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 Gravity Belt Thickener Components and Types of Flowmeters. This time you can test your knowledge about wastewater terminology and filtration rate calculations.

Wastewater Treatment Sample Question

What term is defined as: “A measurement of how much acid can be added to water before there is a big change in pH.”

A. Conductivity
B. Turbidity
C. Acidity
D. Alkalinity

Water Treatment Sample Question

A filter with unknown dimensions is in operation. The operator closed the influent valve and the water level in the filter dropped 17 inches in five minutes. What is the filtration rate in gallons per minute per square foot?

A. Not enough information to solve
B. 3.4
C. 2.1
D. 0.9

To see answers for both of 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.