requirements to take Installer 2 class - CORRECT ANSWER Installer 1 license for 1 yr and 3 installs or 2 yrs as apprentice plus 6 installs" "Does Designated Representative need experience? - CORRECT ANSWER No, just course and test at 70%, but cannot work as installer/designer/evaluator in jurisdiction" "Requirements for Site Evaluator - CORRECT ANSWER Current Installer 2, DR, Engineer, Sanitarian, Geoscientist" "Requirements for Maintenance Provider - CORRECT ANSWER Maintenance Tech for 3 years or Installer 2 plus class" "Gravel-less drainfield pipe - CORRECT ANSWER eight-inch or ten-inch diameter geotextile fabric-wrapped piping product without gravel or media" "Groundwater - CORRECT ANSWER Subsurface water occurring in soils and geologic formations that are fully saturated either year-round or on a seasonal or intermittent basis" "Local governmental entity - CORRECT ANSWER municipality, county, river authority, or special district, including groundwater conservation districts, soil and water conservation districts, and public health districts" "Maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER Maintenance does not include alterations" "Maintenance provider - CORRECT ANSWER Through August 31, 2009, a maintenance company is a person or business that maintains on-site sewage facilities for compensation" "Malfunctioning OSSF - CORRECT ANSWER on-site sewage facility that is causing a nuisance or is not operating in compliance" "On-site sewage disposal system - CORRECT ANSWER does not treat more than 5,000 gallons per day, only used for disposal of sewage from site." "Professional engineer - CORRECT ANSWER Texas Board of Professional Engineers to engage in the practice of engineering in the State of Texas" "Professional sanitarian - CORRECT ANSWER individual registered by the Texas Department of State Health Services to carry out educational and inspection duties in the field of sanitation" "What types of criminal offenses are related to OSSF - CORRECT ANSWER misdemeanor in accordance with Chap 7 Texas Water Code and Chapter 12.23 of Texas Penal Code" "Max allowable slope for less than 20 ft - CORRECT ANSWER Stable Rock (Vertical)90* Type A (3/4:1) 53* Type B (1:1) 45* Type C (1.5:1) 34*" "What is not an effective way to warn traffic about construction - CORRECT ANSWER Anything that doesn't catch attention, like construction equipment. Must have movement by a person or flashing lights" "What are 4 safety concerns when channeling traffic thru a work area - CORRECT ANSWER pre warn, sign properly, regulate speed, guide properly" "What is the angle of repose - CORRECT ANSWER an angle closest to perpendicular at which the soil remains at rest" "how far ahead must someone call Texas One Call before digging with mechanical equipment - CORRECT ANSWER 2 working days excluding weekend and holiday" "Three types of infection risk - CORRECT ANSWER hep A, leptospirosis and parasites" "Dangers of confined space rescues - CORRECT ANSWER Almost 60% of fatalities involved would be rescuers" "Cubic feet to Cubic Yards - CORRECT ANSWER divide by 27" "Gallons to Cubic Feet - CORRECT ANSWER divide by 7.48" "Gallons per minute to Gallons per day - CORRECT ANSWER multiple by 1,440" "Cubic Yards to Gallons - CORRECT ANSWER multiple by 202" "Capacity formula 4 sided objects - CORRECT ANSWER L x W x H x 7.48 gallon/ft cubed" "Capacity in circular objects - CORRECT ANSWER Pi x R squared x 7.48 gallon/ft cubed" "Liquid working capacity - CORRECT ANSWER volume up to outlet line" "What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - CORRECT ANSWER measure strength of wastewater in regard to organic loading" "What is dissolved oxygen (DO) - CORRECT ANSWER free oxygen that can become available to waste, is consumed in a short period of time, measure of freshness Temp up, DO down Temp down, DO up" "What pH is typical for wastewater - CORRECT ANSWER 6.5-8.0" "How does nitrogen removal take place? - CORRECT ANSWER by vegetative uptake and denitrification in slow rate systems" "Anaerobic bacteria is NOT found in - CORRECT ANSWER activated sludge" "What is physical straining in relation to soil treatment - CORRECT ANSWER bacteria are larger than soil pore opening, increased efficiency" "What is flow rate in relation to soil treatment - CORRECT ANSWER low flow has better efficiency of virus removal" "What factors influence bacteria survival in soil - CORRECT ANSWER moisture, temperature, pH and organic matter" "Cannot have unsuitable soil within how many feet of sidewall or bottom of excavation - CORRECT ANSWER 2 feet (excepted lined ET)" "For suitable construction, how many feet away from restrictive horizon must you be - CORRECT ANSWER 2 feet" "Gravel in soil for drainfield - CORRECT ANSWER less than 30% if gravel > 2mm or over 80% of gravel must be < 5mm" "Can you have evidence of groundwater within 2 feet of excavation - CORRECT ANSWER No" "What kind of flood hazard can you have for drainfield? - CORRECT ANSWER None" "Mottles can help determine seasonally saturated soil - CORRECT ANSWER true" "What is infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER the entry of water into soil" "What is permeability - CORRECT ANSWER the ease at which liquid can move in soil, effected by properties of soil like aggregation of structural units" "What are the 3 properties to characterize soil - CORRECT ANSWER texture, drainage/groundwater presence and depth/ restrictive horizon" "Formula for drop in inches of pipe, if grade is known - CORRECT ANSWER % slope/100 times distance ex drop in inches of 0.33% grade over 150 feet 0.33/100 = .0033ft times 150 ft = 0.495 ft 0.495 ft x 12inches per foot = 5.9 inches" "What should a lot design and installation evaluation include - CORRECT ANSWER lot size, soil and geologic conditions, topography and slope, setbacks, flood hazards" "What is a common reason for soil absorption system failure - CORRECT ANSWER lot size too small" "What is a serious threat when a system fails in urban or suburban area? - CORRECT ANSWER threat of waterborne disease" "When minimum lot size cannot be met, system must be designed by - CORRECT ANSWER Professional Engineer or Professional Sanitarian" "What is the most critical soil characteristic - CORRECT ANSWER the ability to absorb wastewater" "Where does most of the wastewater treatment occur - CORRECT ANSWER In the soil, not the tank" "What is the primary criteria for OSSF selection - CORRECT ANSWER it will function properly" "What are some secondary criteria for selecting an OSSF - CORRECT ANSWER cost, minimal maintenance, simplicity of operation, long term reliability" "System loading needs to be equal to or less than what - CORRECT ANSWER System Capacity" "Gravity flow septic systems need how many inches of drop from outlet to disposal field? - CORRECT ANSWER 12 inches" "What materials can sewer line from house be made of? - CORRECT ANSWER cast iron, high strength pipe or schedule 40 under driveway, can also use SDR 26 elsewhere" "Pipe diameter from house to tank must be at least how many inches? - CORRECT ANSWER At least 3 inches" "Minimum slope from sewer line from house - CORRECT ANSWER No less than 1/8 inch per foot or 1% slope" "Where should additional cleanouts be located? - CORRECT ANSWER within 5 feet of 90* bend and every 100 ft of straight pipe" "The reserve capacity in a tank is - CORRECT ANSWER the volume above the tank alarm" "Reserve capacity is equal to - CORRECT ANSWER 1/3 days flow in gallons" "When are dual pumps required - CORRECT ANSWER when daily flow is over 1,000 gallons per day" "How should electrical wires be installed? - CORRECT ANSWER UL, according to National Electric Code, in approved junction boxes and non metallic grey pipe with visible disconnect" "Where should geotextile fabric be installed? - CORRECT ANSWER between the top of the porous media and backfill" "What soils are prohibited as backfill? - CORRECT ANSWER Class 1a (sand with gravel) or class 4 (clay)" "What slope is excessive for single level system - CORRECT ANSWER 15-30%" "What is a pumped effluent drainfield? (PED) - CORRECT ANSWER can be used for residential single family, on sites that are nearly level, and minimum vertical separation of 2 ft above groundwater or restrictive horizon" "How is size of PED calculated? - CORRECT ANSWER based on number of bedrooms 1-2 bedrooms need 1,000 ft of line each additional bedroom requires 400 ft of line" "What is size of PED lines - CORRECT ANSWER 1.25-1.5 inches with downward facing holes spaced 5 feet apart" "What size pump is needed for PED? - CORRECT ANSWER Minimum 1/2 horsepower, must deliver effluent to end of drainfield but not too strong to cause blowout" "What is an Evapotranspiration Drainfield? (unlined) - CORRECT ANSWER means to dispose of wastewater to the atmosphere instead of down through the soil" "How does an ET system work - CORRECT ANSWER thru Simple evaporation or Plant transpiration"