Welcome back to TPO magazine's Exam Study Guide Series, which offers a pair of water/wastewater study questions with in-depth explanations of the answers. Last time, we covered a set of wastewater and drinking water treatment questions on the topics of Permit-Required Confined Spaces and Fluoride Concentration Calculation. This time you can test your knowledge about smoke testing and friction loss.

Wastewater Treatment Sample Question

When conducting smoke testing on a collections system, what does smoke rising from a house vent indicate?

A. Cracked sewer lines
B. Improper plumbing in the home
C. Illegal tap into the building drains
D. This indicates no problem as far as the smoke test indicates

Water Treatment Sample Question

What answer choice would result in the most friction loss?

A. Water flowing at 3 feet per second through a 2-inch pipe with a C-factor of 100
B. Water flowing at 2 feet per second through a 6-inch pipe with a C factor of 100
C. Water flowing at 3 feet per second through a 2-inch pipe with a C-factor of 140
D. Water flowing at 2 feet per second through a 6-inch pipe with a C-factor of 140

To see the answers to both the above questions, click this link.

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About the authors: Rick Lallish is the Water Pollution Control program director at the Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He provides training for entry-level operators in the wastewater field and operators throughout the state looking to further their education. Lallish was also named the 2017 Illinois Operator of the Year and 2018 president of the Illinois Association of Water Pollution Control Operators.

Drew Hoelscher is the program director of drinking water operations at the Environmental Resources Training Center in Edwardsville, Illinois.