BE/B Eng Bachelor of Engineering Environmental Engineering 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the US, which federal law primarily regulates the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters?
- Clean Water Act (CWA) (Correct answer)
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Correct answer: Clean Water Act (CWA)
The Clean Water Act (1972) establishes the framework for regulating pollutant discharges into US waters and sets water quality standards for surface waters.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of activated sludge in wastewater treatment?
- To use microorganisms to biologically degrade dissolved organic matter (Correct answer)
- To chemically precipitate heavy metals
- To filter suspended solids through a membrane
- To neutralize acidic wastewater
Correct answer: To use microorganisms to biologically degrade dissolved organic matter
The activated sludge process introduces air into wastewater mixed with a dense microbial community, enabling aerobic bacteria to metabolize and remove dissolved organic pollutants.
Question 3: What is the primary health risk associated with lead contamination in drinking water?
- Neurological damage, especially in children (Correct answer)
- Liver failure in adults
- Respiratory disease
- Skin cancer
Correct answer: Neurological damage, especially in children
Lead is a potent neurotoxin; even low-level exposure causes irreversible cognitive and behavioral damage in children, affecting IQ, attention, and academic performance.
Question 4: Which renewable energy source generates electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of wind?
- Wind turbine (Correct answer)
- Solar photovoltaic panel
- Hydroelectric dam
- Geothermal plant
Correct answer: Wind turbine
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of moving air into rotational mechanical energy, which drives a generator to produce electricity.
Question 5: In environmental impact assessment (EIA), what is the purpose of the scoping phase?
- To identify the significant issues and potential impacts that should be studied in detail (Correct answer)
- To write the final environmental impact report
- To obtain permits from regulatory agencies
- To implement mitigation measures
Correct answer: To identify the significant issues and potential impacts that should be studied in detail
Scoping defines the boundaries and focus of an EIA by identifying which environmental issues, alternatives, and impacts warrant detailed study, reducing unnecessary analysis.
Question 6: What is the function of a cyclone separator in industrial air pollution control?
- To use centrifugal force to separate particles from a gas stream (Correct answer)
- To absorb gaseous pollutants in a liquid scrubber
- To burn combustible pollutants at high temperature
- To filter gases through activated carbon
Correct answer: To use centrifugal force to separate particles from a gas stream
A cyclone separator spins the gas stream, creating centrifugal force that drives heavier particles to the wall and down into a collection hopper, separating them from the cleaned gas.
BE/B Eng Bachelor of Engineering Environmental Engineering 2
In the US, which federal law primarily regulates the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters?