Water Treatment Grades 3 & 4 Flashcards
Which disinfectant would work best against Cryptosporidium?
a. Ozone
b. Dichloramine
c. Hypochlorite ion
d. Hypochlorous acid
a. Ozone
The pH (actual) of a water sample is greater than the pHs (saturation), so the Langelier index
a. indicates that the water is corrosive.
b. is negative.
c. indicates that the water is scale forming.
d. indicates that the water is stable.
c. indicates that the water is scale forming.
When water high in calcium bicarbonate is softened by ion exchange
a. all cations are removed.
b. regeneration is usually accomplished by an acid.
c. lime is used at a pH of 9.5.
d. sodium bicarbonate remains in the product water.
d. sodium bicarbonate remains in the product water.
Lime softening can effectively disinfect water because
a. particles containing microorganisms are settled out in the process.
b. the pH level is higher than 10.5.
c. the pH level is below 10.5.
d. microorganisms are sensitive to calcium levels.
b. the pH level is higher than 10.5.
A noncarbonate hardness compound is
a. CaCO3 (calcium carbonate)
b. MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate)
c. Ca(HCO3)2 (calcium bicarbonate)
d. MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate)
d. MgSO4
(magnesium sulfate)
What term refers to the reintroduction of carbon dioxide into water either during or after lime-soda ash softening?
a. Regeneration
b. Recarbonization
c. Replenishment
d. Recycling
b. Recarbonization
_____ is the oxidation of unprotected metal surfaces.
a. Corrosion
b. Saturation
c. Softening
d. Chelation
a. Corrosion
What is the cause of carbonate hardness?
Calcium Bicarbonate
Which two ions are most commonly associated with water hardness?
Calcium & Magnesium
For noncarbonate hardness to be removed, what must be added to remove the noncarbonate calcium compounds?
Soda Ash
A bypass valve would be used with a
a. gate valve.
b. butterfly valve.
c. needle valve.
d. diaphragm valve.
a. gate valve.
Where ground frost is expected, the riser pipes in a meter pit should be at least _____ away from any wall in the meter box to prevent freezing.
a. 1 - 2 inches
b. 2 - 4 inches
c. 4 - 6 inches
d. 6 - 8 inches
a. 1 - 2 inches
Which type of pipe joint is available in both, bolted and boltless flexible pipe joint designs?
a. Ball and socket
b. Push-on joint
c. Grooved joint
d. Shouldered joint
a. Ball and socket
Which type of pipe joint permits flexible pipe alignment, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is easy to assemble?
a. Mechanical joint
b. Push-on joint
c. Grooved joint
d. Ball and socket joint
b. Push-on joint
New polyvinyl chloride pipe has a C-value of about
a. 125.
b. 125 - 128.
c. 135.
d. 150+.
d. 150+.
Which type of valve would be particularly useful for throttling the flow of corrosive liquids?
a. Diaphragm valve
b. Butterfly valve
c. Gate valve
d. Pinch valve
d. Pinch valve
Water meter pits are usually used in
a. areas where flooding will most likely occur.
b. areas where flooding is very rare.
c. cold climates.
d. hot climates
c. cold climates
Fuel oil will permeate which type of pipe?
a. Lead pipe
b. Polyethylene pipe
c. Copper pipe
d. Galvanized pipe
b. Polyethylene pipe
How do you calculate the Specific Gravity of a chemical?
Chemical lbs/gal divided by 8.34 lbs/gal
In describing pump operation, what type of curve shows the relationship between power and capacity?
a. E - Q curve
b. H - Q curve
c. P - Q curve
d. E - P curve
c. P - Q curve
List the type of head pressures used in describing the amount of energy in water.
- Velocity head
- Pressure head
- Elevation head
The amount of energy used up by water when moving from one point to another is called what?
Head Loss
What’s it called when the reservoir feeding the pump is lower than the pump, the difference in elevation between the pump center line and the free water surface of the reservoir feeding the pump?
Static Suction Lift
The amount of work done in a given amount of time.
Power
If a water system collects at least 40 sample a month for analysis of total coliforms, what percentage of total coliform positive samples are acceptable for the system to remain in compliance with the maximum contaminant level for total coliforms?
a. No more than 2%
b. No more than 3%
c. No more than 4%
d. No more than 5%
d. No more than 5%
Water systems are required to achieve at least _____ removal and/or inactivation of viruses between a point where raw water is not subject to be recontamination by surface water runoff and a point downstream before the first customer.
a. 2-log
b. 2.5-log
c. 3-log
d. 4-log
d. 4-log
Where are the sampling points located for required sampling of organics (except trihalomethanes) in a community system?
a. Representative points within the distribution system
b. 75% at locations representative of the population distribution and 25% at the farthest points in the distribution system
c. Entry points to the distribution system
d. Entry points to the distribution system and representative points within the distribution system
c. Entry points to the distribution system
Where are the sampling point(s) located for required sampling of natural radionuclides in a community water system?
a. Consumer’s faucet
b. Representative points within the distribution system
c. Each entry point to the distribution system
d. 75% at locations representative of the population distribution and 25% at the farthest points in the distribution system
c. Each entry point to the distribution system
Continuous chlorine monitoring is required where the water enters the distribution system under the Surface Water Treatment Rule when the
a. population served is greater than 3,300 people.
b. population is greater than 10,000 people.
c. number of taps is greater than 1,000.
d. number of taps is greater than 2,500.
a. population served is greater than 3,300 people.
A community water system must post the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) on a publicly accessible website if it serves more than
a. 10,000 people.
b. 25,000 people.
c. 50,000 people.
d. 100,000 people.
d. 100,000 people.
Public water systems that cannot meet the required removal of total organic compounds (TOCs) can comply if the source-water TOC level is _____, calculated quarterly as a running annual average.
a. less than 1.0 mg/L
b. less than 2.0 mg/L
c. less than 2.5 mg/L
d. less than 5.0 mg/L
b. less than 2.0 mg/L
The Surface Water Treatment Rule does NOT specify which of the following treatment technologies?
a. Conventional treatment
b. Membranes
c. Slow sand filtration
d. Chloramine disinfection
d. Chloramine disinfection
A regulated contaminant concentration that exceeds the MCL
a. is a Tier 1 violation requiring public notification within 24 hours.
b. is a Tier 2 violation requiring public notification within 30 days.
c. is a Tier 3 violation requiring public notification within 12 months.
d. does not require public notification.
b. is a Tier 2 violation requiring public notice within 30 days.
Operators must balance satisfying regulations on the amount of certain chlorinated organic compounds with
a. controlling water hardness.
b. meeting disinfection limits.
c. keeping turbidity below 0.1 ntu.
d. reducing iron levels below the MCL.
b. meeting disinfection limits.
A water system using conventional filtration treatment does not have to use enhanced coagulation to achieve the total organic carbon (TOC) percent removal if
a. the total trihalomethanes running annual average is less than or equal to 0.030 mg/L.
b. the sum of haloacetic acids is less than or equal to 0.040 mg/L.
c. the treated water quarterly average TOC is less than 4.0 mg/L.
d. the treated water quarterly running annual average TOC is less than 2.0 mg/L.
d. the treated water quarterly running annual average TOC is below 2.0 mg/L.
The Stage 1 DBPR established an MCL of _____ for TTHM (total trihalomethanes).
a. 2.10 mg/L
b. 0.08 mg/L
c. 1.05 mg/L
d. 1.00 mg/L
b. 0.08 mg/L
The Safe Drinking Water Act defines a public water system as a supply of piped water for human consumption that has at least _____ service connections, or serves _____ or more persons 60 or more days each year.
a. 15; 25
b. 25; 15
c. 20; 50
d. 10; 25
a. 15; 25
Under the enhanced coagulation requirements of the DBPR, treatment plants must remove specific percentages of total organic carbon based on their source water total organic carbon and what other factor?
Alkalinity Levels
The Filter Backwash Rule applies to what sizes of systems?
All Sizes
Which rule most directly guards against the presence of Escherichia coli in the water system?
Total Coliform Rule (TCR)
Which type of sample should always be collected for determining the presence of coliform bacteria?
a. Time composite
b. Grab sample
c. Proportional
d. Composite
b. Grab Sample
Water that is to be analyzed for inorganic metals should be acidified with
a. dilute hydrochloric acid.
b. concentrated hydrochloric acid.
c. dilute nitric acid.
d. concentrated nitric acid.
d. concentrated nitric acid.
Which chemical is used to remove chlorine from water?
a. Na2S2O3 (sodium thiosulfate)
b. Na2SiO3 (sodium silicate or liquid glass)
c. Na2Sif6 (sodium hexafluorosilicate)
d. NaOCL (sodium hypochlorite)
a. Na2S2O3 (sodium thiosulfate)
A typical coliform colony in the membrane filter method has the following characteristics:
a. Blue with a lustrous surface sheen
b. Pink to dark red with a green metallic surface sheen
c. Pink or yellow with a lustrous to metallic surface sheen, depending on species
d. Yellow with a silver metallic lustrous surface sheen
b. Pink to dark red with a green metallic surface sheen
Which of the following is the first level of total dissolved solids that is considered unfit for human consumption?
a. 1,000 mg/L
b. 2,500 mg/L
c. 4,000 mg/L
d. 5,000 mg/L
c. 4,000 mg/L
Which type of special photometer is used to analyze for heavy metals in water?
a. Electrophotometer
b. Magnetphotometer
c. Spectrophotometer
d. Atomic adsorption spectrophotometer
a. Atomic adsorption spectrophotometer
In the multiple-tube fermentation method, which type of culture media is used in the coliform test?
a. Lactose agar
b. Green lactose bile broth
c. Eosin methylene red agar
d. Glucose bile tubes
b. Green lactose bile broth
All positive samples in the presence-absence (P-A) test must be confirmed using
a. brilliant green bile tubes.
b. eosin methylene red agar.
c. lauryl tryptose broth.
d. eosin 12-amino acid broth.
a. brilliant green bile tubes.
What is pHs?
a. pH oh a solution
b. The Langelier index
c. pH saturation
d. Salt pH
c. pH saturation
_____ is the measure of the hydrogen ion concentration present in water.
a. Turbidity
b. pH
c. Gas chromatography
d. Covalence
b. pH
What three steps are involved with the multiple-tube fermentation method?
- Presumptive test
- Confirmed test
- Completed test
Conductivity (specific conductance) is a measure of the ability of an aqueous solution to do what?
Carry an electrical current
What are characteristics of carbon dioxide?
A colorless, odorless, noncombustible gas that is found in all waters
In regard to the testing of coagulant effectiveness, which method is the most readily available to most operators and has been commonly used for many years?
Jar Test
Which of the following does the saturation point of calcium carbonate primarily depend on?
a. pH
b. Temperature
c. Concentration of calcium
d. Total dissolved solids
a. pH
Which of the following will increase pH, hardness, and alkalinity?
a. Sodium hydroxide
b. Zinc orthophosphate
c. Lime
d. Sodium zinc phosphate
c. Lime
Which chemical is used for stabilization of potable water is a bacteriological nutrient?
a. Polyphosphate
b. Lime
c. Soda ash
d. Sodium bicarbonate
a. Polyphosphate
Wastewater water quality discharge requirements could be extended if which of the following chemicals are used for corrosion control in the water system?
a. Silicate
b. Hexametaphosphate
c. Calcium hydroxide
d. Caustic
b. Hexametaphosphate
Lime is commonly used for corrosion control because
a. it can adjust both, alkalinity and pH.
b. it precipitates most particles.
c. it is more effective than caustic.
d. most treatment plants already use it for other purposes.
a. it can adjust both, alkalinity and pH.
Buildup of corrosion products (a process known as _____) or uncontrolled scale deposits can seriously reduce pipeline capacity and increase resistance to flow.
a. scaling
b. turbidity
c. tuberculation
d. sludge
c. tuberculation
Unslaked lime is also referred to as
a. sodium carbonate.
b. calcium dioxide.
c. quicklime.
d. calcium hydroxide.
c. quicklime.
Of the metals, tin, mild steel, zinc, and aluminum, which is most likely to corrode?
Zinc
What is the principal source of excessive lead and copper in customers’ water?
Corrosion of materials in household plumbing systems
What are three reasons why lime is the most common chemical used for pH and alkalinity adjustment.
- It is relatively easy to feed
- It is inexpensive compared with other chemicals
- It is readily available
Which chemical is used to stabilize water after it has been lime-softened?
a. Sulfuric acid
b. Carbon dioxide
c. Sodium hydroxide
d. Zinc orthophosphate
b. Carbon dioxide
Usually, raw water can be softened with lime alone when it contains
a. mostly calcium hardness.
b. mostly magnesium hardness.
c. very little carbonate hardness.
d. little to no noncarbonate hardness.
d. little to no noncarbonate hardness.
In the lime-soda ash softening process. the soda ash dosage is based
a. only on the amount of carbonate and magnesium hardness to be removed.
b. on the amount of carbonate and carbon dioxide to be removed.
c. primarily on the amount of noncarbonate and magnesium hardness.
d. only on the amount of noncarbonate hardness to be removed.
d. only on the amount of noncarbonate hardness to be removed.
Recarbonization after lime-soda ash softening is required to remove calcium carbonate that is in suspension to prevent
a. deposition of the calcium carbonate in the clearwell and the distribution system.
b. scale forming in the distribution piping.
c. customer complaints of turbidity and color.
d. cementation of filter media.
d. cementation of filter media.
Which type of hardness usually calls for a two-stage softening process?
a. calcium hardness above 100 mg/L
b. Magnesium hardness
c. Noncarbonate hardness
d. Carbonate hardness
c. Noncarbonate hardness
The concentration of solids in the lower level of a sludge blanket in a softening facility’s solids contact basin should be
a. 2 - 7%
b. 5 - 15%
c. 15 - 20%
d. 25 - 30%
b. 5 - 15%
It is impossible to produce waters with a hardness less than _____ when using the lime-soda ash process.
a. 9 mg/L
b. 17 mg/L
c. 25 mg/L
d. 50 mg/L
c. 25 mg/L
Softened water has a high pH and a high concentration of calcium carbonate. Therefore, stabilization is essential in order to prevent the calcium carbonate from precipitating out
a. in household plumbing.
b. in the clearwell.
c. in the distribution system.
d. on the filters.
d. on the filters.
Soda ash is added to water in the lime softening process for what purpose?
a. To disinfect the water and kill the vast majority of protozoans, viruses, bacteria, and other multicellular organisms
b. To raise the pH of the water
c. To decrease the CO2 in the water
d. To remove noncarbonate hardness
d. To remove noncarbonate hardness
If soda ash dust, or solution, or lime slurry gets into the eyes, flush the eyes with warm water for at least 15 minutes, and consult a physician
a. immediately.
b. if redness of the eyes occurs.
c. if policy requires.
d. within 24 hours.
a. immediately.
Flocculation requires _____ mixing to allow the chemical reactions to be completed and to promote the growth and precipitation of floc.
a. rapid, continuous
b. steady, forceful
c. slow, gentle
d. sporadic
c. slow, gentle
What are three specific types of alkalinities?
- Bicarbonate alkalinity
- Hydroxide alkalinity
- Carbonate alkalinity
Carryover of sludge solids is often most severe when a considerable portion of the settleable solids is composed of what type of floc particles?
Magnesium hydroxide
Natural zeolites used for softening that have become exhausted with use are regenerated by a strong solution of what chemical?
a. NaCl
b. NaOH
c. HCl
d. H2SO4
a. NaCl
To prevent scale buildup, magnesium hardness should be reduced to what level through excess-lime treatment?
40 mg/L or less
Softening resin exchanges what for the calcium and magnesium that it removes from the water?
a. Sodium
b. Hydroxide
c. Potassium
d. Hydrogen ions (H+)
a. Sodium
Ion exchange process can typically be used for direct groundwater treatment as long as turbidity and _____ levels are not excessive.
a. calcium carbonate
b. iron
c. carbon dioxide
d. sodium sulfate
b. iron
What are the exchange capacities of natural zeolites?
a. 1 - 2 kilograins/ft3
b. 3 - 5 kilograins/ft3
c. 5 - 8 kilograins/ft3
d. 9 - 12 kilograins/ft3
b. 3 - 5 kilograins/ft3
The method of resin renewal is called
a. regeneration.
b. recycling.
c. replenishment.
d. renewal.
a. regeneration.
In converting hardness, 1 grain/gal =
a. 14 mg/L
b. 100 mg/L
c. 17.1 mg/L
d. 27.8 mg/L
c. 17.1 mg/L
What should the hardness level of water leaving the ion exchange vessel be?
Zero
Electrodialysis is used mainly for what process rather than exclusively for softening?
Desalination
If an operator knows the exchange capacity of the resin bed, the hardness of water, and the flow rate pf the water through the bed, he or she can predict what?
The length of the softening cycle
When should core samples be collected from filters using granular activated carbon?
a. Every 6 months
b. At the time of installation and every 6 months thereafter
c. Every year after installation
d. At the time of installation and every year thereafter
b. At the time of installation and every 6 months thereafter
Which bed expansion during backwash must be achieved for filter using granular activated carbon?
a. 29%
b. 25%
c. 30%
d. 50%
d. 50%
What is the best approach for feeding powdered activated carbon?
a. Along with prechlorination
b. After filtration
c. After at least 15 minutes following chlorine addition
d. In the chlorine contact chamber
b. After filtration
Backwashing rate procedures should be reassessed to determine the cause of granular activated carbon loss if the loss per year exceeds
a. 2 inches
b. 4 inches
c. 6 inches
d. 8 inches
a. 2 inches