CERTIFIED STORM WATER OPERATOR TEST 2025
WITH 200 EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ CSWO EXAM 2025/ STORM
WATER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION EXAM (NEW!)
1) Under natural conditions the majority of rain water that
falls to the ground - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Infiltrates the
ground or evaporates
2) 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
3) The best way to prevent contamination of storm water
is - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Through pollution prevention
4) 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
5) 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
6) 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
7) Sediment is one of the most widespread pollutants in
surface water. Many
,3|Page
___________________________ attach to finer sediment
particles. Sediment
can also be destructive to aquatic systems by covering
and damaging habitat - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Pollutants
8) 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 - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Certified Operator
9) 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 five or more acres in size
the property owner will
need to submit the Notice of Coverage application to the
MDEQ, Water
, 4|Page
Resources Division. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Soil Erosion and
Sedimentation Control
10) __________________ permits are not site specific and
contain the
minimum requirements for protecting water quality. -
..ANSWER...✓✓ General
11) The ______________________________________ is a
document that
authorizes the discharge of storm water under a general
storm water permit. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Certificate of
Coverage
12) __________________ permits are site specific and contain
requirements
such as regular sampling, monitoring, end of pipe
treatment or effluent limits. - ..ANSWER...✓✓ Individual
13) There are two types of industrial storm water general
permits in Michigan
they are Storm Water from Industrial Activity and Storm
Water with _________