CWEA CSM GRADE 1 AND 2 -
PRACTICE TEST WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025 - 2026
1. The State Wide General Waste Discharge Requirements affect which of the following: -
ANSWER All owners of operations of sanitary sewer systems greater than 1-mile in length
2. You are working inside a pump station with a crew performing some technical and hazardous
maintenance. Suddenly an accident occurs that causes severe injuries to one operator. What do
you do first? - ANSWER Send for help and check and /or restore breathing
3. Illegal or incorrect connections results from improper? - ANSWER Enforcement of service
connection
4. If a stoppage occurs below a sewer ball, it must be cleared as soon as possible to avoid? -
ANSWER Flooding homes and/or streets
5. For a nighttime Short Term Stationary Temporary Traffic Control Zone setup on low speed/low
volume street, the minimum height of the traffic cones used shall be? - ANSWER 28"
6.
Proper operation and maintenance of wastewater collection is: - ANSWER keeping wastewater
flowing through pipes.
7. In developing an S.O.P. for air monitoring in a Permit Required Confined Space you would
include which of the following? - ANSWER Placement of the Blower, P.P.E.
,8. The oxygen level alarm in a gas detection meter normally set to go off at oxygen levels below? -
ANSWER 19.5%
9. Hydraulic cleaning methods consist of cleaning a sewer with: - ANSWER Water under pressure
that produces high water velocities
10. Four conditions are necessary to create an explosion. Three of these conditions are combustible
gas, adequate oxygen and sufficient heat. What is the fourth? - ANSWER Proper mixing of gas
and oxygen
11. When working with confined spaces it is critical to remember that all confined spaces are to be
considered "permit required" confined spaces until? - ANSWER Pre entry checks show
otherwise
12. Equipment and traffic conditions frequently require ______ driving skills just to get to the job
site: - ANSWER Extraordinary
13. Before starting a maintenance operation in an easement located in a backyard of a residence
you should? - ANSWER Contact the resident, and politely ask for permission to enter the
backyard.
14. Which of the following would you check in your pre-trip first? - ANSWER Gear box low oil
15. According to OSHA standard, how far from the edge of an open excavation trench should spoils
piles be placed? - ANSWER 2ft.
16. In the wastewater industry we find confined spaces everywhere. What would make a routine
confined space turn into a "permit required" confined space? - ANSWER Any work that may
change the air quality
17.
After completing a temporary traffic control setup for your work zone it is a good practice to: -
ANSWER Observe how effective your TTC setup is working to control traffic and make the necessary
changes to it if necessary
, 18. In order to accurately estimate the flow of a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) you must have: -
ANSWER Spill start time, spill end time and spill rate
19. Providing a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate and maintain all parts of the sanitary
sewer system is the goal of a: - ANSWER A sewer system management plan (SSMP)
20. What are the basics elements of a safety program? - ANSWER Safety policy, statement, safety
training, accident investigation
21. What factor must be considered when obtaining an easement for construction and maintenance
of a collection system? - ANSWER Access for equipment and personnel
22. As the division manager you receive a request from your board or council, and they want an
immediate response. You do not know all the answers you should: - ANSWER Respond with the
information available and update them with more
23. If you were a supervisor of two lead workers, one whose work was exceptionally good and a
second whose work was substandard, what should you do? - ANSWER Discuss the problem with
the substandard foreman and offer to help before any other action is taken
24. In selecting pipe material for maximum service life which factor is more important? - ANSWER
Life expectancy of pipe
25. What affects the flow capacity of a sewer line? - ANSWER Pipe size, pipe, material, grade
26. When a grade conflict exists between a Water main and a sewer main, which of the following is
the best solution? - ANSWER Have the Water main adjusted and hold the grade on the sewer
main
27. Why is the replacement of wastewater collection systems in some downtown streets difficult? -
ANSWER Crowding of other underground utilities.
PRACTICE TEST WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025 - 2026
1. The State Wide General Waste Discharge Requirements affect which of the following: -
ANSWER All owners of operations of sanitary sewer systems greater than 1-mile in length
2. You are working inside a pump station with a crew performing some technical and hazardous
maintenance. Suddenly an accident occurs that causes severe injuries to one operator. What do
you do first? - ANSWER Send for help and check and /or restore breathing
3. Illegal or incorrect connections results from improper? - ANSWER Enforcement of service
connection
4. If a stoppage occurs below a sewer ball, it must be cleared as soon as possible to avoid? -
ANSWER Flooding homes and/or streets
5. For a nighttime Short Term Stationary Temporary Traffic Control Zone setup on low speed/low
volume street, the minimum height of the traffic cones used shall be? - ANSWER 28"
6.
Proper operation and maintenance of wastewater collection is: - ANSWER keeping wastewater
flowing through pipes.
7. In developing an S.O.P. for air monitoring in a Permit Required Confined Space you would
include which of the following? - ANSWER Placement of the Blower, P.P.E.
,8. The oxygen level alarm in a gas detection meter normally set to go off at oxygen levels below? -
ANSWER 19.5%
9. Hydraulic cleaning methods consist of cleaning a sewer with: - ANSWER Water under pressure
that produces high water velocities
10. Four conditions are necessary to create an explosion. Three of these conditions are combustible
gas, adequate oxygen and sufficient heat. What is the fourth? - ANSWER Proper mixing of gas
and oxygen
11. When working with confined spaces it is critical to remember that all confined spaces are to be
considered "permit required" confined spaces until? - ANSWER Pre entry checks show
otherwise
12. Equipment and traffic conditions frequently require ______ driving skills just to get to the job
site: - ANSWER Extraordinary
13. Before starting a maintenance operation in an easement located in a backyard of a residence
you should? - ANSWER Contact the resident, and politely ask for permission to enter the
backyard.
14. Which of the following would you check in your pre-trip first? - ANSWER Gear box low oil
15. According to OSHA standard, how far from the edge of an open excavation trench should spoils
piles be placed? - ANSWER 2ft.
16. In the wastewater industry we find confined spaces everywhere. What would make a routine
confined space turn into a "permit required" confined space? - ANSWER Any work that may
change the air quality
17.
After completing a temporary traffic control setup for your work zone it is a good practice to: -
ANSWER Observe how effective your TTC setup is working to control traffic and make the necessary
changes to it if necessary
, 18. In order to accurately estimate the flow of a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) you must have: -
ANSWER Spill start time, spill end time and spill rate
19. Providing a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate and maintain all parts of the sanitary
sewer system is the goal of a: - ANSWER A sewer system management plan (SSMP)
20. What are the basics elements of a safety program? - ANSWER Safety policy, statement, safety
training, accident investigation
21. What factor must be considered when obtaining an easement for construction and maintenance
of a collection system? - ANSWER Access for equipment and personnel
22. As the division manager you receive a request from your board or council, and they want an
immediate response. You do not know all the answers you should: - ANSWER Respond with the
information available and update them with more
23. If you were a supervisor of two lead workers, one whose work was exceptionally good and a
second whose work was substandard, what should you do? - ANSWER Discuss the problem with
the substandard foreman and offer to help before any other action is taken
24. In selecting pipe material for maximum service life which factor is more important? - ANSWER
Life expectancy of pipe
25. What affects the flow capacity of a sewer line? - ANSWER Pipe size, pipe, material, grade
26. When a grade conflict exists between a Water main and a sewer main, which of the following is
the best solution? - ANSWER Have the Water main adjusted and hold the grade on the sewer
main
27. Why is the replacement of wastewater collection systems in some downtown streets difficult? -
ANSWER Crowding of other underground utilities.
