STORM WATER OPERATOR PREPARATION
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● What are the requirements t become a Certified Stormwater Operator?
Answer: - Must complete 100% of the training
- Correctly answer 75% of the questions on the exam given at the end of
the training.
● What do the objectives at the beginning of each chapter do? Answer:
Points to the specific knowledge to be covered on the chapter
● Where will you find definitions of the terms used in this manual?
Answer: They are found in the glossary at the back of the manual
● Name two problems stormwater management help avoid Answer: -
Flooding
- Water pollution
● Name five types of stormwater pollution in the first-flush runoff
Answer: - Sediment
- Fertilizer
- Debris
,- Bacteria
- Chemicals
● Describe two impacts of sedimentation Answer: - Clogs both natural
and constructed conveyance systems and reduces the amount of water
that these systems can store and move efficiently
- Damage wetlands and increase the cost of treating water
● Name five factors that can influence erosion Answer: - Soil types:
soils with large grains let water drain faster. Runoff rates are slower and
erosion can be reduced. Soil with small grains, like silts and clays, are
easily carried away by wind and water
- Topography: Runoff drains to the lowest point of land
- Vegetative Cover: Plants, trees, and grasses help control erosion and
sedimentation. Vegetation protects soil from the impacts of rain. It slows
runoff by holding soil in place with roots and mulch.
- Climate & Rainfall: How much (depth), how heavy (intensity) and how
often (frequency) it rains can also affect erosion
- Land use: The use of land influences the effects of runoff in several
ways. Impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete do not allow
water to seep into the ground, which create several problems- allows
runoff to travel at a much faster rate- increasing the chance for erosion
once runoff reaches pervious areas
● What do the letters NPDES stand for? Answer: National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
, ● What does MS4 stand for? Answer: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System
● What does TMDL stand for? Answer: Total Maximum Daily Load
● What do the letters BMP stand for? Answer: Best Management
Practices
● Name the two major categories of BMPs Answer: - Structural:
Engineered systems designed to mitigate the negative impacts of
stormwater
- Non-structural: Sweeping, removing sediment (from storm sewer
systems, canals, and roadside ditches) and public education programs
● What is the difference between detention and retention systems?
Answer: -Detention: temporarily holds then releases runoff
- Retention: holds runoff until it percolates into the soil or evaporates
● Name the two purposes of a stormwater management system Answer:
Attempt to guarantee that the recharge, volume, peak discharge rate, and
pollutant loads are approximately the same after the development as they
were before the development
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● What are the requirements t become a Certified Stormwater Operator?
Answer: - Must complete 100% of the training
- Correctly answer 75% of the questions on the exam given at the end of
the training.
● What do the objectives at the beginning of each chapter do? Answer:
Points to the specific knowledge to be covered on the chapter
● Where will you find definitions of the terms used in this manual?
Answer: They are found in the glossary at the back of the manual
● Name two problems stormwater management help avoid Answer: -
Flooding
- Water pollution
● Name five types of stormwater pollution in the first-flush runoff
Answer: - Sediment
- Fertilizer
- Debris
,- Bacteria
- Chemicals
● Describe two impacts of sedimentation Answer: - Clogs both natural
and constructed conveyance systems and reduces the amount of water
that these systems can store and move efficiently
- Damage wetlands and increase the cost of treating water
● Name five factors that can influence erosion Answer: - Soil types:
soils with large grains let water drain faster. Runoff rates are slower and
erosion can be reduced. Soil with small grains, like silts and clays, are
easily carried away by wind and water
- Topography: Runoff drains to the lowest point of land
- Vegetative Cover: Plants, trees, and grasses help control erosion and
sedimentation. Vegetation protects soil from the impacts of rain. It slows
runoff by holding soil in place with roots and mulch.
- Climate & Rainfall: How much (depth), how heavy (intensity) and how
often (frequency) it rains can also affect erosion
- Land use: The use of land influences the effects of runoff in several
ways. Impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete do not allow
water to seep into the ground, which create several problems- allows
runoff to travel at a much faster rate- increasing the chance for erosion
once runoff reaches pervious areas
● What do the letters NPDES stand for? Answer: National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
, ● What does MS4 stand for? Answer: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System
● What does TMDL stand for? Answer: Total Maximum Daily Load
● What do the letters BMP stand for? Answer: Best Management
Practices
● Name the two major categories of BMPs Answer: - Structural:
Engineered systems designed to mitigate the negative impacts of
stormwater
- Non-structural: Sweeping, removing sediment (from storm sewer
systems, canals, and roadside ditches) and public education programs
● What is the difference between detention and retention systems?
Answer: -Detention: temporarily holds then releases runoff
- Retention: holds runoff until it percolates into the soil or evaporates
● Name the two purposes of a stormwater management system Answer:
Attempt to guarantee that the recharge, volume, peak discharge rate, and
pollutant loads are approximately the same after the development as they
were before the development
