WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION: EXAM
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1) What is the most important reason to reduce turbidity? -- Answer ✔✔ To remove
pathogens
2) What is the filtration flow rate through a manganese greensand pressure filter at 10
degrees C? -- Answer ✔✔ 2 to 3 gpm/sq ft
3) When is a filter ripening? -- Answer ✔✔ When it becomes more efficient in particle
removal
4) Virgin greensand can be regenerated by soaking the filter bed for several hours in a
chlorine solution of what? -- Answer ✔✔ 100 mg/L
5) What precipitates can foul a cation exchange resin? -- Answer ✔✔ Iron and
manganese
6) What process works best for sequestering manganese? -- Answer ✔✔
Polyphosphates and chlorine
, 7) Adding CO2 to water is known as what? -- Answer ✔✔ Recarbonation
8) What must be done in the ion-exchange softening process once the resin can no
longer soften water? -- Answer ✔✔ Regeneration
9) What type of analysis, under no circumstances, should a composite sample be
collected? -- Answer ✔✔ Bacteriological
10) The number of monthly distribution system chlorine residual samples required is
based on what? -- Answer ✔✔ System size
11) What is the ideal indicator for pathogens? -- Answer ✔✔ Coliform group bacteria
12) When one substance is dissolved in another and will not settle out, what is the
product called? -- Answer ✔✔ A solution
13) Acids, bases, and salts lacking in carbon are known as what? -- Answer ✔✔ Inorganic
compounds
14) What type of violation requires an all clear notification to the public? -- Answer ✔✔
Tier I
15) How many coliform positive samples are allowed each month from water systems
that collect less than 40 samples per month? -- Answer ✔✔ 1
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
1) What is the most important reason to reduce turbidity? -- Answer ✔✔ To remove
pathogens
2) What is the filtration flow rate through a manganese greensand pressure filter at 10
degrees C? -- Answer ✔✔ 2 to 3 gpm/sq ft
3) When is a filter ripening? -- Answer ✔✔ When it becomes more efficient in particle
removal
4) Virgin greensand can be regenerated by soaking the filter bed for several hours in a
chlorine solution of what? -- Answer ✔✔ 100 mg/L
5) What precipitates can foul a cation exchange resin? -- Answer ✔✔ Iron and
manganese
6) What process works best for sequestering manganese? -- Answer ✔✔
Polyphosphates and chlorine
, 7) Adding CO2 to water is known as what? -- Answer ✔✔ Recarbonation
8) What must be done in the ion-exchange softening process once the resin can no
longer soften water? -- Answer ✔✔ Regeneration
9) What type of analysis, under no circumstances, should a composite sample be
collected? -- Answer ✔✔ Bacteriological
10) The number of monthly distribution system chlorine residual samples required is
based on what? -- Answer ✔✔ System size
11) What is the ideal indicator for pathogens? -- Answer ✔✔ Coliform group bacteria
12) When one substance is dissolved in another and will not settle out, what is the
product called? -- Answer ✔✔ A solution
13) Acids, bases, and salts lacking in carbon are known as what? -- Answer ✔✔ Inorganic
compounds
14) What type of violation requires an all clear notification to the public? -- Answer ✔✔
Tier I
15) How many coliform positive samples are allowed each month from water systems
that collect less than 40 samples per month? -- Answer ✔✔ 1
