AWWA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AWWA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What type of coating is recommended by AWWA for protecting steel water tanks from corrosion? → Epoxy-based coatings
2. Per AWWA guidance, what is the typical backwash rate range for a rapid sand filter? → 8–20 gpm/ft²
3. When calculating chlorine CT values for Giardia inactivation, what does the 'C' represent? → Residual disinfectant concentration in mg/L
4. Which coagulant is most commonly used in US water treatment plants for turbidity removal per AWWA practices? → Aluminum sulfate (alum)
5. What is the maximum allowable leakage formula per AWWA C600 for hydrostatic testing of newly installed ductile-iron mains? → L = ND√P / 148,000
6. What is the function of a corporation stop (corp stop) in a water service connection? → Provide a tapped connection and shutoff directly on the water main
7. Per AWWA guidelines, how often should fire hydrants be flow-tested to verify system pressure and flow capacity? → Annually
8. Which statistical tool is used to determine if a water treatment process is in a state of statistical control? → Control chart
9. What is a key performance indicator (KPI)? → A measurable value that demonstrates effectiveness in achieving objectives
10. What does a chain-of-custody (COC) document primarily track? → The possession and handling of samples from collection to analysis
11. How long must professional records typically be maintained? → According to state and federal regulations, often 7-10 years or longer
12. Which condition would most likely trigger an immediate Tier 1 public notification under EPA rules? → Detection of E. coli in the distribution system
13. What is the primary purpose of a Hazardous Energy Control (Lockout/Tagout) program at a water treatment plant? → To prevent unexpected energization of equipment during maintenance
14. Which EPA regulation requires large public water systems to conduct vulnerability assessments and certify Emergency Response Plans to the EPA? → America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018
15. Which process describes verifying that a piece of laboratory equipment produces results consistent with a traceable reference standard? → Calibration
16. Which methodology uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle? → Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
17. A leak correlator is used in water distribution systems to: → Pinpoint the location of underground leaks using acoustic signals
18. According to AWWA standards, what is the minimum residual chlorine level recommended at the extremities of a water distribution system? → 0.1 mg/L
19. What is risk mitigation? → Taking actions to reduce the probability or impact of identified risks
20. Which backflow prevention device provides the highest level of protection against contamination? → Reduced pressure principle assembly (RPZ)
21. Which of the following represents a high-hazard cross-connection? → A swimming pool with an automatic fill valve inlet submerged below the waterline
22. What role does data collection play in quality improvement? → It provides objective evidence for identifying trends and measuring progress
23. AWWA C706 specifies accuracy requirements for customer meters; what is the typical accuracy tolerance for displacement meters at normal flow rates? → ±2%
24. Under the EPA's Total Coliform Rule (TCR), what must a water system do if it finds a positive total coliform sample? → Collect repeat samples within 24 hours to confirm or negate the finding
25. What is the primary goal of threat analysis in the AWWA RAM-W methodology? → Identifying credible threats and characterizing adversary capabilities
26. Which statistical measure describes the spread or variability of replicate measurements around their mean? → Standard deviation
27. What is the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in drinking water? → 0 µg/L
28. What are the two recognized types of backflow? → Backsiphonage and backpressure
29. AWWA C510 provides requirements for which valve type commonly used to isolate water mains? → Double-check valve assemblies
30. Which AWWA standard specifically governs installation and field testing of ductile iron water mains? → AWWA C600