TCEQ WASTEWATER STUDY EXAMS GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is the purpose of wastewater treatment? - ✔✔- Dispose of solids
- Destroy pathogens
- Eliminate nuisances
- Protect downstream users
✔✔What is the state *law* regulating water pollution control in Texas? - ✔✔The Texas
Water Code
✔✔Who is the primary state *agency* having authority for water pollution control in
Texas? - ✔✔The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
✔✔How did the state get its authority to control water pollution? - ✔✔The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) delegated that authority to the individual states.
✔✔What is the EPA's primary wastewater legislation? - ✔✔The Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972. As amended in 1977, this law commonly became known as the
Clean Water Act
✔✔What did the Clean Water Act do? - ✔✔- Created pollution control programs
- Made it unlawful to discharge a point source into navigable waters without a permit
, - Funded construction of wastewater treatment plants
✔✔When can TCEQ revoke an operator's permit? - ✔✔If the operator:
- violates the permit
- falsifies records
- states misleading information on the licensing application
- or causes other violations
✔✔What is an accidental discharge? When must TCEQ be notified about it? - ✔✔An act
or omission through which waste or other substances are inadvertently discharged into
water in the state. TCEQ must be notified within 24 hours if one occurs.
✔✔What is an unauthorized discharge? - ✔✔Any discharge of wastewater into or
adjacent to waters in the state at a location not permitted as an outfall. Ex: SSO
✔✔At what population does a city may have to establish a water pollution control and
abatement program? - ✔✔10,000 or more
✔✔Lift stations are built when wastewater is: - ✔✔- Raised to a higher elevation
- Pumped over a hill
- Lifted at a plant for gravity flow
✔✔TCEQ's goals regarding water pollution control are: - ✔✔- To maintain state water
quality
- To promote wastewater collection and disposal systems
- To use all reasonable methods to implement the state water plan
✔✔The TCEQ may assess administrative penalties up to $______ per day for each
violation - ✔✔$25,000
✔✔Required records, such as flow and effluent quality, must be kept for ___ years.
Sludge records must be kept ___ years. - ✔✔3, 5
✔✔Reports, including Discharge Monitoring Reports and Monthly Effluent Reports, are
to be submitted to the TCEQ no later than the __ of the _____ month. - ✔✔20th,
following
✔✔About ___ pounds of BOD are contributed daily by each person (The BOD
population equivalent) - ✔✔0.17
✔✔Any plant with a design flow above ___ MGD is required to install instrumentation for
continuous flow totalizing - ✔✔0.5 MGD
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What is the purpose of wastewater treatment? - ✔✔- Dispose of solids
- Destroy pathogens
- Eliminate nuisances
- Protect downstream users
✔✔What is the state *law* regulating water pollution control in Texas? - ✔✔The Texas
Water Code
✔✔Who is the primary state *agency* having authority for water pollution control in
Texas? - ✔✔The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
✔✔How did the state get its authority to control water pollution? - ✔✔The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) delegated that authority to the individual states.
✔✔What is the EPA's primary wastewater legislation? - ✔✔The Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972. As amended in 1977, this law commonly became known as the
Clean Water Act
✔✔What did the Clean Water Act do? - ✔✔- Created pollution control programs
- Made it unlawful to discharge a point source into navigable waters without a permit
, - Funded construction of wastewater treatment plants
✔✔When can TCEQ revoke an operator's permit? - ✔✔If the operator:
- violates the permit
- falsifies records
- states misleading information on the licensing application
- or causes other violations
✔✔What is an accidental discharge? When must TCEQ be notified about it? - ✔✔An act
or omission through which waste or other substances are inadvertently discharged into
water in the state. TCEQ must be notified within 24 hours if one occurs.
✔✔What is an unauthorized discharge? - ✔✔Any discharge of wastewater into or
adjacent to waters in the state at a location not permitted as an outfall. Ex: SSO
✔✔At what population does a city may have to establish a water pollution control and
abatement program? - ✔✔10,000 or more
✔✔Lift stations are built when wastewater is: - ✔✔- Raised to a higher elevation
- Pumped over a hill
- Lifted at a plant for gravity flow
✔✔TCEQ's goals regarding water pollution control are: - ✔✔- To maintain state water
quality
- To promote wastewater collection and disposal systems
- To use all reasonable methods to implement the state water plan
✔✔The TCEQ may assess administrative penalties up to $______ per day for each
violation - ✔✔$25,000
✔✔Required records, such as flow and effluent quality, must be kept for ___ years.
Sludge records must be kept ___ years. - ✔✔3, 5
✔✔Reports, including Discharge Monitoring Reports and Monthly Effluent Reports, are
to be submitted to the TCEQ no later than the __ of the _____ month. - ✔✔20th,
following
✔✔About ___ pounds of BOD are contributed daily by each person (The BOD
population equivalent) - ✔✔0.17
✔✔Any plant with a design flow above ___ MGD is required to install instrumentation for
continuous flow totalizing - ✔✔0.5 MGD
