WASTEWATER OPERATOR CLASS C
EXAMINATION TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Evaporation. Answer: ______________ causes surface water to enter
the atmosphere and begin the Hydrologic Cycle
◉ Precipitation. Answer: Rain or snow falling from the clouds
◉ Condensation. Answer: what causes water vapor to form clouds
◉ Groundwater sources. Answer: generally better protected from
contamination than surface water sources
◉ Goal of wastewater systems and wastewater operators. Answer: to
properly collect, transport, and treat both domestic and industrial
wastewater prior to discharge into the environment
◉ Point-Source. Answer: Wastewater entering surface water at a
specific point from a specific source
,◉ Non-Point-Source. Answer: Contaminated water that enters surface
water intermittently
◉ The wastewater treatment plant operator's knowledge of the treatment
process. Answer: A key determining factor whether or not the plant can
meet its discharge permit requirements
◉ Clean Water Act of 1972. Answer: The major piece of national
legislation that governs wastewater treatment
◉ The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Answer:
Controls the wastewater regulations in Texas
◉ Local governments. Answer: Have the authority to inspect water
quality within their jurisdictional boundaries and ensure wastewater
treatment facilities are meeting their permit requirements
◉ Infiltration. Answer: Groundwater entering the collection system
through leaking joints, cracks, or holes in system pipes
,◉ Inflow. Answer: The result of surface runoff entering through leaking
manhole covers, or illegal rood, gutter and sump pump connections to
the collection system
◉ Nutrient Deficient. Answer: In addition to increased hydraulic
loading, infiltration and inflow can deliver _________ __________
water to the treatment plant that can upset the biological treatment
process
◉ Increased. Answer: Warmer water temperatures will result in
_________biological activity in a collection system
◉ hydrogen sulfide. Answer: Increased biological activity increases the
production rate of _________ __________ which is a dangerous
byproduct of organic material decomposition
◉ 200 and 600. Answer: Normal raw wastewater COD ranges between
________ and ______mg/L
◉ COD is typically higher than BOD. Answer: _________ is typically
higher than _____ with the typical relationship between BOD and COD
0.5:1 (BOD:COD) for raw wastewater
, ◉ inverse. Answer: There is an ________ relationship between water
temperature and its ability to maintain dissolved oxygen in solution
◉ colder. Answer: As water gets _________, it is capable of holding
more dissolved oxygen
◉ warmer. Answer: As water gets ________, its ability to hold
dissolved oxygen in solution goes down
◉ nitrification inhibitor. Answer: When performing the CBOD test on
biological process effluent water, a ____________ __________ must be
added to that only carbonaceous BOD is measured
◉ viruses. Answer: Since ___________ require a host cell to reproduce,
they do not increase in number while in the wastewater
◉ Total Solids. Answer: a term used to describe all of the solids that are
contained within wastewater
◉ septic condition. Answer: Increasing ammonia levels in the primary
clarifier is an indication of a __________ _________ in the primary
sludge
EXAMINATION TEST PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Evaporation. Answer: ______________ causes surface water to enter
the atmosphere and begin the Hydrologic Cycle
◉ Precipitation. Answer: Rain or snow falling from the clouds
◉ Condensation. Answer: what causes water vapor to form clouds
◉ Groundwater sources. Answer: generally better protected from
contamination than surface water sources
◉ Goal of wastewater systems and wastewater operators. Answer: to
properly collect, transport, and treat both domestic and industrial
wastewater prior to discharge into the environment
◉ Point-Source. Answer: Wastewater entering surface water at a
specific point from a specific source
,◉ Non-Point-Source. Answer: Contaminated water that enters surface
water intermittently
◉ The wastewater treatment plant operator's knowledge of the treatment
process. Answer: A key determining factor whether or not the plant can
meet its discharge permit requirements
◉ Clean Water Act of 1972. Answer: The major piece of national
legislation that governs wastewater treatment
◉ The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Answer:
Controls the wastewater regulations in Texas
◉ Local governments. Answer: Have the authority to inspect water
quality within their jurisdictional boundaries and ensure wastewater
treatment facilities are meeting their permit requirements
◉ Infiltration. Answer: Groundwater entering the collection system
through leaking joints, cracks, or holes in system pipes
,◉ Inflow. Answer: The result of surface runoff entering through leaking
manhole covers, or illegal rood, gutter and sump pump connections to
the collection system
◉ Nutrient Deficient. Answer: In addition to increased hydraulic
loading, infiltration and inflow can deliver _________ __________
water to the treatment plant that can upset the biological treatment
process
◉ Increased. Answer: Warmer water temperatures will result in
_________biological activity in a collection system
◉ hydrogen sulfide. Answer: Increased biological activity increases the
production rate of _________ __________ which is a dangerous
byproduct of organic material decomposition
◉ 200 and 600. Answer: Normal raw wastewater COD ranges between
________ and ______mg/L
◉ COD is typically higher than BOD. Answer: _________ is typically
higher than _____ with the typical relationship between BOD and COD
0.5:1 (BOD:COD) for raw wastewater
, ◉ inverse. Answer: There is an ________ relationship between water
temperature and its ability to maintain dissolved oxygen in solution
◉ colder. Answer: As water gets _________, it is capable of holding
more dissolved oxygen
◉ warmer. Answer: As water gets ________, its ability to hold
dissolved oxygen in solution goes down
◉ nitrification inhibitor. Answer: When performing the CBOD test on
biological process effluent water, a ____________ __________ must be
added to that only carbonaceous BOD is measured
◉ viruses. Answer: Since ___________ require a host cell to reproduce,
they do not increase in number while in the wastewater
◉ Total Solids. Answer: a term used to describe all of the solids that are
contained within wastewater
◉ septic condition. Answer: Increasing ammonia levels in the primary
clarifier is an indication of a __________ _________ in the primary
sludge
