On Site Wastewater

It is known that some pathogenic organisms will survive less than ____ day(s) in heat to more than ____ in freezing moist soil.

A. 1 and 2 months

B. 2 and 1 month

C. 1 and 2 years

D. 3 and 3 years

C

Trickling filters can remove 90-95% of the ____ in soil, water, and wastewater.

A. bacteria

B. viruses

C. cholera vibrio

D. all of the above

D

Primary sedimentation can remove ____ found in soil, water, and wastewater.

A. 50-90% of the bacteria

B. 30-50% of the ascaris

C. 80% of the schistosomes

D. all of the above

D

Chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration remove:

A. most bacteria

B. most viruses and protozoa

C. most helminths

D. all of the above

D

Chlorination of untreated wastewater is typically NOT an effective treatment for:

A. Entamoeba histolytica cysts

B. giardia cysts

C. tapeworm eggs

D. all of the above

D

Wastewater is the used water from a home or community and the strength is expressed in terms of

A. BOD

B. COD

C. suspended solids

D. all of the above

D

A storm sewer is used to:

A. remove rain and other standing surface water

B. remove sewage and storm water

C. remove household water waste and gutter drain water

D. remove non-toxic, non-hazardous wastewater

A

Stream pollution is sometimes apparent by:

A. Increased levels of available oxygen in the water

B. A zone of degradation

C. Large numbers of crayfish and cristivomer species

D. Large numbers of small fish

B

A young lake is considered to be:

A. Eutrophic

B. Mesotrophic

C. Oligotrophic

D. Ohytotrophic

C

Nutrients associated with eutrophication include

A. phosphates

B. nitrogen

C. organic carbon

D. all of the above

D

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) prohibits the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters unless a permit is issued by

A. EPA

B. the State

C. wastewater treatment agency

D. a or b

D

The favored method of disposal of domestic wastewater is:

A. septic tank seepage field

B. community package system

C. buried sand filter

D. connection to public water system

D

The wastewater from a water closet and latrine or aqua privy flushing is referred to as:

A. gray water

B. black water

C. green water

D. red water

B

The permeability of soil is directly related to the ____________ of the soil.

A. chemical composition

B. color and texture

C. granular structure

D. all of the above

D

The most accurate estimates of sewage flow are based on:

A. quarterly water-meter readings

B. semiannual water-meter readings

C. annual water-meter readings

D. fixture units

C

Grease traps are installed for the purpose of minimizing grease in the sewer system. The trap:

A. is not of proven value in many commercial applications

B. requires yearly scheduled cleaning

C. should be installed close to dishwashing machines

D. should always discharge behind the septic tank

A

The septic tank primarily functions as a:

A. biological treatment system

B. sedimentation tank

C. conditioning tank

D. all of the above

D

The detention time for wastewater in a septic tank is recommended to be

A. 6 to 12 hours

B. 24 to 72 hours

C. 1 week

D. none of the above

B

If the septic tank will have a garbage disposal unit feeding into it:

A. the size of the tank should be increased 50%

B. the tank should have an agitator

C. the tank should not be equipped with a gas baffle

D. the tank should not be constructed with precast concrete

A

Septic tanks serving commercial operations should be inspected for the need for cleaning

A. once per month

B. once per year

C. twice per year

D. every 3 to 5 years

C

Septage is best defined as

A. sludge

B. scum

C. gray water

D. a mixture of all of the above

D

If a septic tank is pumped in a wet period:

A. the tank may be crushed by the wet earth

B. the water will flow into the tank

C. the tank may float out of the ground

D. the field may flood the tank

C

How often should a septic tank for a private home be serviced:

A. Every year

B. Every 5 to 10 years

C. Every 3 to 5 years

D. Every 10 years

C

Human disease from aerosols of wastewater

A. is related primarily to wastewater treatment by the activated sludge, trickling filter, and spray irrigation processes

B. has been demonstrated from pathogens recovered in aerosols from the spray irrigation of treated wastewater

C. may be caused by very small numbers of organisms

D. is a hazard even to those who have had subclinical infections, and thus should have been immunized

A

The plans for an area to be sewered should

A. be prepared by a licensed professional engineer

B. include specifications and an engineering report

C. include the problem, objectives, and design detail

D. all of the above

D

Final disposal of sludge may include all of the following except:

A. composting

B. sanitary landfill

C. land application

D. vegetable dumping

D

Chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration will remove nearly all bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths if supplemented by

A. desalination

B. chlorination

C. over 4 feet of loamy soil

D. all of the above

B

Why should sewage sludge not be used as a soil builder or fertilizer supplement for crops for forage if it has not been properly tested?

A. it may make the vegetables taste bad

B. it may result in higher levels of toxic metals in the vegetation and in the animals eating the vegetation

C. the community may be offended at the smell

D. all of the above

B

Loam is a mixture of gravel, sand, silt, and clay containing what?

A. highly toxic metals

B. potassium and ammonium

C. decayed plant and animal matter

D. dirt

C

The degree of eutrophication of a lake is indicated by:

A. the quantity of planktonic algae

B. reduced water transparency

C. dissolved oxygen in the water near the surface

D. all of the above

D

What is the best assurance of satisfactory operation of a properly designed and constructed septic tank system?

A. proper maintenance

B. large dosages of bacteria

C. one quart of lime down the line every month

D. the use of numerous additives available

A

After a septic tank has been cleaned, it should not be scrubbed and disinfected. Why?

A. the sludge sticking to the insides would have a seeding effect and assist in renewing the bacterial activity

B. you cannot pay anybody enough money to crawl inside one to clean it

C. it would be considered a safety hazard

D. A and C above

D

One of the most important factors contributing to disease transmission of microbiological agents is

A. chlorination

B. concentration or dose of microorganisms

C. filtration

D. flocculation

B

When storm water and domestic sewage enter the same sewer it is known as a:

A. sanitary sewer

B. combined sewer

C. separate sewer

D. storm sewer

B

Loam is composed of which of the following?

A. sand

B. gravel

C. silt

D. all of the above

D

A watertight tank designed to slow down the movement of raw sewage and wastes passing through the soils is known as a:

A. pit privy

B. spring house

C. septic tank

D. grease trap

C

What is the most common method of applying wastewater to land?

A. waste stabilization pond

B. land over-land flow

C. spray irrigation

D. wetland treatment

C

Plants employing trickling filters, activated sludge, and spray irrigation present a possible health hazard to their employees due to

A. strong caustic chemicals

B. diseases due to handling of fecal matter

C. microorganisms entering the skin through pores

D. inhalation of airborne microorganisms

D

Which of the following is not an explosive component of sewer gas?

A. carbon dioxide

B. carbon monoxide

C. hydrogen sulfide

D. methane

A

Which of the following is not true concerning sewage and disease hazards?

A. all sewage should be considered contaminated with disease-producing organisms

B. entamoeba histolytica, hepatitis viruses, and giardia cysts are easily destroyed by normal chlorination of sewage

C. sewage sludge may not be safe to use as a soil builder or fertilizer supplement

D. it cannot be assumed that relationships between sewage discharge and diseases do not exist if no clinical cases are reported

B

Which of the following soils would be most suitable for subsurface absorption of wastewater

A. a mottled brown and red soil

B. a blue soil

C. a grayish soil

D. a yellow, brown, or red soil

D

Which of the following are least important in reducing sewage to "soil," liquids, and gases?

A. anaerobic bacteria

B. earthworms

C. protozoa

D. aerobic bacteria

A

The amount of dissolved oxygen required in aerobic bacterial decomposition, measured in ppm or mg/L and used in determining the strength of wastewater is

A. chemical oxygen demand

B. total organic carbon

C. biochemical oxygen demand

D. oxygen-reduction ratio

C

The reliability and interpretation of the soil percolation tests are affected by all of the following except:

A. evaluation of site investigation, soil profile, and suitability

B. shape of the test hole

C. size or diameter of the test hole

D. saturation of soil

B

Disinfection of chlorination of sewage effluent is:

A. always necessary

B. a substitute for adequate wastewater treatment

C. an added safeguard to reduce the risk of disease transmission where the probability exists

D. usually non-toxic to freshwater, marine, and estuarine aquatic organisms in minute concentrations

C

Plants absorb certain constituents of wastewater; using wastewater for irrigation of consumable plant products may present a health hazard to humans if the water contains

A. nitrates

B. iron

C. cadmium

D. chlorides

C

A measure of the relativity constant rate at which clear water, maintained at a relatively constant depth, will seep out of a standard size test hole that has been previously saturated is the:

A. hydraulic conductivity

B. soil permeability test

C. soil percolation test

D. Baird-Parker saturation test

C

The ability of a soil to absorb and allow water and air to pass through is related to all of the following except

A. chemical composition

B. texture

C. cation exchange capacity

D. granular structure

C

The most effective method discovered for running a percolation test is:

A. to make tests in holes that have been filled with water overnight

B. to make at least 4 tests for the average area being tested

C. to make 12 tests where the soil is relatively uniform

D. to take a reading every 5 minutes

A

Deep sludge depth, thick fog layer, and the appearance of particles of solids in the effluent from a septic tank is an indication of what?

A. a failure in the absorption field

B. a septic tank in need of cleaning

C. a water line leak

D. the need to replace the septic tank

B

Which of the following is non-toxic to aquatic organisms, a good viricide, and adds oxygen to treated wastewater effluents?

A. ozone

B. calcium hypochlorite

C. sulfur dioxide

D. chlorine dioxide

A

The suitability of soil for the subsurface disposal of sewage and other wastewater can be determined by a study of soil characteristics and the:

A. soil survey

B. soil percolation test

C. rate of sewage flow

D. amount of rainfall

B

A soil which is mottled brown and red would indicate:

A. saturation for extended periods

B. adequate air and water passage

C. a soil suitable for subsurface groundwater absorption

D. a tight soil probably due to a fluctuating water table or lack of aeration

D

Sand filters, elevated systems in suitable fill, evapotranspiration absorption systems, evapotranspiration beds, aeration systems, stabilization ponds or lagoons, recirculating toilets and the like are

A. less effective than subsurface soil absorption systems

B. used prior to soil absorption when soil is poor

C. sometimes used where soil is unsuitable

D. required for treatment in areas of high risk

C

In order to obtain "reproducible results" with a soil percolation test, it is very important to:

A. add at least 2 inches of gravel to the bottom of the test pit

B. cross-reference results with reliable soil maps

C. soak the gravel with water before the test is made

D. repeat the test of use dual pits

C

Ozone disinfection has many advantages, Which of the following is not true?

A. ozone is non-toxic to aquatic organisms

B. ozone can be a source of dissolved oxygen

C. ozone is a good viricide

D. ozone is approximately equal in cost to chlorine

D

By USEPA Standards, the pH of secondary treatment effluent shall be in the range of:

A. 6.8 to 7.4

B. 5 to 7

C. 6.5 to 7.4

D. 6 to 9

D

Which of the following would be a cause of septic-tank failure?

A. lack of routine cleaning of the septic tank

B. leaking plumbing fixtures

C. improper design and construction of the absorbtion system

D. all of the above

D

The effectiveness of disinfection depends on:

A. the degree of treatment the sewerage has received

B. the amount of chlorine used, and the residual chlorine maintained

C. the mixing and retention period

D. all of the above

D

Facultative bacteria can:

A. live under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions

B. live only under aerobic conditions

C. live and reproduce with or without moisture

D. live only in the soil

A

Man-made organic compounds that degrade very slowly are referred to as

A. total organic compounds

B. fractory compounds

C. refractory organics

D. anaerobic organic compounds

C

The sand filter is used to

A. Remove suspended solids from water

B. Remove bacteria from water

C. Sterilize water

D. A and B

D

Sewer gas may contain:

A. H2S

B. methane

C. chlorine

D. all of the above

D

Brine from water softening units as low as _______% may inhibit bacterial action in septic tanks.

A. 1.2

B. 5.6

C. 8.9

D. none of the above

A

Which of the following is true regarding the use of septic-tank cleaners?

A. additives have been shown to be cost-effective alternatives to annual cleaning

B. their use is not advised

C. there is no evidence that the chemicals used eventually reach groundwater

D. the greasing compounds used have proven to be completely safe

B

The use of a cesspool is prohibited due to:

A. potential for odor

B. cost

C. space required

D. greater potential for groundwater contamination

D

The typical limitation of use of the septic tank absorption field system is due to:

A. cost

B. land use consideration

C. soil type and size requirements

D. appearance

C

The NODAK system is designed to:

a. protect ground water

b. decrease surface area

c. allow evaporation of most liquids

d. none of the above

A

Common causes of failure of septic tank seepage field systems include improper sizing, non-suitable soil, non-servicing, and:

A. insufficient nutrients in tank

B. excessive use of laundry detergents

C. leaking fixtures

D. use of wetting agent

C

The traditional absorption field should be laid in trenches not more than ____________inches below the ground surface.

A. 18

B. 42

C. 24

D. 63

C

The top of the absorption field gravel should be covered with:

A. tar paper

B. permeable material

C. plastic

D. treated paper

B

The field distribution piping should be surrounded with ________________ and at least 2 inches deep under the pipe.

A. washed gravel, 3/4 inches to 2.5 inches

B. broken limestone, 1 inches to 2 inches

C. fine marble chips

D. a mixture of sand and gravel

A

The distance between the field lines or tiles must be a minimum of _____________feet in a treatment absorption field arrangement.

A. 3

B. 6

C. 9

D. 12

B

T/F: The recommended backfill over the absorption field is 12 inches.

T

T/F: The recommended distance from the bottom of the trench to the ground water table or rock is 62 inches.

F

T/F: The recommended maximum length of the system materials for a gravity flow absorption field is 75 ft.

T

T/F: The placement of the distribution box is not critical as long as it is watertight.

F

T/F: The use of a serial distribution system is considered to have disadvantages over the use of distribution boxes.

F

T/F: Yeast added to a new septic tank speeds up digestion by a factor of 2.7.

F

T/F: The depth of septic tanks and ratio of width to length recommended by most health departments are very similar.

T

T/F: Soil containing loam will remove most of the phosphorus in sewage effluent.

F

T/F: A lump of soil with good characteristics will break apart with little pressure along definite cleavage plains and should be blue or grayish in color.

F

What are two factors commonly used to determine soil permeability or ability of the soil to absorb wastewater?

A. soil percolation test and slope of land

B. soil characteristics and slope of land

C. soil perc test and soil characteristics

D. soil characteristics and watershed

C

Which would not be considered suitable for disposal of sewage by subsurface means?

A. loam

B. gravel

C. silt

D. clay

D

What two factors determine the groundwater contamination potential from a septic tank?

A. size of tank and depth to groundwater

B. contaminants in tank and soil characteristics

C. permeability of septic tank materials and soil characteristics

D. soil characteristics and depth to groundwater

D

What step listed below must be done in order to obtain reproducible results in the soil per test?

A. totally saturated soil before beginning test

B. test must extend at least 2 feet below frost line

C. test hole must be greater than 3 feet above seasonal high water table groundwater, rock, or tight soil

D. all of the above

A

Which is correct regarding septic tanks?

A. They will eliminate odors

B. They will purify sewage

C. They will slow down the flow rates so that solids can settle out

D. All of the above

C

Detention time for septic tanks should be not less than

A. 8 hours

B. 12 hours

C. 24 hours

D. 36 hours

C

How often should residential septic tanks be inspected?

A. monthly

B. annually

C. bimonthly

D. every 3-5 years

B

Which should not be added to septic tanks?

A. salt or brine

B. sulphuric acid

C. chlorine bleach or ammonia

D. all of the above

D

Which statement is true in regards to outlets and inlets on distribution boxes in sewage disposal systems?

A. inlet must be 6 inches higher than outlet

B. inlet must be 12 inches higher than outlet

C. inlet must be at same level as outet

D. inlet and outlet level do not matter

A

Which of the following is not a factor in the satisfactory operation of a septic tank/sand filter system?

A. Rate of sewage application

B. Effective size of sand

C. Ratio of septic tank size to sand filter size

D. Uniformity coefficient of sand

C

What is the most common method of applying wastewater to land?

A. Ridge and furrow irrigation

B. Spray irrigation

C. Border strip irrigation

D. Overland flow irrigation

B

Which gas is found in sewers but is not considered explosive?

A. methane

B. CO2

C. Hydrogen

D. CO

B

What is considered to be the best single strength measure of wastewater polluted water containing degradable waste?

A. DO

B. 5 day BOD

C. COD

D. total coliform

B

Another name for a mature or balanced lake is

A. Oligotrophic

B. Eutrophicatic

C. Mesotrophic

D. Omegotrophic

C

Name the 3 zones of stream pollution, in order of normal chain of events.

A. Decomposition, degradation, recovery

B. Degradation, decomposition, recovery

C. Recovery, degradation, decomposition

D. None of the above

B

What is the permissible 8 hour threshold limit value for H2S?

A. 10 ppm

B. 20 ppm

C. 30 ppm

D. 40 ppm

B

What is the most important step in wastewater operations?

A. proper equipment selection

B. on-going maintenance of equipment

C. good housekeeping

D. knowing the limitations of the waste

C

Which would not be considered domestic sewage?

A. toilet waste

B. kitchen sink waste

C. dairy cattle waste

D. laundry waste

C