TCEQ CLASS C WATER CORE EXAM SET QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A++
✔✔What is not allowed with 1/4 miles of the well? - ✔✔Abandoned or inoperative wells
that are not plugged.
✔✔Who do public water systems need to notify prior to making any system changes or
additions that result in an increase or decrease to the system's productions, treatment,
storage, pressure maintenance, or distribution facilities? - ✔✔TCEQ
✔✔Does the TCEQ require a permit to construct a new well? - ✔✔No
✔✔Cable Tool Drilling Method - ✔✔Performed by lifting and dropping a heavy string of
drilling tools into the bore hole. The drill bit breaks or crushes material into fragments,
which is mixed with water to create a slurry, which must occasionally be removed.
✔✔Jet Drilling Method - ✔✔Performed by using a chisel-shaped bit that shoots water.
The water cleans the bit and loosens the material.
✔✔Driven Method - ✔✔Performed only in unconsolidated formations having little or no
rocky material.
✔✔Auger Boring Method - ✔✔Performed for relatively shallow wells.
✔✔Air Rotary Method - ✔✔Performed using a compressor forcing air down the drill
pipe.
✔✔Direct Rotary Drilling - ✔✔Most common method for drilling wells.
✔✔Well Casing - ✔✔Includes the other surface casing and the inner casing or blank
liner. Must be new carbon steel, high-strength low-alloy steel, stainless steel, or plastic
conforming to AWWA standards. Must extend upward at least 18 inches above the
elevation of the pump room.
✔✔Well Screen - ✔✔Prevents sand from entering the well.
✔✔Over-Pumping - ✔✔The simplest method of well development, pumping at a rate 15-
25% higher than normal service.
✔✔Backwashing - ✔✔Causes the well water to move in and out of the well by turning
the pump on and off.
✔✔Mechanical Surging - ✔✔Operating a plunger up and down in the casing like a
piston in a cylinder.
, ✔✔Air Surging - ✔✔Performed by injecting air into the well.
✔✔Jetting - ✔✔One of the most effective well development methods.
✔✔Static Water Level - ✔✔The level water stands in a well when the pump is off.
✔✔Pumping Water Level - ✔✔The level water stands in a well when the pump is on.
✔✔Drawdown - ✔✔The difference between the static and pumping level.
✔✔Well Yield - ✔✔The volume of water per unit of time discharged from a well.
✔✔Specific Yield - ✔✔The ability of material to release water from storage.
✔✔Specific Capacity - ✔✔The well's yield per unit of drawdown.
✔✔Cone of Depression - ✔✔The depression in the groundwater table that develops
around a pumping well.
✔✔Methods of Measuring Water Level - ✔✔Wetted Tape, Air Line, Electric Sounder,
and Electronic Sensor System
✔✔According to the TCEQ, how long does a new well need to be disinfected for? - ✔✔6
hours
✔✔The TCEQ requires a complete physical and chemical analysis of the water
produced from a new well after how many hours of continuous pumping? - ✔✔36 hours
✔✔What are the minimum dimensions for a concrete sealing block around a well? -
✔✔3 feet in all directions from the casing, 6 inches thick, and with a slope of 0.25
inches.
✔✔Before placing a new well into service, a public water system must furnish what
reports? - ✔✔Driller's log, well casing cementing certificate, results of 36-hour pump
test, results of microbiological and chemical analyses, copy of the deed for all property
within 150 feet of the well, a copy of the sanitary easement(s), a U.S. Geological Survey
7.5 minute topographic quadrangle showing the well location, and a map showing the
well location in relation to the surrounding property boundries.
✔✔What are the most common gases in groundwater? - ✔✔Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbon
Dioxide, and Methane
ANSWERS GRADED A++
✔✔What is not allowed with 1/4 miles of the well? - ✔✔Abandoned or inoperative wells
that are not plugged.
✔✔Who do public water systems need to notify prior to making any system changes or
additions that result in an increase or decrease to the system's productions, treatment,
storage, pressure maintenance, or distribution facilities? - ✔✔TCEQ
✔✔Does the TCEQ require a permit to construct a new well? - ✔✔No
✔✔Cable Tool Drilling Method - ✔✔Performed by lifting and dropping a heavy string of
drilling tools into the bore hole. The drill bit breaks or crushes material into fragments,
which is mixed with water to create a slurry, which must occasionally be removed.
✔✔Jet Drilling Method - ✔✔Performed by using a chisel-shaped bit that shoots water.
The water cleans the bit and loosens the material.
✔✔Driven Method - ✔✔Performed only in unconsolidated formations having little or no
rocky material.
✔✔Auger Boring Method - ✔✔Performed for relatively shallow wells.
✔✔Air Rotary Method - ✔✔Performed using a compressor forcing air down the drill
pipe.
✔✔Direct Rotary Drilling - ✔✔Most common method for drilling wells.
✔✔Well Casing - ✔✔Includes the other surface casing and the inner casing or blank
liner. Must be new carbon steel, high-strength low-alloy steel, stainless steel, or plastic
conforming to AWWA standards. Must extend upward at least 18 inches above the
elevation of the pump room.
✔✔Well Screen - ✔✔Prevents sand from entering the well.
✔✔Over-Pumping - ✔✔The simplest method of well development, pumping at a rate 15-
25% higher than normal service.
✔✔Backwashing - ✔✔Causes the well water to move in and out of the well by turning
the pump on and off.
✔✔Mechanical Surging - ✔✔Operating a plunger up and down in the casing like a
piston in a cylinder.
, ✔✔Air Surging - ✔✔Performed by injecting air into the well.
✔✔Jetting - ✔✔One of the most effective well development methods.
✔✔Static Water Level - ✔✔The level water stands in a well when the pump is off.
✔✔Pumping Water Level - ✔✔The level water stands in a well when the pump is on.
✔✔Drawdown - ✔✔The difference between the static and pumping level.
✔✔Well Yield - ✔✔The volume of water per unit of time discharged from a well.
✔✔Specific Yield - ✔✔The ability of material to release water from storage.
✔✔Specific Capacity - ✔✔The well's yield per unit of drawdown.
✔✔Cone of Depression - ✔✔The depression in the groundwater table that develops
around a pumping well.
✔✔Methods of Measuring Water Level - ✔✔Wetted Tape, Air Line, Electric Sounder,
and Electronic Sensor System
✔✔According to the TCEQ, how long does a new well need to be disinfected for? - ✔✔6
hours
✔✔The TCEQ requires a complete physical and chemical analysis of the water
produced from a new well after how many hours of continuous pumping? - ✔✔36 hours
✔✔What are the minimum dimensions for a concrete sealing block around a well? -
✔✔3 feet in all directions from the casing, 6 inches thick, and with a slope of 0.25
inches.
✔✔Before placing a new well into service, a public water system must furnish what
reports? - ✔✔Driller's log, well casing cementing certificate, results of 36-hour pump
test, results of microbiological and chemical analyses, copy of the deed for all property
within 150 feet of the well, a copy of the sanitary easement(s), a U.S. Geological Survey
7.5 minute topographic quadrangle showing the well location, and a map showing the
well location in relation to the surrounding property boundries.
✔✔What are the most common gases in groundwater? - ✔✔Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbon
Dioxide, and Methane
