TCEQ WASTEWATER CLASS D
LICENSE STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water? Answer:
71%
◉ Define drought: An extended period when a region experiences a
deficiency in its water supply, which can be atmospheric, ground, or
surface water. Answer:
◉ True or False: Only about 1 gallon of tap water per person per day is
used for drinking and cooking. Answer: True
◉ Excluding outside water use, how many gallons of water does the
average household use per month for inside use? Answer: 2,000
◉ True or False: Only 1% of all the fresh water on earth can be easily
accessed for use. Answer: False (only 1%)
◉ True or False: In 1978, the Texas Department of Health (TDH) took
over primacy of the Safe Drinking Water Act from the EPA. Answer:
True
,◉ True or False: Public Water System (PWS) officials should take a
proactive approach to terrorism. Answer: True
◉ What legal concept permits the owner of a well to pump as much
water as desired, even if the water is drained from beneath the land of
others? Answer: Rule of Capture
◉ In Texas, what percentage of the total water used is accounted for by
agricultural water demand? Answer: 57%
◉ True or False: A rural school is an example of a non-transient non-
community PWS. Answer: True
◉ What does monitoring average and maximum daily water enable us to
plan ahead for? Answer: Demand
◉ True or False: The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes standards for
physical, chemical, bacteriological, and radiological characteristics of
drinking water. Answer: True
◉ Define 'potable' in relation to water safety and chlorine. Answer:
Residual
◉ What is the responsibility of a plant operator in ensuring drinking
water quality? Answer: Palatable
, ◉ True or False: Utilities providing fire protection must have a
minimum of 130 gallons of water per person per day according to the
Texas State Board of Fire Insurance. Answer: False
◉ True or False: The TCEQ is the primary state regulator of water
utilities. Answer: True
◉ True or False: All PWS, regardless of water source, must be
supervised by a licensed water works operator. Answer: True
◉ How do meter readers impact revenue and community relations?
Answer: Public
◉ Who is the federal regulator of drinking water? Answer: EPA
◉ T/F: Duties of Distribution Operator include repairing leaks, making
taps, flushing mains, and taking radiological samples. Answer: False
(Repair leaks, Make taps, Flush mains, Operate pumps, Take
*bacteriological* samples)
◉ Estimate the population of a service area with 1000 service
connections. Answer: 3,000 (multiply connections x 3)
◉ T/F: The State must be notified before an existing facility is changed
or after construction of a new facility. Answer: False (must notify
*before*)
LICENSE STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water? Answer:
71%
◉ Define drought: An extended period when a region experiences a
deficiency in its water supply, which can be atmospheric, ground, or
surface water. Answer:
◉ True or False: Only about 1 gallon of tap water per person per day is
used for drinking and cooking. Answer: True
◉ Excluding outside water use, how many gallons of water does the
average household use per month for inside use? Answer: 2,000
◉ True or False: Only 1% of all the fresh water on earth can be easily
accessed for use. Answer: False (only 1%)
◉ True or False: In 1978, the Texas Department of Health (TDH) took
over primacy of the Safe Drinking Water Act from the EPA. Answer:
True
,◉ True or False: Public Water System (PWS) officials should take a
proactive approach to terrorism. Answer: True
◉ What legal concept permits the owner of a well to pump as much
water as desired, even if the water is drained from beneath the land of
others? Answer: Rule of Capture
◉ In Texas, what percentage of the total water used is accounted for by
agricultural water demand? Answer: 57%
◉ True or False: A rural school is an example of a non-transient non-
community PWS. Answer: True
◉ What does monitoring average and maximum daily water enable us to
plan ahead for? Answer: Demand
◉ True or False: The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes standards for
physical, chemical, bacteriological, and radiological characteristics of
drinking water. Answer: True
◉ Define 'potable' in relation to water safety and chlorine. Answer:
Residual
◉ What is the responsibility of a plant operator in ensuring drinking
water quality? Answer: Palatable
, ◉ True or False: Utilities providing fire protection must have a
minimum of 130 gallons of water per person per day according to the
Texas State Board of Fire Insurance. Answer: False
◉ True or False: The TCEQ is the primary state regulator of water
utilities. Answer: True
◉ True or False: All PWS, regardless of water source, must be
supervised by a licensed water works operator. Answer: True
◉ How do meter readers impact revenue and community relations?
Answer: Public
◉ Who is the federal regulator of drinking water? Answer: EPA
◉ T/F: Duties of Distribution Operator include repairing leaks, making
taps, flushing mains, and taking radiological samples. Answer: False
(Repair leaks, Make taps, Flush mains, Operate pumps, Take
*bacteriological* samples)
◉ Estimate the population of a service area with 1000 service
connections. Answer: 3,000 (multiply connections x 3)
◉ T/F: The State must be notified before an existing facility is changed
or after construction of a new facility. Answer: False (must notify
*before*)
