1|Page
CERTIFIED STORM WATER OPERATOR TEST 2025
WITH 200 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ CSWO EXAM 2025/ STORM
WATER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM (NEW!)
Under natural conditions, the majority of rain water that
falls to the ground ____________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓
infiltrates the ground or evaporates
The introduction of pollutants to storm water most
commonly occurs when industrial facilities allow
operating procedures and industrial materials to
_________________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ become exposed to
storm water
The best way to prevent contamination of storm water is
__________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ through pollution prevention
The highest percentage of pollutants in storm water
runoff occurs in the first few minutes that storm water
runs off. This is called the ________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ first
flush
,2|Page
Organic enrichment of storm water runoff from sources
such as food processing, airport deicing, antifreezes, and
sewage create addition oxygen demand in lakes and
streams. Much of the demand is due to bacteria feeding
on these materials. The increased oxygen demand can
lead to __________, which is a common cause of fish kills. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ oxygen depletion
The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus to storm water
runoff can result in algal blooms and excessive growth of
aquatic plants in fresh water systems such as lakes and
streams. In fresh water systems ___________ is the main
cause of excessive plant and algal growth. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ phosphorus
Sediment is one of the most widespread pollutants in
surface water. Many ________ attach to finer sediment
particles. Sediment can also be destructive to aquatic
systems by covering and damaging habitat. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ pollutants
Michigan law requires that anyone who discharges liquid
wastes to surface waters of the state must have their
pollution control measures under the supervision of a
,3|Page
__________________________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Certified
Operator
If there is a construction activity at an industrial facility
that disturbs one or more acres of land or the soil
disturbance is within 500 feet of a water body, the owner
of the property will need to apply for a
__________________________________________ permit. In
addition if the soil disturbance will become 5 or more
acres in size the property owner will need to submit the
Notice of Coverage application to the EGLE, Water
Resources Division. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Soil Erosion and
Sedimentation Control
_________________ permits are not site specific and contain
the minimum requirements for protecting water quality. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ General
The _______________________________ is a document that
authorizes the discharge of storm water under a general
storm water permit. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Certificate of
Coverage
, 4|Page
________________ permits are site specific and contain
requirements such as regular sampling, monitoring, end
of pipe treatment or effluent limits. - ..ANSWER...✓✓
Individual
There are two type of industrial storm water general
permits in Michigan; they are Storm Water from Industrial
Activity and Storm Water with ________________________ -
..ANSWER...✓✓ Required Monitoring or Special Use Areas
A facility that has the industrial storm water general
permit with required monitoring or special use areas is
required to conduct a
________________________________________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓
Short Term Storm Water Characterization Study
An annual fee will be assessed to all facilities that have
permitted storm water discharges. All facilities that have
authorization to discharge storm water on
_________________ will be responsible for the annual fee -
..ANSWER...✓✓ January 1
Industrial facilities are identified in the federal storm
water regulations by ____________________________ and
CERTIFIED STORM WATER OPERATOR TEST 2025
WITH 200 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ CSWO EXAM 2025/ STORM
WATER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM (NEW!)
Under natural conditions, the majority of rain water that
falls to the ground ____________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓
infiltrates the ground or evaporates
The introduction of pollutants to storm water most
commonly occurs when industrial facilities allow
operating procedures and industrial materials to
_________________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ become exposed to
storm water
The best way to prevent contamination of storm water is
__________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ through pollution prevention
The highest percentage of pollutants in storm water
runoff occurs in the first few minutes that storm water
runs off. This is called the ________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ first
flush
,2|Page
Organic enrichment of storm water runoff from sources
such as food processing, airport deicing, antifreezes, and
sewage create addition oxygen demand in lakes and
streams. Much of the demand is due to bacteria feeding
on these materials. The increased oxygen demand can
lead to __________, which is a common cause of fish kills. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ oxygen depletion
The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus to storm water
runoff can result in algal blooms and excessive growth of
aquatic plants in fresh water systems such as lakes and
streams. In fresh water systems ___________ is the main
cause of excessive plant and algal growth. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ phosphorus
Sediment is one of the most widespread pollutants in
surface water. Many ________ attach to finer sediment
particles. Sediment can also be destructive to aquatic
systems by covering and damaging habitat. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ pollutants
Michigan law requires that anyone who discharges liquid
wastes to surface waters of the state must have their
pollution control measures under the supervision of a
,3|Page
__________________________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Certified
Operator
If there is a construction activity at an industrial facility
that disturbs one or more acres of land or the soil
disturbance is within 500 feet of a water body, the owner
of the property will need to apply for a
__________________________________________ permit. In
addition if the soil disturbance will become 5 or more
acres in size the property owner will need to submit the
Notice of Coverage application to the EGLE, Water
Resources Division. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Soil Erosion and
Sedimentation Control
_________________ permits are not site specific and contain
the minimum requirements for protecting water quality. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ General
The _______________________________ is a document that
authorizes the discharge of storm water under a general
storm water permit. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Certificate of
Coverage
, 4|Page
________________ permits are site specific and contain
requirements such as regular sampling, monitoring, end
of pipe treatment or effluent limits. - ..ANSWER...✓✓
Individual
There are two type of industrial storm water general
permits in Michigan; they are Storm Water from Industrial
Activity and Storm Water with ________________________ -
..ANSWER...✓✓ Required Monitoring or Special Use Areas
A facility that has the industrial storm water general
permit with required monitoring or special use areas is
required to conduct a
________________________________________ - ..ANSWER...✓✓
Short Term Storm Water Characterization Study
An annual fee will be assessed to all facilities that have
permitted storm water discharges. All facilities that have
authorization to discharge storm water on
_________________ will be responsible for the annual fee -
..ANSWER...✓✓ January 1
Industrial facilities are identified in the federal storm
water regulations by ____________________________ and
