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Texas Surface Water Operator Class A exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Texas Surface Water Operator Class A exam, covering advanced process control, optimization,
regulatory compliance, safety, and administrative duties expected of a Class A operator. Each question is
followed by the correct answer and an italicized rationale explaining the concept.
Exam Coverage Summary (Point Form)
• Operator Licensing & Administration: Application process, required training (Basic Waterworks
Operation, Surface Water Production I/II), substitution of college hours for experience (e.g., 32
semester hours for 1 year; 64 semester hours for 2 years), renewal requirements, operator-in-
training provisions, and specific staffing rules for surface water plants (e.g., at least one Class C
or higher on duty during operation).
• TCEQ & Federal Rules: Monitoring and reporting under 30 TAC Chapter 290 (Subchapters D, E,
F, K), raw water monitoring for turbidity, E. coli, and Cryptosporidium, disinfection byproduct
(THMs, HAAs) compliance, MCLs, action levels, public notification, and record retention periods.
• Advanced Water Treatment: Process control and optimization of coagulation, flocculation,
sedimentation, filtration (including backwash, filter ripening, turbidity monitoring), and
disinfection (including breakpoint chlorination, CT calculations, chloramination, and DBP
control).
• Distribution System Operations: Maintaining disinfectant residuals, pressure management (e.g.,
minimum 35/20 psi), storage tank management, flushing programs, main breaks, and
unidirectional flushing.
• Safety & Emergency Response: Excavation/trenching safety (competent person,
sloping/benching), confined space entry, chemical safety (chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite),
emergency power requirements, emergency response plans, and weather-related resiliency (SB
3).
• Math & Calculations: Detention time, overflow rate, chlorine demand/dosage, CT, pump
efficiency, chemical feed rates, and related water system calculations.
Batch 1: Operator Licensing & Administration (Questions 1–20)
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1. A candidate is applying for a Class A Surface Water Operator license. They hold a bachelor’s degree in
chemistry from an accredited university and have 6 years of qualifying work experience. Based on TCEQ
education/experience substitution rules, can the candidate qualify?
A) No—a master’s degree is required for this license class
B) Yes, the candidate meets the requirement of a bachelor’s degree and 5 years
C) Yes, the candidate meets the requirement of a master’s degree and 4 years
D) Yes, the candidate meets the requirement of high school diploma and 8 years
Answer: B
*Class A Surface Water Operator: bachelor’s degree & 5 years; master’s degree & 4 years; high
school/GED & 8 years.*
2. According to TCEQ staffing rules, how many operators are required to be on duty when a surface
water treatment plant is in operation?
A) At least one Class D or higher water operator
B) At least one Class C or higher surface water operator
C) At least two operators with any class license
D) At least one Class B or higher surface water operator
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Answer: B
Each surface water treatment plant must have at least one Class C or higher surface water operator on
duty at the plant when it is in operation.
3. If no operator is on duty, what must a surface water treatment plant have to ensure safe operation?
A) A locked control room to prevent unauthorized changes
B) Continuous turbidity and disinfectant residual monitors with automatic plant shutdown and alarms
C) A licensed engineer on call 24/7
D) A backup generator that automatically restarts the plant
Answer: B
When the plant is not staffed, it must be provided with continuous turbidity and disinfectant residual
monitors with automatic plant shutdown and alarms to summon operators.
4. A Class A Surface Water Operator license requires 160 hours of approved training. Which of the
following is MANDATORY for this license?
A) Water Distribution and Water Utility Management
B) Water Distribution, Water Utility Safety, Water Laboratory
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C) Surface Water Production I, Surface Water Production II, Groundwater Production, Water
Distribution, Water Laboratory, Water Utility Management, Water Utility Safety
D) Groundwater Production, Water Distribution, Water Utility Safety
Answer: C
A Class A license requires Surface Water I & II, Groundwater Production, Water Distribution, Water Lab,
Utility Management, and Utility Safety—seven core courses.
5. A new employee will work as an operator-in-training at a surface water treatment plant. Who must
provide direct supervision?
A) The general manager of the utility
B) The TCEQ regional office
C) A licensed public water system operator
D) A professional engineer registered in Texas
Answer: C
An operator-in-training under the direct supervision of a licensed public water system operator is exempt
from the licensing requirements.
Texas Surface Water Operator Class A exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Texas Surface Water Operator Class A exam, covering advanced process control, optimization,
regulatory compliance, safety, and administrative duties expected of a Class A operator. Each question is
followed by the correct answer and an italicized rationale explaining the concept.
Exam Coverage Summary (Point Form)
• Operator Licensing & Administration: Application process, required training (Basic Waterworks
Operation, Surface Water Production I/II), substitution of college hours for experience (e.g., 32
semester hours for 1 year; 64 semester hours for 2 years), renewal requirements, operator-in-
training provisions, and specific staffing rules for surface water plants (e.g., at least one Class C
or higher on duty during operation).
• TCEQ & Federal Rules: Monitoring and reporting under 30 TAC Chapter 290 (Subchapters D, E,
F, K), raw water monitoring for turbidity, E. coli, and Cryptosporidium, disinfection byproduct
(THMs, HAAs) compliance, MCLs, action levels, public notification, and record retention periods.
• Advanced Water Treatment: Process control and optimization of coagulation, flocculation,
sedimentation, filtration (including backwash, filter ripening, turbidity monitoring), and
disinfection (including breakpoint chlorination, CT calculations, chloramination, and DBP
control).
• Distribution System Operations: Maintaining disinfectant residuals, pressure management (e.g.,
minimum 35/20 psi), storage tank management, flushing programs, main breaks, and
unidirectional flushing.
• Safety & Emergency Response: Excavation/trenching safety (competent person,
sloping/benching), confined space entry, chemical safety (chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite),
emergency power requirements, emergency response plans, and weather-related resiliency (SB
3).
• Math & Calculations: Detention time, overflow rate, chlorine demand/dosage, CT, pump
efficiency, chemical feed rates, and related water system calculations.
Batch 1: Operator Licensing & Administration (Questions 1–20)
, Page 2 of 150
1. A candidate is applying for a Class A Surface Water Operator license. They hold a bachelor’s degree in
chemistry from an accredited university and have 6 years of qualifying work experience. Based on TCEQ
education/experience substitution rules, can the candidate qualify?
A) No—a master’s degree is required for this license class
B) Yes, the candidate meets the requirement of a bachelor’s degree and 5 years
C) Yes, the candidate meets the requirement of a master’s degree and 4 years
D) Yes, the candidate meets the requirement of high school diploma and 8 years
Answer: B
*Class A Surface Water Operator: bachelor’s degree & 5 years; master’s degree & 4 years; high
school/GED & 8 years.*
2. According to TCEQ staffing rules, how many operators are required to be on duty when a surface
water treatment plant is in operation?
A) At least one Class D or higher water operator
B) At least one Class C or higher surface water operator
C) At least two operators with any class license
D) At least one Class B or higher surface water operator
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Answer: B
Each surface water treatment plant must have at least one Class C or higher surface water operator on
duty at the plant when it is in operation.
3. If no operator is on duty, what must a surface water treatment plant have to ensure safe operation?
A) A locked control room to prevent unauthorized changes
B) Continuous turbidity and disinfectant residual monitors with automatic plant shutdown and alarms
C) A licensed engineer on call 24/7
D) A backup generator that automatically restarts the plant
Answer: B
When the plant is not staffed, it must be provided with continuous turbidity and disinfectant residual
monitors with automatic plant shutdown and alarms to summon operators.
4. A Class A Surface Water Operator license requires 160 hours of approved training. Which of the
following is MANDATORY for this license?
A) Water Distribution and Water Utility Management
B) Water Distribution, Water Utility Safety, Water Laboratory
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C) Surface Water Production I, Surface Water Production II, Groundwater Production, Water
Distribution, Water Laboratory, Water Utility Management, Water Utility Safety
D) Groundwater Production, Water Distribution, Water Utility Safety
Answer: C
A Class A license requires Surface Water I & II, Groundwater Production, Water Distribution, Water Lab,
Utility Management, and Utility Safety—seven core courses.
5. A new employee will work as an operator-in-training at a surface water treatment plant. Who must
provide direct supervision?
A) The general manager of the utility
B) The TCEQ regional office
C) A licensed public water system operator
D) A professional engineer registered in Texas
Answer: C
An operator-in-training under the direct supervision of a licensed public water system operator is exempt
from the licensing requirements.
