Sample Questions

Question 1

Shoring is required for trenches how deep per Osha guidelines?

Answer 1

5 feet

Question 2

The conversion of liquid water to gaseous water is known as?

Answer 2

Evaporation

Question 3

Who does the distribution operator ultimately answer to?

Answer 3

The water consumers

Question 4

What does a water distribution system consist of?

Answer 4

Pipes, tanks, valves, hydrants, and other appurtenances

Question 5

What is the leading cause of water-borne illness in the United States?

Answer 5

Backflow of non-potable water into potable water systems

Question 6

What type of records should be kept daily in a water distribution system?

Answer 6

Chlorine residuals, flows and time cards

Question 7

What is in a surge tank that helps prevent water hammer?

Answer 7

Air space

Question 8

If a utility takes a monthly coliform sample and the results show that the same was positive, what should the utility do first?

Answer 8

Restest, site, upstream, downstream, and notify primacy agency with 24 hours

Question 9

Elevated storage tanks are usually located in towns where the land is?

Answer 9

Flat

Question 10

A centrifugal pump should never be operated unless the impeller is submerged in water or primed. What could cause a centrifugal pump to lose its prime?

Answer 10

A malfunctioning foot valve

Question 11

What is the best preventative measure to protect a water storage tank from corrosion?

Answer 11

Painting the tank

Question 12

When a person is working inside a water storage tank, how many people should be standing by in case of emergency?

Answer 12

Two

Question 13

What is the most efficient way to prevent the water in a storage tank from freezing?

Answer 13

Raise and lower water levels often

Question 14

In a water distribution system the hydraulic grade line will always slope?

Answer 14

Downward in the direction of flow

Question 15

Name two types of displacement meters

Answer 15

Nutating disc and piston meters

Question 16

What is the most common type of valve used to isolate sections of main lines to permit repair or replacement?

Answer 16

Gate Valve

Question 17

All water pipes shall be installed at least 10 feet horizontally away from any and all sewer lines and how many feet above any and all sewer lines?

Answer 17

12 inches

Question 18

When installing new water main, there must be a minimum cover of how many inches?

Answer 18

30 inches

Question 19

Fire hydrants are usually installed at intersections and should never be more than how many feet apart?

Answer 19

500 feet

Question 20

What is a double check valve used for?

Answer 20

Backflow

Question 21

How can a buried plastic water pipe be located using electronic equipment?

Answer 21

Tracer wire or tape

Question 22

The absolute minimum pressure psi delivered by a water distribution system is?

Answer 22

15 psi

Question 23

Breakpoint chlorination is?

Answer 23

The addition of chlorine until the demand has been met

Question 24

Where should a self-containing breathing aparatus be stored when a water utility uses chlorine gas as a disinfectant?

Answer 24

Just outside the chlorine room

Question 25

What advantage does using monochloramines as a disinfectant have over free chlorine?

Answer 25

Less chance of THMs

Question 26

If a chlorine cylinder were to leak one liter of liquid, how many liters of gas would be produced?

Answer 26

460 liters

Question 27

If a water source has a large quantity of inorganic reducing agents, the chlorine dose will be probably..?

Answer 27

Be increased

Question 28

If an operator enters a building and finds that a chlorine cylinder is leaking, what is the first thing the operator should do?

Answer 28

Exit the building

Question 29

When disinfecting a newly laid water main, what type of disinfectant is usually used?

Answer 29

Calcium hypochlorite tablets

Question 30

When taking a bacteriological sample, the chlorine must be neutralized in the sample. What product is used to neutralize the chlorine in a bacti sample?

Answer 30

Sodium thiosulphate

Question 31

What happens when calcium hypochlorite comes into contact with petroleum products?

Answer 31

Fire

Question 32

What could cause a decrease in a free chlorine residual within a distribution system?

Answer 32

Increased turbidity

Question 33

Airborne problems that an operator may experience in a confined space are?

Answer 33

Flammable substances

Question 34

All public and private utilities are required to notify other utilities within how many days before working in a utility right of way?

Answer 34

2 days

Question 35

What type of chlorine is used most often to disinfect groundwater wells?

Answer 35

Hypochlorites

Question 36

Which of gas is considered flammable?

Answer 36

Hydrogen Sulfide

Question 37

The oxygen concentration in normal breathing air is 20.9% What percentage does the level need to drop below in a confined space before the operator will need to wear SCBA gear in order to enter the confined space?

Answer 37

19.5%

Question 38

What happens to a nutating disc meter when the water freezes?

Answer 38

Bottom plate breaks away to prevent damage

Question 39

Confined spaces should be checked regularly for oxygen deficiency or enrichment and what must be worn to protect the workers

Answer 39

PPE (personal protection equipment)

Question 40

Pumps and mechanical equipment used in a distribution system have guards over moving parts because?

Answer 40

It insures operator safety from injury

Question 41

What type of meter is used when water flow fluctuates widely?

Answer 41

Compound meters

Question 42

What is the most common type of water quality complain?

Answer 42

Tastes and odors

Question 43

What could be the cause of a pump losing its prime?

Answer 43

A defective foot valve

Question 44

What is the greatest problem for most distribution system shutoff valves?

Answer 44

Lack of operation

Question 45

What condition can cause backflow in a water distribution system?

Answer 45

Negative pressure (vacuum)

Question 46

Which problem has consistently caused more waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States than any other reported factor?

Answer 46

Contamination resulting from backflow through cross connections

Question 47

Which condition produces more leakage in a distribution system?

Answer 47

Higher pressures

Question 48

Which mandatory test must be performed on water in a storage tank before it delivers water to the distribution system?

Answer 48

Coliform organisms

Question 49

What is the major hazard when using a fixed ladder?

Answer 49

Free fall

Question 50

Disc meters are primarily used for?

Answer 50

Small flows

Question 51

If a customer within a water system has green stains on their plumbing fixtures, this home probably has?

Answer 51

Copper pipe that is reacting with aggressive water

Question 52

If new water mains were installed and disinfected with chlorine, what level of disinfection would you be required to meet?

Answer 52

Breakpoint disinfection followed by addition of more chlorine until a residual is achieved

Question 53

How often should a distribution operator change a fusible plug on a 150 lb chlorine cylinder?

Answer 53

Never

Question 54

What s a clearwell?

Answer 54

A storage vessel for treated, potable water

Question 55

If the water table that is underground drops when water is being pumped from a well, this is?

Answer 55

Drawdown

Question 56

Water meters used for small water flows only, are usually?

Answer 56

Displacement type

Question 57

Black and red stains on consumers plumbing fixtures indicated that a drinking water source may have high levels of?

Answer 57

Iron and manganese

Question 58

A check valve is usually installed to?

Answer 58

Permit the flow to only go in one direction

Question 59

A full circle clamp is used to?

Answer 59

Repair a broken or leaking water main line

Question 60

A "coupon" installed in a water distribution system which is used to determine corrosion effects on piping materials will_______________if the water has corrosive tendencies.

Answer 60

Lose weight due to corrosion

Question 61

What color should a fire hydrant be painted if it delivers less than 500 gpm according to AWWA guidelines?

Answer 61

Red

Question 62

If a trench has been dug to install a water line and the trench is deep enough to require entry and exit with ladder, this ladder must extend at least_______above the trench.

Answer 62

2.5 feet or (30 inches)

Question 63

BAT stands for?

Answer 63

Best available technology

Question 64

The lead and copper rule requires samples to be taken from the consumer's tap after the water has sat in the lines for at least______hours?

Answer 64

6

Question 65

The water samples for the lead and copper requirements are usually taken by?

Answer 65

The distribution operator or the consumer

Question 66

When selecting a water pipe, ductile iron should not be used for a distribution system when the soil is?

Answer 66

Acidic on the pH scale

Question 67

Where should air relief valves be installed in a distribution system?

Answer 67

At the high points

Question 68

How often should a mechanical seal be greased?

Answer 68

Never

Question 69

When a water meter wears out, it will?

Answer 69

Read low or fail

Question 70

A dry tap is usually associated with?

Answer 70

Service line connections in non-pressurized pipes

Question 71

The vertical distance in feet equal to the pressure in psi at a specific joint is known as?

Answer 71

Head

Question 72

The reason most systems prefer using the "Hot Tap" wet tap method to install services on a water main is because?

Answer 72

It prevents contaminants from entering the system

Question 73

The best type of valve to use for flow control is?

Answer 73

Globe valve

Question 74

Small amounts of corrosion on the inside of pipe increases the roughness of the pipe, which reduces flow and can lead to leaks. What type of pipe is this most common in?

Answer 74

Iron pipe

Question 75

Unaccounted for water loss in a metered water system is inevitable due to leakage, hydrant water theft, failing meters and illegal connections. What percentage of water loss is generally accepted?

Answer 75

10-15%

Question 76

What toxic minerals can corrosive water cause to bleed out from certain piping material?

Answer 76

Lead and copper

Question 77

How much heavier is chlorine than air?

Answer 77

2.5 times

Question 78

Packing glands on a pump should always?

Answer 78

Be allowed to leak a few drops per minute

Question 79

When a new water line is installed parallel to a sewer line, how far apart should they be from each other?

Answer 79

10 feet

Question 80

A water system has installed a new water main line. What is the correct procedure that must be followed before bringing this water main on-line?

Answer 80

Pressure test, flush the main, disinfect the main, flush, and collect coliform samples

Question 81

Venturi meters are used primarily for?

Answer 81

Large flows

Question 82

When the cell division in bacteria has been disrupted, it?

Answer 82

Has been inactivated

Question 83

If a water purveyor receives a complain from a customer regarding black stains on their plumbing fixtures, the chances are that this water systems has a problem with

Answer 83

Manganese

Question 84

If you had some sodium thiosulphate tablets and you placed them in a clean glass bottle and used this bottle to take a coliform sample, this sample

Answer 84

Should not be used due to improper sampling procedures.

Question 85

When using screw jacks to install shoring material within a trench, the jacks should always be installed

Answer 85

From top to bottom

Question 86

If flushing and or pressurized air are unsuccessful in cleaning the inside of a water main, other options are

Answer 86

Pigs and swabs

Question 87

What classification of fire extinguisher is used for an electrical fire?

Answer 87

C type

Question 88

Intestinal parasites that may be transmitted by water are?

Answer 88

Giardia and cryptosporidium

Question 89

What is the minimum ground cover that can cover a buried water pipe?

Answer 89

30 inches

Question 90

The maximum safe withdrawal rate per day from a 150-pound cylinder of chlorine is

Answer 90

40-42 pounds per day

Question 91

Iron in groundwater supply remains in solution until it is exposed to oxygen. Once it has been exposed to oxygen it comes out of solution and creates what color in water?

Answer 91

Red

Question 92

Nationally, the per capita use is estimated to be

Answer 92

100 gal/cap/day

Question 93

All backflow devices should be inspected annually and repaired by a

Answer 93

certified backflow inspector

Question 94

What type of backflow device should be installed on a sewer plant connection?

Answer 94

Air gap

Question 95

If a chlorine cylinder has a small leak that is not repaired, this leak will

Answer 95

Get worse

Question 96

What step should be taken before a manual turbiditimeter can be used?

Answer 96

Should be zeroed to known calibration standards

Question 97

Hydrogen sulfide has a rotten egg odor, decreases sense of smell and can kill humans in high enough doses. Where might one find some of this toxic gas?

Answer 97

In a confined space

Question 98

The material safety data sheet on all chemicals should be

Answer 98

Used on site as long as chemicals are used and kept indefinitely

Question 99

If a customer calls a utility to turn off the water to their property so that a leak can be repaired, what might the operator suggest to the customer?

Answer 99

To install their own shutoff valve and that they will be responsible for the cost of the water that passed through the meter

Question 100

When operating a positive displacement pump, the discharge valve

Answer 100

Should never be closed while in operation