INDUSTRIAL STORM WATER CERTIFIED OPERATOR
EXAM 100 QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST 2026
1) Under natural conditions the majority of rain water that falls to the ground -
ANSWER-Infiltrates the ground or evaporates
2) The introduction of pollutants to storm water most commonly occurs when
industrial facilities allow operating procedures and industrial materials to -
ANSWER-Become exposed to storm water
3) The best way to prevent contamination of storm water is - ANSWER-Through
pollution prevention
4) The highest percentage of pollutants in storm water runoff occurs in the first
few minutes that storm water runs off. This is called the __ - ANSWER-First flush
5) Organic enrichment of storm water runoff from sources such as food
processing, airport deicing, antifreezes, and sewage create addition oxygen
demand in lakes and streams. Much of the demand is due to bacteria feeding
on these materials. The increased oxygen demand can lead to
____________________________________, which is a common cause of fish
kills. - ANSWER-Oxygen depletion
,6) The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus to storm water runoff can result in
algal blooms and excessive growth of aquatic plants in fresh water systems
such as lakes and streams. In fresh water systems _____________________
is the main cause of excessive plant and algal growth. - ANSWER-Phosphorus
7) Sediment is one of the most widespread pollutants in surface water. Many
___________________________ attach to finer sediment particles. Sediment
can also be destructive to aquatic systems by covering and damaging habitat -
ANSWER-Pollutants
8) Michigan law requires that anyone who discharges liquid wastes to surface
waters of the state must have their pollution control measures under the
supervision of a - ANSWER-Certified Operator
9) If there is a construction activity at an industrial facility that disturbs one or
more acres of land or the soil disturbance is within 500 feet of a water body, the
owner of the property will need to apply for a ___________________________
___________________________________________ permit. In addition if the
soil disturbance will become five or more acres in size the property owner will
need to submit the Notice of Coverage application to the MDEQ, Water
Resources Division. - ANSWER-Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
10) __________________ permits are not site specific and contain the
minimum requirements for protecting water quality. - ANSWER-General
11) The ______________________________________ is a document that
, authorizes the discharge of storm water under a general storm water permit. -
ANSWER-Certificate of Coverage
12) __________________ permits are site specific and contain requirements
such as regular sampling, monitoring, end of pipe treatment or effluent limits. -
ANSWER-Individual
13) There are two types of industrial storm water general permits in Michigan
they are Storm Water from Industrial Activity and Storm Water with _________
______________________________________. - ANSWER-Required Monitoring
or Special Use Areas
14) A facility that has the industrial storm water general permit with required
monitoring or special use areas is required to conduct a - ANSWER-Short Term
Storm Water Characterization Study
15) An annual fee will be assessed to all facilities that have permitted storm
water discharges. All facilities that have authorization to discharge storm water
on _________________________ will be responsible for the annual fee. -
ANSWER-January 1
16) Industrial facilities are identified in the federal storm water regulations by
_________________________________________ and narrative description -
ANSWER-Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code
17) The surface water that receives the point source discharge is called the
________________________________. This information must be included on
EXAM 100 QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST 2026
1) Under natural conditions the majority of rain water that falls to the ground -
ANSWER-Infiltrates the ground or evaporates
2) The introduction of pollutants to storm water most commonly occurs when
industrial facilities allow operating procedures and industrial materials to -
ANSWER-Become exposed to storm water
3) The best way to prevent contamination of storm water is - ANSWER-Through
pollution prevention
4) The highest percentage of pollutants in storm water runoff occurs in the first
few minutes that storm water runs off. This is called the __ - ANSWER-First flush
5) Organic enrichment of storm water runoff from sources such as food
processing, airport deicing, antifreezes, and sewage create addition oxygen
demand in lakes and streams. Much of the demand is due to bacteria feeding
on these materials. The increased oxygen demand can lead to
____________________________________, which is a common cause of fish
kills. - ANSWER-Oxygen depletion
,6) The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus to storm water runoff can result in
algal blooms and excessive growth of aquatic plants in fresh water systems
such as lakes and streams. In fresh water systems _____________________
is the main cause of excessive plant and algal growth. - ANSWER-Phosphorus
7) Sediment is one of the most widespread pollutants in surface water. Many
___________________________ attach to finer sediment particles. Sediment
can also be destructive to aquatic systems by covering and damaging habitat -
ANSWER-Pollutants
8) Michigan law requires that anyone who discharges liquid wastes to surface
waters of the state must have their pollution control measures under the
supervision of a - ANSWER-Certified Operator
9) If there is a construction activity at an industrial facility that disturbs one or
more acres of land or the soil disturbance is within 500 feet of a water body, the
owner of the property will need to apply for a ___________________________
___________________________________________ permit. In addition if the
soil disturbance will become five or more acres in size the property owner will
need to submit the Notice of Coverage application to the MDEQ, Water
Resources Division. - ANSWER-Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
10) __________________ permits are not site specific and contain the
minimum requirements for protecting water quality. - ANSWER-General
11) The ______________________________________ is a document that
, authorizes the discharge of storm water under a general storm water permit. -
ANSWER-Certificate of Coverage
12) __________________ permits are site specific and contain requirements
such as regular sampling, monitoring, end of pipe treatment or effluent limits. -
ANSWER-Individual
13) There are two types of industrial storm water general permits in Michigan
they are Storm Water from Industrial Activity and Storm Water with _________
______________________________________. - ANSWER-Required Monitoring
or Special Use Areas
14) A facility that has the industrial storm water general permit with required
monitoring or special use areas is required to conduct a - ANSWER-Short Term
Storm Water Characterization Study
15) An annual fee will be assessed to all facilities that have permitted storm
water discharges. All facilities that have authorization to discharge storm water
on _________________________ will be responsible for the annual fee. -
ANSWER-January 1
16) Industrial facilities are identified in the federal storm water regulations by
_________________________________________ and narrative description -
ANSWER-Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code
17) The surface water that receives the point source discharge is called the
________________________________. This information must be included on
