CMAA FINAL STUDY PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
▶ _______ adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 and revised them
several times. Answer: TCEQ
▶ Class II soils include the USDA classes of _________ and __________..
Answer: sandy loam, loam
▶ The _________ is a tool to graphically delineate soil textural classes..
Answer: USDA soil textural triangle
▶ List the two unsuitable types of soil structure or structural condition..
Answer: Platy (like a stack of plates)
Massive ( can't break it up, huge pieces)
▶ A soil color pattern of orange and brown on a background of gray or
bluish color is called. Answer: mottling
▶ The ideal soil environment for organic effluent decomposition is one of
good ______ and ________.. Answer: soil air, soil water balance
▶ Soil associations are _______ units which encompass broad areas with
similar patterns of __________, __________, __________, and
_________.. Answer: soil. soil profiles, vegetation, relief, and drainage
▶ The county ____________________ is an essential tool for conducting a
site evaluation but does not take the place of the on-site field soil
evaluation.. Answer: soil survey
▶ Sites with greater than ____ percent slope are unsuitable.. Answer: 30
▶ A minimum lot size of _______ acre is required for subdivisions serviced
by _________ water. The minimum size is ______ acre for those serviced
by ___________.. Answer: 0.5, public, 1, private well
,▶ Soil evaluation pits shall be excavated to a depth of _____ inches below
the proposed _________ or to a _________ horizon, whichever is
shallower.. Answer: 24, drainfield, restrictive
▶ Any soil profile with an indication of high-water table within _____ inches
below the proposed drainfield shall be considered _____________ for a
standard drainfield.. Answer: 24, unsuitable
▶ The ___________ and ____________ of each soil horizon should be
measured from ________ to _________ and recorded in the soil evaluation
report.. Answer: sequence, depth, top, bottom
▶ The depth of soil classified as suitable with respect to texture shall be at
least ____ inches below the bottom of the proposed excavation for a
standard drainfield.. Answer: 24
▶ If a soil with no gravel will not form a ribbon in the texture-by-feel
method, it is classified as ______ or ______, class ____.. Answer: sand or
loamy sand, Ib
▶ If a soil forms a ribbon greater than 2 inches, and neither smooth or gritty
consistency predominates, the soil is _______, class _____.. Answer: clay,
IV
▶ Soil suitability factors include: _________, ________, and _________..
Answer: soil texture, soil depth, and restrictive horizon
▶ Overall site suitability factors include ________, ________,
___________, and ____________.. Answer: site factor, soil factors,
groundwater evaluation, and surface drainage analysis
▶ A common reason for wastewater system failure is __________..
Answer: hydraulic overloading (due to modernized tank usually)
▶ The value Q is. Answer: Quantity of Sewage (GPD)
▶ Some malfunctioning OSSF can be made to function properly with
minimal cost by implementing ______________.. Answer: water
conservation measures.
,▶ In estimating water usage for a single-family dwelling, the number of
_________ in the home is a key indicator; however, _________ should
also be considered.. Answer: bedrooms, square footage
▶ List four water saving plumbing devices that can be used in a home..
Answer: low flow toilets, low flow shower head, low flow faucets, pressure
reducing valves
▶ Identify four water-saving habits homeowners should adopt. Answer:
don't leave water running, full laundry and dishwasher loads,
reduce/eliminate use of garbage disposals, not using toilet for trash
disposal
▶ Two wastewater tests commonly used to measure the strength of
sewage are the ________ test and the ________ test.. Answer: BOD, TSS
▶ The minimum water usage rate that should be used for planning an
OSSF for a new home with three bedrooms and 3000 square feet of interior
living area is _______ gallons/day.. Answer: 300
▶ Blockage in the home plumbing system is often caused by _______,
________, and _________.. Answer: oils, greases, and fats
▶ It is recommended that _____________ are not used because they
significantly increase the amount of suspended solids and organic matter
that is discharged to sewage disposal system.. Answer: garbage disposal
▶ Several samples were taken from a small washateria with seven new
water-conserving machines and sent to a lab for BOD analysis. The
average BOD was 406 mg/L. What would be the minimum expected BOD
(organic) loading in lbs./day?. Answer: 4.74 lbs/day
▶ Would a treatment plant capable of handling 1500 gallons per day of
wastewater with BOD as high as 280 mg/L be capable of handling
wastewater from the above washateria? What is the organic loading
capacity of this treatment plant?. Answer: 3.50 lbs/day
▶ What is the loading rate of a system with: Q= 550GPD, BOD= 350 mg/L,
Ph=8.4, TSS= 400 mg/L. Answer: 1.6 lbs/day
, ▶ The most commonly use primary treatment component in Texas for on-
site systems is the. Answer: septic tank
▶ Which of the following produces the highest quality effluent?. Answer:
city sewage treatment plant
▶ what is the purpose of the inlet baffle or T?. Answer: Reduce velocity
and disperse flow, vent the tank to the building plumbing
▶ The minimum distances a watertight sewage treatment tank should be
from a water-well and a property line are. Answer: 50 feet and 5 feet
respectively
▶ which of the following is true regarding septic tanks?. Answer: The must
have two- or three-compartments
▶ A septic tank serving a new five-bedroom home with 3800 sqft must
have a minimum capacity of. Answer: 1,250 gallons
▶ Of what materials may a septic tank be constructed?. Answer: steel
reinforced concrete
▶ The expected volume of wastewater (Q) in gal/day from an older (pre-
1990) three-bedroom mobile home would be. Answer: 300
▶ Which of the following characteristics should a poured-in-place concrete
septic tanks have?. Answer: watertight, designed by PE, Structurally sound
▶ The standard inlet and outlet devices in a septic tank should be. Answer:
tees
▶ Properly sealed septic tanks are. Answer: vented through the building
plumbing
▶ The liquid depth of a septic tank. Answer: must be at least 30 inches
▶ Which of the following is true of a septic tank with 15 inches of cover?.
Answer: it must have an access port with a riser
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
▶ _______ adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 and revised them
several times. Answer: TCEQ
▶ Class II soils include the USDA classes of _________ and __________..
Answer: sandy loam, loam
▶ The _________ is a tool to graphically delineate soil textural classes..
Answer: USDA soil textural triangle
▶ List the two unsuitable types of soil structure or structural condition..
Answer: Platy (like a stack of plates)
Massive ( can't break it up, huge pieces)
▶ A soil color pattern of orange and brown on a background of gray or
bluish color is called. Answer: mottling
▶ The ideal soil environment for organic effluent decomposition is one of
good ______ and ________.. Answer: soil air, soil water balance
▶ Soil associations are _______ units which encompass broad areas with
similar patterns of __________, __________, __________, and
_________.. Answer: soil. soil profiles, vegetation, relief, and drainage
▶ The county ____________________ is an essential tool for conducting a
site evaluation but does not take the place of the on-site field soil
evaluation.. Answer: soil survey
▶ Sites with greater than ____ percent slope are unsuitable.. Answer: 30
▶ A minimum lot size of _______ acre is required for subdivisions serviced
by _________ water. The minimum size is ______ acre for those serviced
by ___________.. Answer: 0.5, public, 1, private well
,▶ Soil evaluation pits shall be excavated to a depth of _____ inches below
the proposed _________ or to a _________ horizon, whichever is
shallower.. Answer: 24, drainfield, restrictive
▶ Any soil profile with an indication of high-water table within _____ inches
below the proposed drainfield shall be considered _____________ for a
standard drainfield.. Answer: 24, unsuitable
▶ The ___________ and ____________ of each soil horizon should be
measured from ________ to _________ and recorded in the soil evaluation
report.. Answer: sequence, depth, top, bottom
▶ The depth of soil classified as suitable with respect to texture shall be at
least ____ inches below the bottom of the proposed excavation for a
standard drainfield.. Answer: 24
▶ If a soil with no gravel will not form a ribbon in the texture-by-feel
method, it is classified as ______ or ______, class ____.. Answer: sand or
loamy sand, Ib
▶ If a soil forms a ribbon greater than 2 inches, and neither smooth or gritty
consistency predominates, the soil is _______, class _____.. Answer: clay,
IV
▶ Soil suitability factors include: _________, ________, and _________..
Answer: soil texture, soil depth, and restrictive horizon
▶ Overall site suitability factors include ________, ________,
___________, and ____________.. Answer: site factor, soil factors,
groundwater evaluation, and surface drainage analysis
▶ A common reason for wastewater system failure is __________..
Answer: hydraulic overloading (due to modernized tank usually)
▶ The value Q is. Answer: Quantity of Sewage (GPD)
▶ Some malfunctioning OSSF can be made to function properly with
minimal cost by implementing ______________.. Answer: water
conservation measures.
,▶ In estimating water usage for a single-family dwelling, the number of
_________ in the home is a key indicator; however, _________ should
also be considered.. Answer: bedrooms, square footage
▶ List four water saving plumbing devices that can be used in a home..
Answer: low flow toilets, low flow shower head, low flow faucets, pressure
reducing valves
▶ Identify four water-saving habits homeowners should adopt. Answer:
don't leave water running, full laundry and dishwasher loads,
reduce/eliminate use of garbage disposals, not using toilet for trash
disposal
▶ Two wastewater tests commonly used to measure the strength of
sewage are the ________ test and the ________ test.. Answer: BOD, TSS
▶ The minimum water usage rate that should be used for planning an
OSSF for a new home with three bedrooms and 3000 square feet of interior
living area is _______ gallons/day.. Answer: 300
▶ Blockage in the home plumbing system is often caused by _______,
________, and _________.. Answer: oils, greases, and fats
▶ It is recommended that _____________ are not used because they
significantly increase the amount of suspended solids and organic matter
that is discharged to sewage disposal system.. Answer: garbage disposal
▶ Several samples were taken from a small washateria with seven new
water-conserving machines and sent to a lab for BOD analysis. The
average BOD was 406 mg/L. What would be the minimum expected BOD
(organic) loading in lbs./day?. Answer: 4.74 lbs/day
▶ Would a treatment plant capable of handling 1500 gallons per day of
wastewater with BOD as high as 280 mg/L be capable of handling
wastewater from the above washateria? What is the organic loading
capacity of this treatment plant?. Answer: 3.50 lbs/day
▶ What is the loading rate of a system with: Q= 550GPD, BOD= 350 mg/L,
Ph=8.4, TSS= 400 mg/L. Answer: 1.6 lbs/day
, ▶ The most commonly use primary treatment component in Texas for on-
site systems is the. Answer: septic tank
▶ Which of the following produces the highest quality effluent?. Answer:
city sewage treatment plant
▶ what is the purpose of the inlet baffle or T?. Answer: Reduce velocity
and disperse flow, vent the tank to the building plumbing
▶ The minimum distances a watertight sewage treatment tank should be
from a water-well and a property line are. Answer: 50 feet and 5 feet
respectively
▶ which of the following is true regarding septic tanks?. Answer: The must
have two- or three-compartments
▶ A septic tank serving a new five-bedroom home with 3800 sqft must
have a minimum capacity of. Answer: 1,250 gallons
▶ Of what materials may a septic tank be constructed?. Answer: steel
reinforced concrete
▶ The expected volume of wastewater (Q) in gal/day from an older (pre-
1990) three-bedroom mobile home would be. Answer: 300
▶ Which of the following characteristics should a poured-in-place concrete
septic tanks have?. Answer: watertight, designed by PE, Structurally sound
▶ The standard inlet and outlet devices in a septic tank should be. Answer:
tees
▶ Properly sealed septic tanks are. Answer: vented through the building
plumbing
▶ The liquid depth of a septic tank. Answer: must be at least 30 inches
▶ Which of the following is true of a septic tank with 15 inches of cover?.
Answer: it must have an access port with a riser
