Wastewater Operator Class 3 Definitions

Wastewater Operator Class 3 Definitions Clean Water Act Ans- 1977 primary legislation concerning water pollution and its regulation. It establishes the NPDES permit system that prohibits point sources from discharging pollutants into waters of the United States. EPA Ans- Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress NPDES Ans- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is a permit issued by state or federal government regulating amount of pollutants wastewater treatment plants can discharge CFR Ans- Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the 'Federal Register' by the executive departments and agencies (like EPA) of the Federal Government of the United States Wastewater Ans- The spent water of a community from homes, businesses, and industries Domestic Wastewater Ans- Wastewater from homes and businesses with little to no industrial components Wastewater Physical Characteristics Ans- temperature, color (gray), odor (musty), turbidity Sewer Use Ordinance Ans- Local ordinance that addresses what is prohibited from being discharged and sets limits for particular pollutants POTW Ans- Publicly Owned Treatment Works. A treatment works, as defined by Section 212 of the CWA, that is owned by the state or municipality. Includes the treatment plant and the collection system. Industrial Pretreatment Program Ans- A program run by a permitting authority requiring industries to pretreat wastes and establishing discharge limits for the water sent to the POTW Sanitary Sewer Ans- Sewer system that transports spent water from homes, business, and industries to the wastewater treatment plant SSO Ans- Sanitary Sewer Overflow. Untreated of partiality treated sewage overflows from a sanitary sewer collection system Storm Sewer Ans- Sewer system that transports stormwater runoff to a water body Combined Sewer System Ans- A sewer system that transports both sanitary sewage and stormwater typically found in older municipalities CSO Ans- Combined Sewer Overflow. A discharge of untreated wastewater from a combined sewer system at a point prior to the headworks of a POTW. CSOs generally occur during wet weather (rainfall or snowmelt) Sewer Main Ans- Pipe that collects the wastewater from the system laterals and branch sewers and conveys it to larger trunk sewers Trunk Sewers Ans- The main arteries of a collections system that convey water to treatment plants or interceptors Manhole Ans- Opening to a sewer line for the purpose of permitting operators or equipment to enter or leave a sewer Lift Station Ans- A wastewater pumping station that lifts the wastewater to a higher elevation; usually the next gravity sewer or the treatment plant The Collection System Ans- A network of pipes equipment, and appurtenances that collect, pump, and transport wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant Slope Ans- The ratio of the vertical distance over the horizontal distance. Rise over run Velocity Ans- Ratio of distance over time (miles per hour) Minimum 2 ft/sec prevents solids from dropping out. Maximum 10 ft/sec because more than that causes scouring Roughness Coefficient Ans- Related to the roughness of the interior of a pipe. Manning's formula. Roughness coefficient "n" The higher the value, the rougher the pipe Valves Ans- Devices used to stop or modify the flow of water in a pipe Check Valve Ans- A valve that normally allows water to flow through it in only one direction Inflow Ans- A direct discharge into the sewer system through illegal connections or surface water entering through faulty joints or displaced manhole covers Infiltration Ans- The seepage of groundwater into the sewer system through cracked joints or pipes Exfiltration Ans- Sewage that unintentionally leaks out of a sewer pipe and into the environment. Usually from broken pipes, joints, cracks Cross-Connection Ans- A connection between a potable water supply and non-potable water Backflow Ans- Non-potable water that flows into the potable water supply due to back pressure Backsiphonage Ans- Water flowing into the potable water supply due to negative pressure FOG Ans- Fats, Oil, and Grease. Congeal in system and cause blockages Hydrogen Sulfide Ans- Sewer gas that smells like rotten eggs and: is heavier than air is explosive when mixed with air is corrosive Methane Ans- Sewer gas that is Colorless Odorless Extremely flammable Forms explosive mixture with air Displaces oxygen Septic Condition Ans- A condition in sewers resulting from gases produced by anaerobic bacteria when sewage sits for too long Characteristics Foul odor Black appearance Little or no D.O. High oxygen demand Parshall Flume Ans- An open channel flow meter common in wastewater plants that has a narrow throat V-Notch Weirs Ans- An open channel flow meter used in wastewater plants to measure small flows that is a "V" shape cut out of a weir Perimeter Ans- The distance around an object, expressed in linear inches, feet, yards, etc. Area Ans- The amount of space enclosed by a boundary usually expressed in square inches, square feet, etc. Volume Ans- The amount of space enclosed by a three-dimensional object expressed in cubic inches, cubic feet, cubic yards, etc Flow Ans- Volume per unit of time Velocity (definition) Ans- the distance traveled per unit of time Preliminary Treatment Ans- Prepares wastewater for downstream plant processes. The main preliminary process are: -Screening -Shredding -Grit Removal -Preaeration Screening Ans- Purpose is to remove large items from th