Tennessee Water Treatment Operator Certification
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. What is the main cause of odors in the wastewater system? - Correct Answer:
Hydrogen sulfide
2. What is septage? - Correct Answer: Wastewater that is pumped out of septic tanks
and other types of holding tanks
3. In TN when is flow equalization required? - Correct Answer: Peak flows are greater
than 2 times the average design flow
4. What is flow equalization? - Correct Answer: A device or tank that is designed to
hold back or store a portion of peak flows for release during low flow periods
5. What must the D.O. Be in flow equalization areas? - Correct Answer: 1.0 mg/L
6. What is a device used with a blower system that breaks the air stream into fine bubbles
in an aeration tank or reactor? - Correct Answer: Diffuser
7. What is a gas with rotten egg odor that is produced under anaerobic conditions? -
Correct Answer: Hydrogen sulfide
,8. What is the simplest type of fine screen that contains no moving parts?
- Correct Answer: Wedgewire
9. For landfill disposal screenings must be dewatered enough to pass what test? -
Correct Answer: Paint filter test
10. What is the gathering of a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance on the outside surface or
interface surface of another material? - Correct Answer: Adsorption
11. Why is it important to remove grit and coarse debris during preliminary treatment? -
Correct Answer: They can damage equipment further down
12. What is a major difference between comminution units and bar racks/bar screens? -
Correct Answer: Bar racks and screens catch the debris and then get removed from the
system/ comminution units shred the debris and keep them in the system
13. During a walk through of your plant, you discover rags and large debris accumulating
downstream from your comminutor. Your initial instinct tells you to check the blades to
make sure they are not dull. After locking and tagging out the equipment, you discover
the blades are still sharp. What could the problem be? - Correct Answer: The blades
may be out of alignment
14. What is the point in washing grit? - Correct Answer: To remove organic material
before disposal.
15. What are the two basic types of rotary drum fine screens? - Correct Answer:
Internally and externally fed
, 16. If you observe excessive grit in the mechanically cleaned bar screen chamber what
could be the cause? - Correct Answer: Surging in chamber because of increased
water level
17. How do you fix excessive grit in the mechanically cleaned bar screen chamber? -
Correct Answer: Remove bottom irregularities or reslope the bottom
18. If you notice excessive screen clogging in your mechanically cleaned bar screen, what
could be the cause? - Correct Answer: Unusual amount of debris in the influent
19. If you notice the rake is inoperative but the motor runs in the mechanically cleaned bar
screen, what could be the problem? - Correct Answer: Broken chain or cable
Broken limit switch
Broken shear pin
20. If you notice there are marks or metal against metal screen binding in a mechanically
cleaned bar screen, what could be the cause? - Correct Answer: The screen needs an
adjustment
21. If you notice excessive head loss with a fine screen what could be the cause? -
Correct Answer: Influent flow exceeds design rate
Influent solids too high
Screen media clogged or blinded
Low backwash water flow
Build up on screen surface
22. If you notice excessive noise with a fine screen, what could be the cause? - Correct
Answer: Misalignment of sprockets
, Too little/too much chain slack
Chain or sprocket worn out
23. If you notice the chain climbing the sprocket with a fine screen, what could be the
cause? - Correct Answer: Chain worn out
Excessive chain slack
Material build up in sprocket tooth pockets
24. What factors affect flow rates? - Correct Answer: Geographical location
Type of development
Season
Time of day
Weather
25. What is flow? - Correct Answer: The amount of water passing a reference point over
a certain time
26. Why is flow measurement important? - Correct Answer: Collection system design
Treatment system design
NPDES permits
Process control
27. What are five different types of flow measuring devices - Correct Answer: Constant
differential
Head area
Velocity meter
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!!
Current Update!!
1. What is the main cause of odors in the wastewater system? - Correct Answer:
Hydrogen sulfide
2. What is septage? - Correct Answer: Wastewater that is pumped out of septic tanks
and other types of holding tanks
3. In TN when is flow equalization required? - Correct Answer: Peak flows are greater
than 2 times the average design flow
4. What is flow equalization? - Correct Answer: A device or tank that is designed to
hold back or store a portion of peak flows for release during low flow periods
5. What must the D.O. Be in flow equalization areas? - Correct Answer: 1.0 mg/L
6. What is a device used with a blower system that breaks the air stream into fine bubbles
in an aeration tank or reactor? - Correct Answer: Diffuser
7. What is a gas with rotten egg odor that is produced under anaerobic conditions? -
Correct Answer: Hydrogen sulfide
,8. What is the simplest type of fine screen that contains no moving parts?
- Correct Answer: Wedgewire
9. For landfill disposal screenings must be dewatered enough to pass what test? -
Correct Answer: Paint filter test
10. What is the gathering of a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance on the outside surface or
interface surface of another material? - Correct Answer: Adsorption
11. Why is it important to remove grit and coarse debris during preliminary treatment? -
Correct Answer: They can damage equipment further down
12. What is a major difference between comminution units and bar racks/bar screens? -
Correct Answer: Bar racks and screens catch the debris and then get removed from the
system/ comminution units shred the debris and keep them in the system
13. During a walk through of your plant, you discover rags and large debris accumulating
downstream from your comminutor. Your initial instinct tells you to check the blades to
make sure they are not dull. After locking and tagging out the equipment, you discover
the blades are still sharp. What could the problem be? - Correct Answer: The blades
may be out of alignment
14. What is the point in washing grit? - Correct Answer: To remove organic material
before disposal.
15. What are the two basic types of rotary drum fine screens? - Correct Answer:
Internally and externally fed
, 16. If you observe excessive grit in the mechanically cleaned bar screen chamber what
could be the cause? - Correct Answer: Surging in chamber because of increased
water level
17. How do you fix excessive grit in the mechanically cleaned bar screen chamber? -
Correct Answer: Remove bottom irregularities or reslope the bottom
18. If you notice excessive screen clogging in your mechanically cleaned bar screen, what
could be the cause? - Correct Answer: Unusual amount of debris in the influent
19. If you notice the rake is inoperative but the motor runs in the mechanically cleaned bar
screen, what could be the problem? - Correct Answer: Broken chain or cable
Broken limit switch
Broken shear pin
20. If you notice there are marks or metal against metal screen binding in a mechanically
cleaned bar screen, what could be the cause? - Correct Answer: The screen needs an
adjustment
21. If you notice excessive head loss with a fine screen what could be the cause? -
Correct Answer: Influent flow exceeds design rate
Influent solids too high
Screen media clogged or blinded
Low backwash water flow
Build up on screen surface
22. If you notice excessive noise with a fine screen, what could be the cause? - Correct
Answer: Misalignment of sprockets
, Too little/too much chain slack
Chain or sprocket worn out
23. If you notice the chain climbing the sprocket with a fine screen, what could be the
cause? - Correct Answer: Chain worn out
Excessive chain slack
Material build up in sprocket tooth pockets
24. What factors affect flow rates? - Correct Answer: Geographical location
Type of development
Season
Time of day
Weather
25. What is flow? - Correct Answer: The amount of water passing a reference point over
a certain time
26. Why is flow measurement important? - Correct Answer: Collection system design
Treatment system design
NPDES permits
Process control
27. What are five different types of flow measuring devices - Correct Answer: Constant
differential
Head area
Velocity meter
