North Carolina Surface Water Practice Exam

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• Copper in drinking water is primarily the result of...
• Cathodic protection means protection against:
• What can be used to detect small gaseous chlorine leaks in a chlorinator?
• A public water system's compliance with the Safe Water Drinking Act (SWDA) is based on which of the following?
• When performing a jar test, the water used to perform the test comes from the...
• The Total Coliform Rule is based on...
• What is a potential health effect of high nitrate concentrations in water?
• The principle purpose of an altitude valve on an elevated tank is to...
• Which type of pump uses a rotating mechanism to move water?
• What do sand filters primarily remove from water?
• What is the MCL for Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)?
• What is the main purpose of maintaining constant static head in a distribution system?
• What is one major hazard associated with cross-connections?
• A main break may cause low pressure in the distribution system, which in turn may result in...
• What defines a "competent person" at an excavation site?
• What does MRDL mean?
• What is one method to assess the effectiveness of coagulants?
• Which of the following best describes the characteristics of chlorine when used for disinfection in drinking water?
• Which aspect of water treatment does the jar test primarily evaluate?
• The primary reason for the use of a dry barrel fire hydrant is to...
• Which of the following is NOT a health effect associated with trihalomethanes?
• Which of the following is the principal constituent in water that causes corrosion of metals?
• What is typically added to greensand to aid in oxidizing iron and manganese?
• What is the main purpose of the presumptive test in coliform analysis?
• What is the main purpose of presedimentation in water treatment?
• The jar test attempts to duplicate in the laboratory what is occurring in the...
• Killing of pathogenic organisms in water treatment is called...
• What is the primary health risk associated with exposure to volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)?
• Disease-causing bacteria are classified as what type?
• Which of the following elements contributes to water hardness?
• What can high concentrations of nitrates in drinking water lead to in infants?
• Which of the following is not a form of precipitation?
• Backsiphonage is caused by...
• What is the primary function of coagulants in water treatment?
• What is the basic unit of electrical power?
• What can cause poor performance in a centrifugal pump?
• Which of the following best describes "chlorine demand"?
• Which substance can lead to discolored water in distribution systems?
• What is a primary health risk associated with microorganisms in drinking water?
• What is the primary cause of air binding in a filter?
• Which factor can affect the flow rate of a centrifugal pump?
• Which factor is NOT a concern in the fluoridation process?
• Hydrogen sulfide gas smells like...
• What is the name of the zone in a settling basin where suspended materials settle?
• The discharge rate of a piston-type pump is constant at what condition?
• Disease-producing organisms are commonly called...
• Fusible plugs on chlorine cylinders are designed to melt at:
• What is a potential result of underfeeding fluoride?
• What is the function of the fusible plug on a chlorine tank?
• Which water quality indicator do operators have the greatest control over?
• Which component of a centrifugal pump moves the water?
• Which method helps prevent overfeeding of fluoride?
• What is the primary purpose of routine water quality monitoring?
• What does a pH level below 6.6 in treated water typically indicate?
• The most hazardous condition associated with storage areas where dry activated carbon is present is...
• The term "maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG)" refers to...
• What should the electrical load on a single circuit be limited by?
• What condition can increase the risk of backsiphonage in a water system?
• What type of pump is the only one that can be run against a closed head?
• If the speed of a centrifugal pump is increased, and the head remains the same, the gallons per minute output will...
• Activated carbon is frequently used to remove tastes and odors from water by the process of...
• What is a primary component responsible for generating suction in a pump system?
• What is the MCL for Nitrite?
• What is the primary function of a check valve?
• The indicator organisms used to determine contamination of drinking water are...
• The metal strip in an electrical fuse will melt from the heat caused by...
• If an operator hears a pinging sound coming from the pump, what is the probable cause?
• Lead contamination of drinking water is primarily caused by...
• What commonly reduces the peak capacity of water mains?
• How often must a "competent person" inspect excavations and adjacent areas for hazards?
• Sodium thiosulfate is used to...
• What is a key advantage of using surface-water sources like lakes over river water sources?
• The presence of coliform group bacteria in water primarily indicates what?
• The pressure that a pump must operate against is measured in...
• What role does calcium play in water quality?
• In regard to water treatment, what aspect is crucial to ensuring public health?
• What is another reason for the presence of total coliforms in drinking water?
• What is a common method to assess the potable quality of public water supplies?
• Chlorine is most commonly used in water treatment for:
• What is the environmental impact of disinfection in water treatment?
• What is the Secondary MCL for Manganese?
• The granular filtration process is primarily designed to reduce what?
• What does a high level of coliforms typically suggest about water safety?
• What is an indication that a centrifugal pump may be experiencing cavitation?
• What is the only acceptable breathing device for handling chlorine leaks?
• Moderately hard water is measured in a hardness range of what?
• Contaminant monitoring requirements can depend on...
• Which of the following chemicals is NOT used in water fluoridation?
• The amperometric titration method is used to measure...
• What is the Secondary MCL for Iron?
• What is the MRDL of Chlorine?
• The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for chlorine is:
• Which is the most accurate statement concerning potable water lines?
• Why should clear plastic beakers be used instead of glass beakers for jar tests?
• What is the primary purpose of an electrical lock-out device?
• The component of a centrifugal pump installed on the end of a suction pipe to hold the priming is known as a...
• What process allows suspended matter to settle in water treatment?
• What monitoring technique could help maintain appropriate fluoride levels?
• Which of the following is a potential consequence of corrosive drinking water?
• Which term is used to describe water that is safe for drinking?
• What does the term "flocculation" refer to in water treatment?
• In the context of water distribution systems, a surge tank is primarily used to...
• Operational reports are due to Public Water Supply on which day of the month?
• The purpose of performing a jar test is to...
• What is sodium hypochlorite primarily used for?
• The shaft speed of an electric motor is most commonly expressed in units of...
• For what reasons can a fluoride operation be shut down?
• A well is pumping into a reservoir at 300 gpm while the service pumps are pumping from the reservoir at 400 gpm. Which direction is the reservoir water level going?
• What is the MCL for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)?
• One indication of corrosive water is a high concentration of:
• What is the effect on reservoir water level when inflow exceeds outflow?
• An approved device used to prevent backflow and backsiphonage is a...
• What is the typical detention time required in a conventional straight-flow sedimentation basin?
• The recommended control limits for fluoride levels depend on which factor?
• Who may sign the permit to enter a confined space?
• What is the secondary maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride?
• What percentage of the Earth's water is found in the oceans?
• An example of a chemical compound is...
• What standard must drinking water meet to be deemed safe for public consumption according to the Safe Drinking Water Act?
• How many variables should be changed at a time when running a jar test?
• A cross-connection is defined as a connection between...
• Which chemical is most commonly used to disinfect public water supplies?
• The one major factor leading to reservoir turnover is caused by...
• What is the purpose of greensand treated with potassium permanganate?
• The presence of which organism indicates a higher risk of waterborne diseases?
• Surface water may best be described as...
• During an inspection, if bearings on a centrifugal pump are excessively hot, what is a likely cause?
• If a portion of cast iron pipe shows a white scale about 1/2 inches thick, what does this indicate?
• What issue does dissolved carbon dioxide cause in a water distribution system?
• The letters or units "gpm" appearing on a flow rate indicator in a pumping station mean...
• The sum of the atomic weights of the elements making up a compound is known as the...
• The purpose of monitoring requirements for unregulated contaminants is to...
• How often should a pump in continuous service be inspected for cleanliness and leakage?
• Which of the following is a primary source of volatile organic chemical (VOC) contamination of water?
• The leakage of seal water around the packing on a centrifugal pump is necessary because it acts as what?
• What differentiates maximum contaminant level (MCL) from a secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL)?
• Why should you contact utility companies before starting underground repairs?
• An average percentage range for unaccounted-for water in a fully metered system is...
• What is the standard method for measuring flow rate in large pipelines?
• Coliforms are primarily used as indicators of what type of contamination?
• What maintenance activity can prevent excessive wear on pump bearings?
• Reciprocating positive-displacement pumps are known as...
• Check valves are used primarily to prevent what?
• What issues can algae cause in water treatments?
• pH is a measure of...
• Which type of pump is most effective for high-pressure applications?
• What disinfectant residual is commonly used in North Carolina drinking water systems?
• What is the primary benefit of fluoridation in drinking water?
• When compared to a 1-million gallon reservoir at the same water elevation, how much pressure in the mains will a 100,000-gallon reservoir develop?
• Which group of bacteria is commonly used as an indicator of water quality?
• What does the term 'head' refer to in pump operation?
• Velocity of flow in mains is usually expressed in terms of...
• What does the term "primacy" refer to in the context of drinking water regulations?
• What is the MCL for Copper?
• Which is the best definition of turbidity in water?
• An atmosphere is considered oxygen deficient when the oxygen level is below...
• The maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of known or probable carcinogens is...
• The Primary MCL for fluoride is...
• The primary origin of coliforms in water supplies is...
• What is the primary purpose of a coupon test installation in a distribution system?
• What is the main reason for the poor accident record of operators?
• A major health risk associated with nitrites and nitrates is...
• How should a customer complaint about the presence of brown floc in tap water be best handled?
• An air-gap device is used to...
• Standard pumper-connection fire hydrants should not be installed on water mains smaller than ______ inches in diameter.
• What does a hazy settled water indicate after a jar test is completed?
• What is considered a key indicator of successful floc removal in jar testing?
• One pound per square inch will support a column of water that is...
• The primary health risk associated with synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) is...
• The indicator methyl orange is used in the test for...
• A common method for removing hydrogen sulfide from water is...
• Daily consumption of gaseous chlorine may be checked by:
• The primary source of synthetic organic compound (SOC) contamination in water supplies is...
• An operator uses which reagent to test for residual chlorine?
• What does a venturi tube mainly measure in water flow?
• If an initial sample is positive for total coliforms, when must public notice be given if a repeat sample is positive for fecal coliform or E. coli?
• What is the action level for Lead?
• Why are beards or long sideburns not allowed for certain operators?
• If a fuse continues to blow, what should you do?
• What process describes the continuous exchange of water between the Earth and the atmosphere?
• What is a single sample taken without considering the time of day or rate of flow called?
• Continuous monitoring of which aspect is essential for proper fluoride operation?
• How many paddles does the jar test apparatus typically have?
• What is the primary health risk associated with exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs)?
• What type of product is sodium hypochlorite classified as?
• What is the term for the pressure against which a pump must operate?
• What is the maximum residual disinfectant limit for chloramine?
• What potential health issue can lead in drinking water cause?
• Surface water and groundwater typically have a pH range of?
• What fraction of the Earth's surface is covered with water?
• Why are water samples analyzed for the coliform group of bacteria?
• The term MCL indicates...
• What is the Secondary MCL for pH?
• Which chemical can cause mottling of teeth at excess concentrations?
• During a confined space entry, how often must the confined space be monitored for hazardous atmospheres?
• What impact do biofilms have on drinking water systems?
• What are the major causes of tastes and odors in water?
• What is the primary function of a hypochlorinator?
• What is the most damaging effect of taste and odor problems for water utility?
• What factors primarily affect pressure in a pipeline?
• Check valves are used to...
• What is the primary source of trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water?
• What is the most hazardous condition in storage areas with wet activated carbon?
• Chlorine demand increases when __________ increases.
• Why is it essential to ventilate a valve before entry?
• When evaluating a jar test, which of the following should be considered?
• Which unit is commonly used to express the speed of water flow in a river?
• What can be a consequence of grossly overfeeding fluoride?
• The first test used in the multiple tube fermentation method for coliform bacteria determination is...
• The flow of electrical current is measured in which unit?
• What is one method by which drinking water may contain fluoride ions?
• What component is critical for the proper functioning of a centrifugal pump?
• What is the primary purpose of water treatment tests like the jar test?
• What are symptoms of acute fluoride poisoning?
• What can improve sedimentation in a water treatment process?
• What treatment process is used to control iron and manganese at the water treatment plant?
• In the context of water pressure, what does the term "psi" stand for?
• When is training deemed necessary for water system operators?
• What test can operators conduct to identify odor problems before they reach the consumer?
• Staining problems from iron generally will not be a problem if the iron concentration in the water is less than...
• Why is chlorine often tested in water treatment?
• Which of the following is a common preventative measure against waterborne pathogens?
• What does the presence of total coliforms in drinking water potentially indicate?
• Pressure is usually measured in...
• Which federal agency is responsible for regulating drinking water quality in the United States?
• Which of the following factors is least likely to affect the quality of drinking water?
• Which of the following is a characteristic of pathogens?
• The jar test is a very useful tool in evaluating these chemicals...
• What is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate in drinking water?
• Which body system is primarily affected by excessive fluoride exposure?
• When using calcium hypochlorite for disinfection, how should it be prepared?
• Which disease can be transferred to a new victim through contaminated water?