CPSWQ Test Questions With Passed
Solutions!!!
What is the current approach in the U.S. for stormwater management? CORRECT
ANSWERS -The NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)
What is a watershed? What is the size of a watershed called? CORRECT ANSWERS -
A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt into creeks, streams and
rivers and eventually to outflow points such as reservoirs, bays and ocean.
Size is called a drainage basin or catchment
What is point source pollution and give an example? CORRECT ANSWERS -Point
source is any direct and detectable or confined transmission of a pollutant. Ex) pipe,
channel, tunnel, well, container
What is a non-point source pollution + example? CORRECT ANSWERS -Non-point
source is less direct such as stormwater runoff.
Is stormwater run-off point source or non-point source? CORRECT ANSWERS -Non
point source
The Clean Water Act is an amendment to what? When was it established? CORRECT
ANSWERS An amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
What did the 1972 Clean Water Act establish/aim to do? CORRECT ANSWERS -the
CWA established the NPDES and aims to eliminate all discharges of pollution into
navigable waters. To protect fish, wildlife and recreation.
What did the 1977 Effluent Limitations Guidelines aim to do? CORRECT ANSWERS
developed BMPs (Best Management Practices) and NURP (National Urban Runoff
Program)
What is the difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the NPDES? CORRECT
ANSWERS -Phase 1: permit for discharges from medium - large MS4s with a
population of 100,000 or more. Any construction greater than 5 acres
-Phase 2: more strict, included small MS4s, all construction greater than 1 acre now
need permit coverage
The 2006 Rapanose case gave the EPA and agencies the power to define and assert
jurisdiction over which waters? CORRECT ANSWERS - Traditional navigable waters,
wetlands adjacent to trad navigable waters, non-navigable tributaries of traditional
navigable waters that have at least continuous flow seasonally, wetlands that directly
run alongside the tributaries mentioned before
, The EPA will NOT assert jurisdiction over what? CORRECT ANSWERS Swales and
erosional features with low volume, ditches (including roadside ditches) UNLESS there
is a significant analysis that it is next to or may affect a navigable water downstream!
What are the three types of Physical pollutants? CORRECT ANSWERS -sediment,
temperature, gross solids
Name one source and one impact of sediment pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -
sources: construction sites, streambank erosion, agriculture
-impacts: reduces light transmission, smothers fish habitat, transports pollutants, affects
recreation(muddy water)
Name one source and one impact of thermal pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -
sources: power plants, industrial sites, removal of trees (hot rip-rap)
-impacts: threat to fish and aquatic insects, affects the chemistry/rate of other pollutants
What are examples of Chemical pollutants? CORRECT ANSWERS -Nutrients (Nitrogen
and Phosphorus), Metals, Hydrocarbons (oils and fuels), Salts, Organic Compounds
(paint thinners, solvents, degreasing and curing agents, Pesticides
-Biological pollutants = bacteria and viruses
-Oxygen Demands = hypoxic, anoxic conditions
Name one source and one impact of nutrient pollutants CORRECT ANSWERS -source:
agriculture/landscaping - fertilizer, atmospheric deposition, septic or sewer leaks
-impact: algae blooms (hypoxia), eutrophication, methemoglobinemia (nitrate only)
Name one source and one impact of metal pollutants (copper, zinc, lead, cadmium,
iron) CORRECT ANSWERS -sources: roads, building materials, industrial activities,
atmospheric deposition
-impacts: toxic to aquatic life, bioaccumulation, threat to human health (ex. Mercury in
fish)
Name one source and one impact of hydrocarbon pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -
sources: roads, fueling sites, emissions, illegal dumping, vehicle and equipment leaks
-impacts: threat to aquatic life, threat to human life
Name one source and one impact of salt pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -sources:
salt used of roads to melt ice/snow, airport de-icing, certain fertilizers
Solutions!!!
What is the current approach in the U.S. for stormwater management? CORRECT
ANSWERS -The NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)
What is a watershed? What is the size of a watershed called? CORRECT ANSWERS -
A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt into creeks, streams and
rivers and eventually to outflow points such as reservoirs, bays and ocean.
Size is called a drainage basin or catchment
What is point source pollution and give an example? CORRECT ANSWERS -Point
source is any direct and detectable or confined transmission of a pollutant. Ex) pipe,
channel, tunnel, well, container
What is a non-point source pollution + example? CORRECT ANSWERS -Non-point
source is less direct such as stormwater runoff.
Is stormwater run-off point source or non-point source? CORRECT ANSWERS -Non
point source
The Clean Water Act is an amendment to what? When was it established? CORRECT
ANSWERS An amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
What did the 1972 Clean Water Act establish/aim to do? CORRECT ANSWERS -the
CWA established the NPDES and aims to eliminate all discharges of pollution into
navigable waters. To protect fish, wildlife and recreation.
What did the 1977 Effluent Limitations Guidelines aim to do? CORRECT ANSWERS
developed BMPs (Best Management Practices) and NURP (National Urban Runoff
Program)
What is the difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the NPDES? CORRECT
ANSWERS -Phase 1: permit for discharges from medium - large MS4s with a
population of 100,000 or more. Any construction greater than 5 acres
-Phase 2: more strict, included small MS4s, all construction greater than 1 acre now
need permit coverage
The 2006 Rapanose case gave the EPA and agencies the power to define and assert
jurisdiction over which waters? CORRECT ANSWERS - Traditional navigable waters,
wetlands adjacent to trad navigable waters, non-navigable tributaries of traditional
navigable waters that have at least continuous flow seasonally, wetlands that directly
run alongside the tributaries mentioned before
, The EPA will NOT assert jurisdiction over what? CORRECT ANSWERS Swales and
erosional features with low volume, ditches (including roadside ditches) UNLESS there
is a significant analysis that it is next to or may affect a navigable water downstream!
What are the three types of Physical pollutants? CORRECT ANSWERS -sediment,
temperature, gross solids
Name one source and one impact of sediment pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -
sources: construction sites, streambank erosion, agriculture
-impacts: reduces light transmission, smothers fish habitat, transports pollutants, affects
recreation(muddy water)
Name one source and one impact of thermal pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -
sources: power plants, industrial sites, removal of trees (hot rip-rap)
-impacts: threat to fish and aquatic insects, affects the chemistry/rate of other pollutants
What are examples of Chemical pollutants? CORRECT ANSWERS -Nutrients (Nitrogen
and Phosphorus), Metals, Hydrocarbons (oils and fuels), Salts, Organic Compounds
(paint thinners, solvents, degreasing and curing agents, Pesticides
-Biological pollutants = bacteria and viruses
-Oxygen Demands = hypoxic, anoxic conditions
Name one source and one impact of nutrient pollutants CORRECT ANSWERS -source:
agriculture/landscaping - fertilizer, atmospheric deposition, septic or sewer leaks
-impact: algae blooms (hypoxia), eutrophication, methemoglobinemia (nitrate only)
Name one source and one impact of metal pollutants (copper, zinc, lead, cadmium,
iron) CORRECT ANSWERS -sources: roads, building materials, industrial activities,
atmospheric deposition
-impacts: toxic to aquatic life, bioaccumulation, threat to human health (ex. Mercury in
fish)
Name one source and one impact of hydrocarbon pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -
sources: roads, fueling sites, emissions, illegal dumping, vehicle and equipment leaks
-impacts: threat to aquatic life, threat to human life
Name one source and one impact of salt pollutants. CORRECT ANSWERS -sources:
salt used of roads to melt ice/snow, airport de-icing, certain fertilizers
