Page 1 of 92
Illinois Private Sewage Pumping Contractor
Licensing Exam Actual exam Questions with
Correct Answers and explanations LATEST THIS
YEAR -JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – IL Private Sewage Pumping Contractor
Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 905) – licensing, septage handling, disposal sites,
recordkeeping, vehicle labeling, waste acceptance criteria, prohibited discharges; septic tank pumping
(frequency, inspection, baffles, tank integrity); portable toilet servicing (sanitizing, deodorizing, waste
disposal); grease trap/interceptor pumping (frequency, recordkeeping); waste hauling (vehicle
requirements – tank, hose, labeling, spill prevention); disposal sites (approved treatment plants or land
application); safety (confined space, H2S, PPE, lockout/tagout, spill response); business licensing (bond,
insurance, contract requirements); and environmental regulations (IEPA permits, groundwater
protection).
1. An Illinois private sewage pumping contractor must have a vehicle tank that is labeled with the
contractor’s name and license number. The lettering must be at least how many inches high?
A) 1 inch
B) 2 inches
C) 3 inches
D) 4 inches
Answer: C – 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905 requires 3-inch lettering on both sides of the vehicle.
, Page 2 of 92
2. A septic tank is pumped, and the pumper notices that the outlet baffle is missing. The pumper should:
A) Ignore it and complete the pumping
B) Notify the homeowner in writing that the baffle must be repaired
C) Replace the baffle without charge
D) Refuse to pump the tank
Answer: B – The pumper must inform the owner of any defects that could cause system failure.
3. A grease trap at a restaurant is pumped. The pumper must provide a manifest or receipt to the
owner. The record must be kept by the contractor for at least:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C – 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905 requires 3 years of records.
4. An Illinois sewage pumper is disposing of septage at a permitted treatment plant. The pumper must
have a written acceptance from the plant. This acceptance must be:
, Page 3 of 92
A) Carried in the vehicle at all times
B) Filed at the office only
C) Renewed annually
D) Both A and C
Answer: D – Written acceptance must be in the vehicle and renewed annually.
5. A pumper is servicing a portable toilet at a construction site. The pumper must use an approved
deodorizing chemical. The chemical must be registered with:
A) Illinois EPA
B) Local health department
C) OSHA
D) No registration required
Answer: A – Chemicals used in portable toilets must be registered with IEPA.
6. A septic tank is located in an area with high groundwater. The pumper must take care not to:
A) Pump too fast, which could collapse the tank
B) Add water to the tank
, Page 4 of 92
C) Remove all liquid
D) Inspect the baffles
Answer: A – Rapid pumping can cause the tank to “float” out of the ground or collapse if groundwater is
high.
7. A private sewage pumping contractor’s license in Illinois is valid for:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C – Licenses are valid for 3 years.
8. A pumper is called to a residential septic tank. The tank is 1,000 gallons. The pumper observes that
the scum layer is 12 inches thick and the sludge layer is 18 inches thick. The tank should be pumped
when:
A) Scum > 6 inches or sludge > 12 inches
B) Scum > 12 inches or sludge > 18 inches
Illinois Private Sewage Pumping Contractor
Licensing Exam Actual exam Questions with
Correct Answers and explanations LATEST THIS
YEAR -JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – IL Private Sewage Pumping Contractor
Illinois Private Sewage Disposal Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 905) – licensing, septage handling, disposal sites,
recordkeeping, vehicle labeling, waste acceptance criteria, prohibited discharges; septic tank pumping
(frequency, inspection, baffles, tank integrity); portable toilet servicing (sanitizing, deodorizing, waste
disposal); grease trap/interceptor pumping (frequency, recordkeeping); waste hauling (vehicle
requirements – tank, hose, labeling, spill prevention); disposal sites (approved treatment plants or land
application); safety (confined space, H2S, PPE, lockout/tagout, spill response); business licensing (bond,
insurance, contract requirements); and environmental regulations (IEPA permits, groundwater
protection).
1. An Illinois private sewage pumping contractor must have a vehicle tank that is labeled with the
contractor’s name and license number. The lettering must be at least how many inches high?
A) 1 inch
B) 2 inches
C) 3 inches
D) 4 inches
Answer: C – 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905 requires 3-inch lettering on both sides of the vehicle.
, Page 2 of 92
2. A septic tank is pumped, and the pumper notices that the outlet baffle is missing. The pumper should:
A) Ignore it and complete the pumping
B) Notify the homeowner in writing that the baffle must be repaired
C) Replace the baffle without charge
D) Refuse to pump the tank
Answer: B – The pumper must inform the owner of any defects that could cause system failure.
3. A grease trap at a restaurant is pumped. The pumper must provide a manifest or receipt to the
owner. The record must be kept by the contractor for at least:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C – 77 Ill. Adm. Code 905 requires 3 years of records.
4. An Illinois sewage pumper is disposing of septage at a permitted treatment plant. The pumper must
have a written acceptance from the plant. This acceptance must be:
, Page 3 of 92
A) Carried in the vehicle at all times
B) Filed at the office only
C) Renewed annually
D) Both A and C
Answer: D – Written acceptance must be in the vehicle and renewed annually.
5. A pumper is servicing a portable toilet at a construction site. The pumper must use an approved
deodorizing chemical. The chemical must be registered with:
A) Illinois EPA
B) Local health department
C) OSHA
D) No registration required
Answer: A – Chemicals used in portable toilets must be registered with IEPA.
6. A septic tank is located in an area with high groundwater. The pumper must take care not to:
A) Pump too fast, which could collapse the tank
B) Add water to the tank
, Page 4 of 92
C) Remove all liquid
D) Inspect the baffles
Answer: A – Rapid pumping can cause the tank to “float” out of the ground or collapse if groundwater is
high.
7. A private sewage pumping contractor’s license in Illinois is valid for:
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C – Licenses are valid for 3 years.
8. A pumper is called to a residential septic tank. The tank is 1,000 gallons. The pumper observes that
the scum layer is 12 inches thick and the sludge layer is 18 inches thick. The tank should be pumped
when:
A) Scum > 6 inches or sludge > 12 inches
B) Scum > 12 inches or sludge > 18 inches
