Florida Environmental Engineer Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2025|2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1.
Q: What is the primary drinking water standard for nitrate as nitrogen under
the Safe Drinking Water Act?
A: 10 mg/L
Rationale: The MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L as nitrogen because higher levels
cause methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome).
2.
Q: Which wastewater treatment process is most effective for removing
biological oxygen demand (BOD)?
A: Activated sludge
,Rationale: Activated sludge maximizes microbial degradation of organic
material, reducing BOD significantly.
3.
Q: What is the typical pH range required for effective coagulation with alum
in drinking water treatment?
A: 5.5–7.5
Rationale: Alum hydrolysis and floc formation are optimal in this pH
window.
4.
Q: Which federal law regulates hazardous waste management?
A: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Rationale: RCRA sets cradle-to-grave requirements for hazardous waste
generation, transport, treatment, and disposal.
5.
Q: What is the main purpose of grit removal in preliminary wastewater
treatment?
A: Protect downstream equipment
Rationale: Grit removal prevents abrasion and accumulation in pumps,
channels, and tanks.
6.
Q: Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential among
CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O?
,A: Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Rationale: N₂O has a GWP around 298, higher than methane (25) and CO₂
(1).
7.
Q: In groundwater hydrology, what does transmissivity represent?
A: Rate of water flow through a unit width of aquifer under a unit
hydraulic gradient
Rationale: Transmissivity = hydraulic conductivity × aquifer thickness.
8.
Q: What is the primary mechanism for removal of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in air stripping towers?
A: Mass transfer from water to air
Rationale: Air stripping uses Henry’s law to drive VOCs into the air phase.
9.
Q: What is the typical detention time in a primary clarifier at municipal
wastewater plants?
A: 1.5–2.5 hours
Rationale: This allows settleable solids to drop out while preventing septic
conditions.
10.
Q: Which unit operation is most effective for turbidity removal in surface
water treatment?
, A: Coagulation and flocculation
Rationale: Coagulation destabilizes colloids, flocculation aggregates them
for sedimentation or filtration.
11.
Q: Which act established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES)?
A: Clean Water Act
Rationale: The 1972 CWA created NPDES permits for point source
discharges.
12.
Q: What does BOD₅ measure in wastewater testing?
A: Oxygen demand over 5 days from microbial degradation of organics
Rationale: BOD₅ simulates natural stream conditions to assess pollution
potential.
13.
Q: In hazardous waste landfills, what is the function of the leachate
collection system?
A: Capture and remove liquid percolating through waste
Rationale: It prevents groundwater contamination by directing leachate to
treatment.
14.
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
2025|2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1.
Q: What is the primary drinking water standard for nitrate as nitrogen under
the Safe Drinking Water Act?
A: 10 mg/L
Rationale: The MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L as nitrogen because higher levels
cause methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome).
2.
Q: Which wastewater treatment process is most effective for removing
biological oxygen demand (BOD)?
A: Activated sludge
,Rationale: Activated sludge maximizes microbial degradation of organic
material, reducing BOD significantly.
3.
Q: What is the typical pH range required for effective coagulation with alum
in drinking water treatment?
A: 5.5–7.5
Rationale: Alum hydrolysis and floc formation are optimal in this pH
window.
4.
Q: Which federal law regulates hazardous waste management?
A: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Rationale: RCRA sets cradle-to-grave requirements for hazardous waste
generation, transport, treatment, and disposal.
5.
Q: What is the main purpose of grit removal in preliminary wastewater
treatment?
A: Protect downstream equipment
Rationale: Grit removal prevents abrasion and accumulation in pumps,
channels, and tanks.
6.
Q: Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential among
CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O?
,A: Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Rationale: N₂O has a GWP around 298, higher than methane (25) and CO₂
(1).
7.
Q: In groundwater hydrology, what does transmissivity represent?
A: Rate of water flow through a unit width of aquifer under a unit
hydraulic gradient
Rationale: Transmissivity = hydraulic conductivity × aquifer thickness.
8.
Q: What is the primary mechanism for removal of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in air stripping towers?
A: Mass transfer from water to air
Rationale: Air stripping uses Henry’s law to drive VOCs into the air phase.
9.
Q: What is the typical detention time in a primary clarifier at municipal
wastewater plants?
A: 1.5–2.5 hours
Rationale: This allows settleable solids to drop out while preventing septic
conditions.
10.
Q: Which unit operation is most effective for turbidity removal in surface
water treatment?
, A: Coagulation and flocculation
Rationale: Coagulation destabilizes colloids, flocculation aggregates them
for sedimentation or filtration.
11.
Q: Which act established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES)?
A: Clean Water Act
Rationale: The 1972 CWA created NPDES permits for point source
discharges.
12.
Q: What does BOD₅ measure in wastewater testing?
A: Oxygen demand over 5 days from microbial degradation of organics
Rationale: BOD₅ simulates natural stream conditions to assess pollution
potential.
13.
Q: In hazardous waste landfills, what is the function of the leachate
collection system?
A: Capture and remove liquid percolating through waste
Rationale: It prevents groundwater contamination by directing leachate to
treatment.
14.
