Page 1 of 157
Georgia Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Operator Exam QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS
Exam Coverage Summary – Georgia Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator Exam
Based on the Georgia Board of Examiners for Certification of Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operators and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) requirements, the exam covers the
following content areas :
Domain Key Topics
Georgia Water Quality Control Act (O.C.G.A. 12-5-20), Rules for Industrial Wastewater (Chapter 39
Regulatory
7), National Pretreatment Program (40 CFR 403), local limits, industrial discharge permits (NPDES,
Framework
Industrial Wastewater permits)
Pretreatment Categorical standards, local limits, Best Available Technology (BAT), slug discharge prevention, spi
Standards control plans
Equalization, neutralization, coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation, dissolved air flotation (DAF),
Treatment
metals removal (hydroxide precipitation), oil/water separation, cyanide treatment, hexavalent
Technologies
chromium reduction
Biological
Activated sludge, anaerobic lagoons, fixed film systems, BOD/COD removal, nutrient control
Treatment
Sampling & Grab vs. composite sampling, flow-proportional composite, chain of custody, Discharge Monitorin
Monitoring Reports (DMRs), recordkeeping (minimum 3 years retention)
Laboratory
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD, TSS, pH, alkalinity, metals analysis, DO, ammonia/nitrat
Analysis
Confined space entry, H₂S monitoring, chemical handling (corrosives, oxidizers), lockout/tagout
Safety
(LOTO), SCBA, PPE requirements
Equipment Pumps (centrifugal, positive displacement), chemical feeders (volumetric, gravimetric, metering
Operation pumps), flow measurement, VFDs
Math & Detention time, chemical dosing (lbs/day, gpm), flow conversions, removal efficiency, F/M ratio, S
Calculations MCRT
Exam Facts:
• Eligibility: 27-hour Board-approved Industrial Wastewater course + 3 months experience (HS
diploma/GED)
• Candidates may take exam before completing experience but cannot apply for certification until
experience is met
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• Passing score required for certification
• Administered by PSI/AMP at testing centers in Georgia
150 Scenario-Based MCQs (with Answers & Italicized Rationales)
Question 1: A Georgia industrial facility discharges wastewater to a municipal POTW. Which regulatory
requirements must the facility comply with?
A) NPDES permit directly from EPA
B) Local limits and national pretreatment standards (categorical standards if applicable)
C) Only the local sewer use ordinance
D) No permit is required for indirect dischargers
Answer: B
Industrial users discharging to POTWs must meet national categorical pretreatment standards (if
applicable to their industry) and any local limits established by the POTW, as outlined in 40 CFR 403 .
Question 2: An operator measures the pH of an industrial wastewater discharge at 3.5. The local sewer
ordinance requires pH between 5.0 and 12.0. What must the operator do before discharging?
A) Discharge immediately—pH 3.5 is within acceptable range
B) Neutralize the wastewater to raise pH to at least 5.0 before discharge
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C) Dilute the wastewater with potable water
D) Notify the POTW after discharging
Answer: B
Georgia rules and most local limits require pH between 5.0 and 12.0. Wastewater with pH 3.5 is
corrosive and must be neutralized before discharge .
Question 3: A metal plating facility uses hexavalent chromium in its processes. The pretreatment system
must reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) before precipitation. Which chemical is typically used for this reduction?
A) Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
B) Sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃) or sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
C) Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
D) Polymer
Answer: B
*Hexavalent chromium is reduced to trivalent chromium using reducing agents such as sodium bisulfite
or sulfur dioxide, typically at low pH (2-3) .*
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Question 4: After hexavalent chromium reduction, the next step is precipitation of Cr(III). What pH
range is optimal for chromium precipitation?
A) 4.0-5.0
B) 6.0-7.0
C) 8.0-9.0
D) 10.5-11.5
Answer: C
*Trivalent chromium precipitates as chromium hydroxide in the pH range of 8.0-9.0. Most other heavy
metals also have minimum solubility in this range .*
Question 5: A facility uses hydroxide precipitation for metals removal. The operator raises the pH to
10.5. Which metal may redissolve due to its amphoteric nature?
A) Copper
B) Zinc
C) Nickel
D) Lead
Georgia Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Operator Exam QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS
Exam Coverage Summary – Georgia Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator Exam
Based on the Georgia Board of Examiners for Certification of Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operators and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) requirements, the exam covers the
following content areas :
Domain Key Topics
Georgia Water Quality Control Act (O.C.G.A. 12-5-20), Rules for Industrial Wastewater (Chapter 39
Regulatory
7), National Pretreatment Program (40 CFR 403), local limits, industrial discharge permits (NPDES,
Framework
Industrial Wastewater permits)
Pretreatment Categorical standards, local limits, Best Available Technology (BAT), slug discharge prevention, spi
Standards control plans
Equalization, neutralization, coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation, dissolved air flotation (DAF),
Treatment
metals removal (hydroxide precipitation), oil/water separation, cyanide treatment, hexavalent
Technologies
chromium reduction
Biological
Activated sludge, anaerobic lagoons, fixed film systems, BOD/COD removal, nutrient control
Treatment
Sampling & Grab vs. composite sampling, flow-proportional composite, chain of custody, Discharge Monitorin
Monitoring Reports (DMRs), recordkeeping (minimum 3 years retention)
Laboratory
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD, TSS, pH, alkalinity, metals analysis, DO, ammonia/nitrat
Analysis
Confined space entry, H₂S monitoring, chemical handling (corrosives, oxidizers), lockout/tagout
Safety
(LOTO), SCBA, PPE requirements
Equipment Pumps (centrifugal, positive displacement), chemical feeders (volumetric, gravimetric, metering
Operation pumps), flow measurement, VFDs
Math & Detention time, chemical dosing (lbs/day, gpm), flow conversions, removal efficiency, F/M ratio, S
Calculations MCRT
Exam Facts:
• Eligibility: 27-hour Board-approved Industrial Wastewater course + 3 months experience (HS
diploma/GED)
• Candidates may take exam before completing experience but cannot apply for certification until
experience is met
, Page 2 of 157
• Passing score required for certification
• Administered by PSI/AMP at testing centers in Georgia
150 Scenario-Based MCQs (with Answers & Italicized Rationales)
Question 1: A Georgia industrial facility discharges wastewater to a municipal POTW. Which regulatory
requirements must the facility comply with?
A) NPDES permit directly from EPA
B) Local limits and national pretreatment standards (categorical standards if applicable)
C) Only the local sewer use ordinance
D) No permit is required for indirect dischargers
Answer: B
Industrial users discharging to POTWs must meet national categorical pretreatment standards (if
applicable to their industry) and any local limits established by the POTW, as outlined in 40 CFR 403 .
Question 2: An operator measures the pH of an industrial wastewater discharge at 3.5. The local sewer
ordinance requires pH between 5.0 and 12.0. What must the operator do before discharging?
A) Discharge immediately—pH 3.5 is within acceptable range
B) Neutralize the wastewater to raise pH to at least 5.0 before discharge
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C) Dilute the wastewater with potable water
D) Notify the POTW after discharging
Answer: B
Georgia rules and most local limits require pH between 5.0 and 12.0. Wastewater with pH 3.5 is
corrosive and must be neutralized before discharge .
Question 3: A metal plating facility uses hexavalent chromium in its processes. The pretreatment system
must reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) before precipitation. Which chemical is typically used for this reduction?
A) Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
B) Sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃) or sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
C) Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
D) Polymer
Answer: B
*Hexavalent chromium is reduced to trivalent chromium using reducing agents such as sodium bisulfite
or sulfur dioxide, typically at low pH (2-3) .*
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Question 4: After hexavalent chromium reduction, the next step is precipitation of Cr(III). What pH
range is optimal for chromium precipitation?
A) 4.0-5.0
B) 6.0-7.0
C) 8.0-9.0
D) 10.5-11.5
Answer: C
*Trivalent chromium precipitates as chromium hydroxide in the pH range of 8.0-9.0. Most other heavy
metals also have minimum solubility in this range .*
Question 5: A facility uses hydroxide precipitation for metals removal. The operator raises the pH to
10.5. Which metal may redissolve due to its amphoteric nature?
A) Copper
B) Zinc
C) Nickel
D) Lead
