Sewer Collection Systems Operator Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

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