Pollution Control & Waste Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CES practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pollution Control & Waste Management flashcards as text
Under the Clean Water Act, what is the definition of 'point source' pollution?
Answer: Any discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance from which pollutants are discharged
Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes, ditches, or channels that discharge pollutants directly into navigable waters.
Which parameter is used to measure the oxygen demand exerted by chemically oxidizable substances in wastewater, independent of biological activity?
Answer: Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
COD measures the total oxygen required to chemically oxidize all organic and inorganic matter in a sample using a strong oxidant like dichromate.
A hazardous waste generator ships waste off-site for disposal. Which RCRA document must accompany the waste shipment from cradle to grave?
Answer: Uniform hazardous waste manifest
The uniform hazardous waste manifest is a shipping document that tracks hazardous waste from the point of generation to final disposal.
Which air pollutant is formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight, contributing to urban smog?
Answer: Tropospheric ozone
Tropospheric (ground-level) ozone forms through photochemical reactions between NOx and VOCs in sunlight, making it a secondary pollutant.
In a municipal wastewater treatment plant, what is the function of the 'return activated sludge' (RAS) stream?
Answer: To recycle settled biomass from the secondary clarifier back to the aeration tank
RAS recycles settled microorganism-rich sludge from the secondary clarifier back to the aeration basin to maintain adequate biomass for biological treatment.
What federal law regulates the underground injection of fluids to protect underground sources of drinking water (USDWs)?
Answer: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Underground Injection Control program
The Safe Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control (UIC) program classifies injection wells and sets standards to protect drinking water aquifers.
Which waste management technique involves the high-temperature oxidation of hazardous organic wastes, achieving >99.99% destruction efficiency for certain compounds?
Answer: Incineration
Incineration at high temperatures (>1200°C) achieves destruction and removal efficiencies (DRE) of at least 99.99% for principal organic hazardous constituents (POHCs).