Sewer Collection Systems Operator Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Which acronym represents the measure of the oxygen used by microorganisms to decompose organic matter?
• What does I & I stand for?
• What's a normal fall for a manhole?
• What head in feet corresponds to 2 psi?
• The procedure involving inserting plugs, connecting an air hose, and pressurizing to 0.5 psi above the test pressure, closing the isolation valve, and timing the pressure drop is used for which test?
• Which device works off head pressure from the clarifiers?
• Which test uses specially manufactured dyes to positively identify connections to sewage systems?
• Flow Equalization in preliminary treatment is used to...
• Televising and Lamping are primarily used for which type of testing?
• Which collection system handles all 'non-human waste' (excluding rainwater)?
• What is defined as any corrective or preventive activity carried out on equipment to ensure it performs as intended?
• Which equation expresses Ohm's law in the form voltage equals current times resistance?
• Which kind of sewer is a section of a sewer that is lower than adjacent section, to pass beneath an obstacle?
• During a water test, the trench is not backfilled and is filled with water to a minimum depth of 18 inches above the pipe. What is this procedure called?
• Which maintenance type uses condition-monitoring data to predict when a component will fail?
• In confined space classifications, which class has hazards that would not require any special modification of work procedure?
• During smoke testing, smoke will come from which locations if proper connections exist?
• Manholes are made from what?
• Cavitation is more likely to occur in which pump condition?
• Which statement is true about screening in preliminary treatment?
• Increased pumping cost, increased sewer cleaning, increased equipment wear and treatment overload are caused by what entering your collection system?
• What does wastewater collection systems protect?
• What are the two basic carriage methods used to carry wastewater to the treatment plant?
• What are potential consequences of lift station failure?
• Which formula represents the cross-sectional area used in pipe volume calculations (A = 0.785 x D^2)?
• Which testing method is described as an inexpensive and quick way to determine if a sewer line is straight and open?
• What are the two pump styles?
• A steady drip rate of about how many drips per second is normal for packing used in the stuffing box?
• Which type of sewer would be used to relieve an overloaded main sewer?
• In a head pressure leakage test, leakage is quantified by which measurement?
• What purposes do manhole covers serve?
• What is eight inches in feet?
• What are the 3 types of frame mounted pumps?
• What type of pump requires a coupling between the pump and the motor in order to transfer energy from the motor to the pump?
• What is the basic shape of a manhole?
• Which inlet has a vertical opening to admit surface runoff into underground conduits?
• Where does the discharge from a lift station usually go?
• Maintenance gearboxes are normally filled with which fluid?
• Which class describes a space that has the potential for injury and illness if preventive measures are not taken, but is not immediately dangerous to life and health?
• Which collection system carries surface runoff to a desired location, often a catch basin and then to receiving waters?
• What is the unit of electric pressure or electromotive force that would produce a current of 1 ampere through a resistance of 1 ohm?
• What are the four types of maintenance?
• What kind of shape should the channel bottom have and at what grade?
• In Ohm's law, what does the symbol I represent?
• What is a collection systems operator?
• How many feet of head are equivalent to 1 psi?
• Infiltration can cause system overload because it introduces which of the following into the sewer system?
• The Go or No Go test, using a plug pulled through at 95% of the pipe diameter, is a method of which testing?
• What is the typical pH range for domestic wastewater described for sanitary sewer?
• Which of the following is a duty of a collection systems operator?
• Which fittings connect building sewers to the main, not protruding into the main?
• What is used to allow access to sewers to remove solids that cause stoppages?
• What are the two basic tests a sewer?
• What was not used today that was once used to prevent the passage of gases and odors from the main sewer system into a building?
• Which of the following is NOT a step in preliminary treatment?
• What description explains how bearings reduce friction by using smooth balls or rollers that bear the load to allow rotation?
• Which test is used to identify illegal drain connections and cracks, done when groundwater is low and requires notifying authorities?
• Using the water method, what is the maximum permitted water loss for a 200‑ft section of 24‑inch pipe per day?
• Which type of sewer carries wastewater to the ultimate point of disposal?
• Which term is the correct name for the rise divided by run multiplied by 100 in a slope calculation?
• Manhole lids should be at least how many feet in diameter?
• Which type of pump is described as having an impeller fixed on a rotating shaft enclosed in a casing with an inlet and a discharge, where the impeller creates pressure by centrifugal force?
• How many gallons are in 1 cubic foot of water?
• Which term describes a section of sewer that is lower than adjacent sections to pass beneath an obstacle?
• What kind of sewer usually has the largest diameter sewer in the system?
• What is the unit of electrical power?
• What is the front and/or back of an impeller called?
• Studies have shown laterals are the cause of what percent of water intrusion?
• Which sewer system is described as being used when gravity systems are not feasible, with wastewater conveyed under pressure from the discharge side of a lift station to a point where gravity flow can be accomplished?
• What does I&I stand for in sewer systems?
• What is the purpose of a lift station in a sewer system?
• Which statement best describes infiltration?
• What is used to join large trunk sewers when the junction cannot be made by a manhole?
• What are the two main types of pumps?
• Most I and I problems in sanitary sewers are due to what?
• How many feet SHALL be tested for exfiltration, infiltration, and alignment before any more of the sewer is constructed?
• Which class is described as requiring no special modification of work procedures?
• What is the material placed in rings around a shaft of a pump and used to control leakage from the stuffing box. A steady (1 per second) drip is normal.
• What is the purpose of grit removal in preliminary treatment?
• Which structure is designed to collect stormwater debris and is cleaned to prevent odors and mosquitoes?
• In the wheel vs ski analogy, what concept is illustrated by the more effortless rolling of wheels compared to skis?
• Which device is designed to trap debris that is too large for downstream equipment?
• What is the first step in performing smoke testing on a sewer line?
• Which of the following is not a standard confined space class?
• Why are lift stations a significant consideration for cities?
• What type of pump consists of an impeller fixed on a rotating shaft enclosed in a casing with an inlet and discharge, and can be opened against a head?
• When there is a complaint concerning the collection system, the operator should
• Which test checks deflection for plastic pipe by pulling a mandrel equal to 95% of the average diameter from downstream to upstream, with failure if deflection exceeds 5%?
• What are comminutors used for?
• Typical BOD and suspended solids (SS) concentrations for domestic wastewater average approximately what range in mg/L?
• In Ohm's law, what does the symbol E represent?
• The principle behind this test is that if the air pressure is greater inside the pipe than atmospheric pressure, air will leak out of cracks in the pipe. Pipe pressure must be 3 to 5 psi above atmospheric pressure. Measure the time it takes for the pressure to drop (helps determine the size of the leak)
• Which component's movement accelerates the liquid to generate pressure in a centrifugal pump?
• In a comparison of an 8-inch line to a 6-inch line over 500 feet, what is the approximate percent volume reduction?
• During an air pressure test, what psi should the pressure never exceed?
• Manholes are designed to be durable and watertight to minimize interference with hydraulics. Which statement best describes this design characteristic?
• What procedure is described where one operator directs a bright light down a line while another observes from above, sometimes using a mirror?
• What is the repair or restoration of equipment required to correct a failure that has occurred or is in the process of occurring?
• During an air test, the pipe must be pressurized to what range above atmospheric pressure?
• When should sewers be inspected before being placed in service?
• What is the measure of the pressure of water expressed in feet of height of water?
• Smoke testing is typically performed under what hydrological condition?
• Which manhole should be used when a pipe enters at an elevation higher than the outgoing pipe?
• What is a bar screen used for?
• These are designed to provide convenient access to the sewer for observation and maintenance operations. Basically cylindrical in shape, with an inside diameter at least 42 inches.
• As Total Dynamic Head (TDH) increases, what happens to gallons per minute (GPM)?
• Oil and grease removal in preliminary treatment is accomplished by using?
• What function do comminutors perform?
• Which type of manhole should be used only when it is impossible to steepen the grade?
• Which sewer carries excess storm flow from a main or interceptor to an independent outlet?
• If the base test pressure is 3.5 psi and the water table is 2 feet above the sewer line, what is the total pressure in the pipe?
• What kind of sewer receives wastewater from two or more branch sewers?
• What is the typical daily wastewater contribution per person given for sanitary sewer planning?
• What is the unit of electrical current?
• Why is the pipe saturated with water before measuring water level in a water test?
• Which activity is part of maintaining and repairing equipment associated with the collection system?
• What is the minimum inside diameter of a manhole?
• How should valves be opened to prevent water hammer or water thrust conditions that can cause pipe damage?
• Which method uses video cameras to visually inspect the inside of sewer pipes?
• Which maintenance category is focused on avoiding unplanned downtime by acting before a failure is detected?
• Which goal describes Flow Equalization?
• How many collection system classifications are there and which are they?
• What type of cleanouts should be the same diameter as the sewer and placed at the terminal end for cleaning?
• What is a possible sign of a problem with the sewer line when inspecting a manhole?
• What are the two types of drop manholes?
• What kind of sewer receives waste water from a relatively small area and discharges into a sub-main sewer?
• What test is described as filling a section with water, allowing saturation, and measuring the water level after one hour?
• Which access device is essential for removing solids and clearing stoppages in a sewer line?
• What term describes the measure of energy per unit weight of a fluid expressed as feet of water?
• Which item is NOT listed as a problem collection system operators deal with?
• What is the rotating set of vanes designed to impart rotation to a mass of fluid?
• What is the recommended maximum leakage rate for this type of test?
• Bearings typically handle two kinds of loading. What term describes the loads that must be supported by bearings?
• Which inlets have horizontal openings located in the gutter to admit surface runoff waters to underground conduits?
• Which device is used to introduce air into the sewer line during smoke testing?
• How should new sewers be inspected before being placed in service?
• What method should be used to inspect new sewers before they are placed in service?
• What is it called when you measure the condition of equipment to predict future failures and take action to minimize consequences?
• Which term refers to water that enters the sewer system due to rainfall, snowmelt, or other surface runoff?
• Which collection system carries a combination of two or more types of wastewater and often has a basin where excess wastewater is collected?
• As Total Dynamic Head (TDH) decreases, what happens to gallons per minute (GPM)?
• What is the mechanical device used to control leakage from the stuffing box of a pump?
• Which of the following is a step in preliminary treatment?
• During Lamping, how many people typically perform the procedure?
• Rise Divided Run multiplied by 100 equals which term?
• Which term describes isolating a segment of the sewer system to observe flow during testing?
• A pipe enters at a higher elevation than the downstream pipe; which manhole type is used?
• What is the line leaving a pump station called?
• In bearing design, what function do the balls or rollers provide?
• During manhole inspection, which action is recommended?
• Which of the following is NOT a purpose of check valves?
• If a lift station fails and causes sewage releases, what costs may be incurred for residents?
• How should manholes be spaced?
• If the junction cannot be made by a manhole, which installation is used to connect large trunk sewers?
• Which sewer is built to carry flows that are in excess of the capacity of an existing sewer?
• What component reduces friction by allowing smooth rolling between surfaces via balls or rollers?
• What is a form of a grit chamber intended to retain the heavy debris in storm water? Should be cleaned periodically; if neglected, odor and mosquito problems may occur.
• Which water test is commonly considered not a reliable method?
• A centrifugal pump can be started or stopped against what condition?
• What is used to stop the accidental backflow or reverse flow of wastewater into buildings?
• During Lamping, what fraction of the pipe circle should be observed vertically and horizontally?
• What is the force that throws the water from a spinning impeller?
• Which collection system carries household waste?
• What is the typical wastewater temperature range mentioned for domestic waste in a sanitary sewer?
• Which collection system is described as carrying strictly industrial wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant, with waste varying by industry and often the most difficult to treat?
• What is inflow?
• On the city water line, which backflow prevention device is noted as requiring annual testing?
• Which class is a confined space immediately dangerous to life or health?
• Which maintenance strategy focuses on ensuring that critical equipment is maintained to maximize life?
• The description of millions of tiny air bubbles forming inside the impeller, not fully submerged, and causing damage describes which phenomenon?
• What is infiltration in a sewer system?
• Which system is described? wastewater flows from a higher elevation to a lower elevation; The process is gravity operated, no energy is consumed in the operation.
• What maintenance approach involves managing equipment failure by evaluating the criticality of equipment to ensure critical assets are maintained to maximize life?
• What maintenance strategy replaces or remanufactures equipment at fixed intervals regardless of condition?
• In gravity sewer systems, the wastewater flows primarily due to
• Which type of loading acts parallel to the axis of rotation in a bearing?
• Where are manholes installed?
• Which system uses mechanical energy to move wastewater rather than gravity?
• What is the unit of electrical resistance?