WATER QUALITY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
EHS Knowledge to understand all phases of potable water management - Answers - -
Water cycle and its relation to geology
-Accurate testing and sampling of water
-Interpretation of water analysis results
-Diseases associated with contaminated water
-Chemical, physical, biological and radiological contaminants associated with water
-Effect of actual and potential sources of pollution in water supplies
-Water treatment system design
-Water system design
-Land use issues related to the development of water systems
-Water conservation and reclamation methods
For reliable indication of bacteriological quality and safety of potable water supply: -
Answers - -Biological and chemical standards
-Reference to describe how water samples are properly collected, transported and
preserved
-Frequency source and distribution system water samples are analyzed
-Guidelines for removal of organic and inorganic compounds
-Water conservation techniques to inspect/detect problems with water distribution
systems
-Proper use of filtration processed or removal of suspended matter
-Water quality standards
Potable Water - Answers - -Aesthetically acceptable
-Free from apparent turbidity, color, odor, objectionable taste,
-Free from disease causing organisms
-Reasonable temperature
Potable water management - Answers - -Science and practice of protecting surface
and groundwater resources used for the production of drinking water
Definition of public water system - Answers - -At least 15 connections or
-Regularly services an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days per year
1974 Safe Drinking Water Act - Answers - -Addressed concerns about contaminated
water and uneven state supervision of drinking water
-Required EPA to set enforceable standards for health-related drinking water
contaminants
-Primary (enforceable) and secondary (non-enforceable) maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs)
, 1996 Amendment to SDWA - Answers - State supervision of capacity development
-Fund to assist small system with compliance
-Consumer Confidence Reports
Surface Water - Answers - -Open to the atmosphere and subject to surface runoff
-Rivers, lakes, wetlands, or estuaries
-Often a source of disease-causing organisms
-Vulnerable to contamination
-Always requires treatment before it is safe to drink
Ground Water - Answers - -Openings or voids in the earth that are filled with water
-Pumped from underground aquifers through drilled wells or from springs
-Protected by layers of soil and other subsurface materials, usually requires minimal
treatment
Ground water under the influence of surface water - Answers - Shallow aquifers, from
aquifers near surface water sources, or from sources not well-protected through natural
geology may be subject to influence from surface water sources. Treated like surface
water.
The Multiple Barrier Approach to safe drinking water is focused on: - Answers - -
Prevention of contamination
-Source selection
-Source protection
-Appropriate treatment
Potential Contaminants of safe drinking water - Answers - -Microbiological
contaminants
-Nitrate- "blue baby syndrome"
-Byproducts of disinfection
-Lead
-Arsenic
-Radon
-Pesticides
-Solvents used by commercial and industrial facilities
Municipal Treatment Processes - Answers - -Coagulation-Flocculation
-Sedimentation and flotation
-Filtration- granular media filters, slow sand filters, rapid filtration, pressure filters
-Disinfection
Coagulation-flocculation - Answers - -Combining small particles into big ones
-This pre-treatment technique is essential to remove particles
Coagulation - Answers - -Aided by Alum (hydrated aluminum sulfate) 5-50 mg/l or
other polymers
ANSWERS
EHS Knowledge to understand all phases of potable water management - Answers - -
Water cycle and its relation to geology
-Accurate testing and sampling of water
-Interpretation of water analysis results
-Diseases associated with contaminated water
-Chemical, physical, biological and radiological contaminants associated with water
-Effect of actual and potential sources of pollution in water supplies
-Water treatment system design
-Water system design
-Land use issues related to the development of water systems
-Water conservation and reclamation methods
For reliable indication of bacteriological quality and safety of potable water supply: -
Answers - -Biological and chemical standards
-Reference to describe how water samples are properly collected, transported and
preserved
-Frequency source and distribution system water samples are analyzed
-Guidelines for removal of organic and inorganic compounds
-Water conservation techniques to inspect/detect problems with water distribution
systems
-Proper use of filtration processed or removal of suspended matter
-Water quality standards
Potable Water - Answers - -Aesthetically acceptable
-Free from apparent turbidity, color, odor, objectionable taste,
-Free from disease causing organisms
-Reasonable temperature
Potable water management - Answers - -Science and practice of protecting surface
and groundwater resources used for the production of drinking water
Definition of public water system - Answers - -At least 15 connections or
-Regularly services an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days per year
1974 Safe Drinking Water Act - Answers - -Addressed concerns about contaminated
water and uneven state supervision of drinking water
-Required EPA to set enforceable standards for health-related drinking water
contaminants
-Primary (enforceable) and secondary (non-enforceable) maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs)
, 1996 Amendment to SDWA - Answers - State supervision of capacity development
-Fund to assist small system with compliance
-Consumer Confidence Reports
Surface Water - Answers - -Open to the atmosphere and subject to surface runoff
-Rivers, lakes, wetlands, or estuaries
-Often a source of disease-causing organisms
-Vulnerable to contamination
-Always requires treatment before it is safe to drink
Ground Water - Answers - -Openings or voids in the earth that are filled with water
-Pumped from underground aquifers through drilled wells or from springs
-Protected by layers of soil and other subsurface materials, usually requires minimal
treatment
Ground water under the influence of surface water - Answers - Shallow aquifers, from
aquifers near surface water sources, or from sources not well-protected through natural
geology may be subject to influence from surface water sources. Treated like surface
water.
The Multiple Barrier Approach to safe drinking water is focused on: - Answers - -
Prevention of contamination
-Source selection
-Source protection
-Appropriate treatment
Potential Contaminants of safe drinking water - Answers - -Microbiological
contaminants
-Nitrate- "blue baby syndrome"
-Byproducts of disinfection
-Lead
-Arsenic
-Radon
-Pesticides
-Solvents used by commercial and industrial facilities
Municipal Treatment Processes - Answers - -Coagulation-Flocculation
-Sedimentation and flotation
-Filtration- granular media filters, slow sand filters, rapid filtration, pressure filters
-Disinfection
Coagulation-flocculation - Answers - -Combining small particles into big ones
-This pre-treatment technique is essential to remove particles
Coagulation - Answers - -Aided by Alum (hydrated aluminum sulfate) 5-50 mg/l or
other polymers
