Source Water Characteristics

Question 1

How is the gravel pack of a well disinfected?
a. Sodium hypochlorite is added as gravel
b. Calcium hypochlorite powder or tablets are added as gravel
c. Chlorine gas bubbled into the well after the gravel pack is installed
d. Chlorine dioxide is added as gravel

Answer 1

b. Calcium hypochlorite powder or tablets are added as gravel

Question 2

__ ___ is most often found in _ ____ in rural areas, primarily as a result of ___ _.
a. Nitrate, surface water, industrial processes
b. Nitrate, shallow wells, agricultural contamination
c. Nitrite, surface water, industrial processes
d. Nitrite, shallow wells, agricultural contamination

Answer 2

b. Nitrate, shallow wells, agricultural contamination

Question 3

What characteristic of water intensifies as water gets warmer?
a. Taste and odor
b. Pathogens
c. Algae
d. All of the above

Answer 3

d. All of the above

Question 4

Radon is a radioactive gas that is a natural decay product of _____.
a. Thorium
b. Neptunium
c. Radium
d. Potassium-argon

Answer 4

c. Radium

Question 5

5. A water system that has radon at or below __ ___ standard does not have to treat its water.
   a. 300 pCi/L
   b. 400 pCi/L
   c. 500 pCi/L
   d. 600 pCi/L

Answer 5

a. 300 pCi/L

Question 6

Where will soft waters most likely occur?
a. Where topsoil is thick
b. Where limestone formations are present
c. Where soil is sandy
d. Where gypsum is present

Answer 6

c. Where soil is sandy

Question 7

What problems can excessive pumping rates cause on a groundwater system?
a. Ground subsidence
b. Seawater infiltration along coastal areas
c. Excessive iron and manganese can be drawn into the well
d. All of the above

Answer 7

d. All of the above

Question 8

When zebra mussels die off, they decay and release large amounts of _____.
a. Calcium carbonate
b. Calcium-magnesium carbonate
c. Toxins
d. Phosphates

Answer 8

d. Phosphates

Question 9

What is the normal pH range to groundwater?
a. 6.5 – 8.0
b. 6.0 – 8.0
c. 6.0 – 7.5
d. 6.5 – 7.5

Answer 9

b. 6.0 – 8.0

Question 10

What is the best protection for a well to prevent sediments from entering it after a period of rain?
a. A properly installed working casing
b. A properly sized gravel pack
c. Surface grouting around the well
d. Properly sized well screen

Answer 10

c. Surface grouting around the well

Question 11

What process will move water into the atmosphere?
a. Transpiration
b. Condensation
c. Interception
d. Infiltration

Answer 11

Transpiration

Question 12

Water is considered to be hard if it is greater than _____ as CaCO3.
a. 150 mg/L
b. 200 mg/L
c. 250 mg/L
d. 300 mg/L

Answer 12

d. 300 mg/L

Question 13

What is the primary reason that Asiatic clams are such a nuisance to operators?
a. They are difficult to eliminate
b. They clog intake pipes
c. They clog treatment facilities
d. They cause tastes and odors

Answer 13

b. They clog intake pipes

Question 14

What is the primary reason that Asiatic clams are such a nuisance to operators?
a. They are difficult to eliminate
b. They clog intake pipes
c. They clog treatment facilities
d. They cause tastes and odors

Answer 14

b. They clog intake pipes

Question 15

What formation would be the least vulnerable to microbiological contaminants?
a. Siltstone
b. Sandstone
c. Limestone
d. Fractured volcanic rock

Answer 15

a. Siltstone

Question 16

What protozoan organism will cause eye infections and can be found in soil and water?
a. Toxoplasma
b. Acanthamoeba
c. Microspore
d. Cyclospora

Answer 16

b. Acanthamoeba

Question 17

All things being equal, which area would have the largest amount of runoff?
a. Urban areas
b. Frozen ground
c. Steep slopes
d. Clay soils

Answer 17

b. Frozen ground

Question 18

One method to measure the depth of water in a well is to use a _____ graduated in _____ of a foot.
a. Steel tape, hundredths
b. Steel tape, tenths and hundredths
c. Plastic tape marked with chalk, hundredths
d. Plastic tape marked with chalk, tenths and hundredths

Answer 18

b. Steel tape, tenths and hundredths

Question 19

Where may slimes come from at water treatment plants?
a. Algae waste products
b. Slime-producing diatomaceous algae
c. Decaying organisms
d. Slime-producing bacteria and algae

Answer 19

d. Slime-producing bacteria and algae

Question 20

Iron and manganese are found in groundwater when rock strata rich in these elements are subject to _____.
a. High alkaline water that contains iron bacteria
b. Acidic water devoid of oxygen due to anaerobic activity
c. Organic acids and hydrogen sulfide gas
d. Acid water that contains radon gas

Answer 20

b. Acidic water devoid of oxygen due to anaerobic activity

Question 21

What is the purpose of abandoning a well after it is no longer useful?
a. To conserve the aquifer
b. To prevent groundwater contamination
c. To eliminate a physical hazard
d. All of the above

Answer 21

d. All of the above

Question 22

If a sanitary survey finds that a groundwater system has a high risk of fecal contamination, what log inactivation is required for viruses?
a. 2.5 logs
b. 3.0 logs
c. 3.5 logs
d. 4.0 logs

Answer 22

d. 4.0 logs

Question 23

Most groundwater and surface water sources contain _____.
a. Protozoan pathogens
b. Contaminates
c. Moderate-to-high levels of synthetic organic chemicals
d. Moderate-to-high levels of humic and fulvic acids

Answer 23

b. Contaminates

Question 24

What method for evaluating a well’s performance has a relatively short test time and does not indicate aquifer performance as completely as the other methods used?
a. Recovery
b. Drawdown
c. Specific capacity
d. Well yield

Answer 24

c. Specific capacity

Question 25

If rainwater flows over a surface that is exposed to decomposing organic matter in the soil, the _ ____ level of the water is increased, which will form __ ___ and thus increase the ___ __ of the water. a. Nitrate, nitrites, pH b. Carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, corrosivity c. Organic, trihalomethanes, contamination d. Hydrogen sulfide, a dilute sulfuric acid, corrosivity

Answer 25

b. Carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, corrosivity

Question 26

Where will hard waters most likely occur? a. Where there is a thin topsoil b. Where sandy soil is present c. Where gypsum is present d. Where it rains a lot

Answer 26

c. Where gypsum is present

Question 27

An HAA5 compound would include _____. a. Halonitriles b. Haloaldehydes c. Dibromocetic acids d. Chlorophenols

Answer 27

c. Dibromocetic acids

Question 28

Deep groundwater aquifers ten to be of ___ __ quality, and most deep aquifers are __ ___ and _ ____. a. Poorer, confined, do not recharge significantly locally b. Poorer, unconfined, recharge very slowly c. High, unconfined, do not recharge significantly locally d. High, confined, recharge very slowly

Answer 28

a. Poorer, confined, do not recharge significantly locally

Question 29

What should a contingency plan for a wellhead protection plan encompass? a. Analytical and numerical models of water flow within the aquifer b. A sanitary survey of the watershed c. Detailed steps to take if contamination ever occurs d. Wellhead protection management

Answer 29

c. Detailed steps to take if contamination ever occurs

Question 30

The total organic carbon in most waters is composed mainly of _____. a. Lignins b. Humic substances c. Fulvic substances d. Hemicellulose

Answer 30

b. Humic substances

Question 31

That do zebra mussels usually attach themselves to? a. Intake structures b. Other organisms c. Slow-moving or stationary boats d. All of the above

Answer 31

d. All of the above

Question 32

What occurs when organic matter decomposes under anerobic conditions? a. Iron begins to oxidize, and pH increases b. Iron precipitates, greatly reducing algae growth c. Hydrogen sulfide gas is produced and pH increases d. Hydrogen sulfide gas is produced and pH decreases

Answer 32

d. Hydrogen sulfide gas is produced and pH decreases

Question 33

Manganese in groundwater is normally in the form of soluble _____. a. Salts b. Acids c. Bases d. Aldehydes

Answer 33

a. Salts

Question 34

Creating an artificial wetland can improve water quality because many __ ___ that adhere to sediment are trapped by artificial wetlands. a. Algae species b. Nutrients c. Bacteria species d. Bacteria and algae species

Answer 34

b. Nutrients

Question 35

Water flowing downward into the earth is called ____. a. Subsurface flow b. Infiltration c. Percolation d. Gravity flow

Answer 35

c. Percolation

Question 36

The rate of reservoir __ ___ is generally a function of both the __ ___ in the watershed and how well the land is protected by _ ____ and management practices. a. Erosion, number of trees, agricultural b. Siltation, vegetation cover, agricultural c. Erosion, type of soil, vegetation cover d. Siltation, type of soil, vegetation cover

Answer 36

d. Siltation, type of soil, vegetation cover

Question 37

The first step to water source protection is _____. a. To map the watershed b. To determine the geographic area that needs protection c. To determine who exactly has an interest in protecting it d. Both b and c

Answer 37

d. Both b and c

Question 38

Hydrology is the study of the __ ___ and circulation of water and its constituents as it moves through the atmosphere across the ___ __ surface and below the Earth’s surface. a. Chemistry, properties; Earth’s b. Distribution: land c. Chemistry, properties; land d. Properties, distribution; Earth’s

Answer 38

d. Properties, distribution; Earth’s

Question 39

Base flow would be water that flows from _____. a. Surface waters to confined or unconfined aquifers b. Groundwater springs and seeps to most streams c. Mountainous area water to valleys d. The land to the sea

Answer 39

b. Groundwater springs and seeps to most streams

Question 40

Highly mineralized water will have a ___ __ taste. a. Fishy b. Musty c. Earthy d. Medicinal

Answer 40

d. Medicinal

Question 41

Why is it important to maintain the lowest possible turbidity in water? a. Because turbidity can shield pathogenic microorganisms from the disinfectants b. The turbidity can combine chemically with the disinfectant, so there is less to kill or inactivate pathogens c. It can, over time in the distribution system, produce tastes and odors d. All of the above

Answer 41

d. All of the above

Question 42

In the drawdown method to evaluate a well’s performance, the production well is pumped and water levels are periodically measured in _ ____. a. The production well and one or more monitoring wells b. An observation well c. Two or more observation wells d. The production well and an observation well

Answer 42

c. Two or more observation wells

Question 43

From the following list, what waterborne pathogens will form cysts an survive for long periods of time, despite even adverse environmental conditions? a. Some viruses and bacteria b. Some viruses and protozoa c. Some bacteria and protozoa d. Some bacteria and fungi

Answer 43

c. Some bacteria and protozoa

Question 44

What type of algae bloom have been known to kill fish in ponds due to oxygen depletion and also cause livestock poisoning? a. Diatoms b. Flagellates c. Slim-producing algae d. Blue-green algae

Answer 44

d. Blue-green algae

Question 45

If a well is relatively deep, properly constructed, and provides protection to a fixed radius, it is probably adequate. However, what contamination can still cause problems? a. Chemicals b. Cryptosporidium oocysts c. Pathogenic bacteria d. Hepatitis A virus

Answer 45

a. Chemicals

Question 46

What can cause well screens to plug? a. Bacteria b. Mechanical problems c. Chemical problems d. All of the above

Answer 46

d. All of the above

Question 47

If a river used as a water source was contaminated by an oil spill, what is the first thing that must be determined, and what is typically the simplest response to this problem? a. Determine length of time of the contamination episode; change to an alternative water source b. Determine the quantity of the spill; increase coagulant dose and treat the contaminated water accordingly c. Determine the length of time of the contamination episode; wait until the spill passes the intake before treating more water d. Determine the quantity of the spill; increase coagulant dose and treat the contaminated water accordingly

Answer 47

c. Determine the length of time of the contamination episode; wait until the spill passes the intake before treating more water

Question 48

Most organizations say that soft water is less than _____ as CaCO3. a. 60 mg/L b. 75 mg/L c. 100 mg/L d. 200 mg/L

Answer 48

a. 60 mg/L

Question 49

What is the first barrier against pathogenic intrusion? a. Watershed management b. Filtration c. Coagulation and flocculation d. Pre-disinfection or oxidation

Answer 49

a. Watershed management

Question 50

Water in shallow wells will, on occasion, have relatively high levels of _____ substances, whereas water from deep wells usually has relatively low levels of _____. a. Synthetic, carbonates b. Humic, organics c. Synthetic, inorganics d. Organic, inorganics

Answer 50

b. Humic, organics

Question 51

Springs are typically found _____. a. Along faults b. At the base of hills c. On alluvial fans d. In the mountains

Answer 51

b. At the base of hills

Question 52

What is the purpose of grout placed around the well screen? a. To prevent soil from caving into the well b. To prevent water from traveling along the outside of the casing c. To support the casing d. Both band c

Answer 52

d. Both band c

Question 53

Base flow is defined as __ ___ contributing water to a stream. a. Surface runoff b. A spring c. Groundwater d. A synthetic structure

Answer 53

b. A spring

Question 54

54. Both types of rotary drilling methods can drill holes up to __ ___ in diameter, and both these types of drilling are __ ___. a. 4 ft, usually faster than the California method b. 5 ft, usually faster than the cable-tool drilling method c. 4 ft, more cost effective than the down-the-hole hammer method d. 5 ft, more cost effective than the cable-tool method

Answer 54

b. 5 ft, usually faster than the cable-tool drilling method

Question 55

The water level drop between the non-pumping level and the pumping level is called the _____. a. Cone of depression b. Radius of influence c. Drawdown d. Discharge level

Answer 55

c. Drawdown