Water Operator Certification Exam Prep Laboratory Analysis
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2025-2026
I. Water treatment Introductory Questions.
1) What test is done by a laboratory to determine data quality?
Spiked samples to test
3 multiple choice options
2) A beaker is primarily used for ___________.
mixing chemicals
3 multiple choice options
3) The Curie unit is the activity of 1g of ______ or ______ disintegrations per second.
radium , 3.7 X 10^10
3 multiple choice options
4) What is the primary constituent of the pH -causing ions in a water sample if the pH is
above 10?
OH-
3 multiple choice options
5) Coliform bacteria will produce gas in ______broth at ______within ______.
lactose or lauryl tryptose , 35.5ºC , 24-48 Hours
3 multiple choice options
6) The number of samples under the Total Coliform Rule that a water system must collect
depends on the _______.
number of customers it serves
3 multiple choice options
7) Phenolphthalein acidity is the same as ____________
CO2
3 multiple choice options
8) Drinking water samples to be tested for total coliforms should be tested the same day
they are collected, but they can be refrigerated for_________ before analysis.
, 8 hours
3 multiple choice options
9) What type of laboratory equipment is highly resistant to heat , sudden temperature
change and chemical attack?
Porcelain dishes
3 multiple choice options
10) Two metals that are typically toxic are _______ , and two metals that are not normally
toxic are _______.
Chromium and cadmium , manganese and iron
3 multiple choice options
11) The total hardness and total alkalinity of water are used to calculate the _______.
carbonate and noncarbonate hardness
3 multiple choice options
12) What group of organism are measured that , if present , might indicate the presence of
pathogens ?
Coliform bacteria
3 multiple choice options
13) Alkalinity is defined as ________.
a measurement of the water's capacity to neutralize an acid.
3 multiple choice options
14) What should be done with the lid while collecting a bacteriological sample ?
Hold the cap, threads down, while collecting the sample with the other hand.
3 multiple choice options
15) The zeta potential is defined as a force that will keep ______ apart and keep them
suspended.
very small colloidal particles
3 multiple choice options
16) specific UV absorbance (SUVA) is an indicator of what disinfection by-product
precursor substances?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2025-2026
I. Water treatment Introductory Questions.
1) What test is done by a laboratory to determine data quality?
Spiked samples to test
3 multiple choice options
2) A beaker is primarily used for ___________.
mixing chemicals
3 multiple choice options
3) The Curie unit is the activity of 1g of ______ or ______ disintegrations per second.
radium , 3.7 X 10^10
3 multiple choice options
4) What is the primary constituent of the pH -causing ions in a water sample if the pH is
above 10?
OH-
3 multiple choice options
5) Coliform bacteria will produce gas in ______broth at ______within ______.
lactose or lauryl tryptose , 35.5ºC , 24-48 Hours
3 multiple choice options
6) The number of samples under the Total Coliform Rule that a water system must collect
depends on the _______.
number of customers it serves
3 multiple choice options
7) Phenolphthalein acidity is the same as ____________
CO2
3 multiple choice options
8) Drinking water samples to be tested for total coliforms should be tested the same day
they are collected, but they can be refrigerated for_________ before analysis.
, 8 hours
3 multiple choice options
9) What type of laboratory equipment is highly resistant to heat , sudden temperature
change and chemical attack?
Porcelain dishes
3 multiple choice options
10) Two metals that are typically toxic are _______ , and two metals that are not normally
toxic are _______.
Chromium and cadmium , manganese and iron
3 multiple choice options
11) The total hardness and total alkalinity of water are used to calculate the _______.
carbonate and noncarbonate hardness
3 multiple choice options
12) What group of organism are measured that , if present , might indicate the presence of
pathogens ?
Coliform bacteria
3 multiple choice options
13) Alkalinity is defined as ________.
a measurement of the water's capacity to neutralize an acid.
3 multiple choice options
14) What should be done with the lid while collecting a bacteriological sample ?
Hold the cap, threads down, while collecting the sample with the other hand.
3 multiple choice options
15) The zeta potential is defined as a force that will keep ______ apart and keep them
suspended.
very small colloidal particles
3 multiple choice options
16) specific UV absorbance (SUVA) is an indicator of what disinfection by-product
precursor substances?
