Water and Wastewater Utilities Flashcards
6 cards from real Energy and Utilities practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Water and Wastewater Utilities flashcards as text
Which federal law sets standards for drinking water quality in the United States?
Answer: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974 authorizes the EPA to set national standards for contaminants in public drinking water systems.
What is the primary purpose of chlorination in drinking water treatment?
Answer: Disinfecting water to kill pathogens
Chlorination is the most widely used water disinfection method, killing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that could cause waterborne illness.
What does 'turbidity' measure in water quality assessment?
Answer: Cloudiness or haziness caused by suspended particles
Turbidity measures the clarity of water by quantifying light scattered by suspended particles; high turbidity can indicate contamination.
What is a 'combined sewer overflow' (CSO)?
Answer: The discharge of untreated sewage and stormwater during heavy rain from combined sewer systems
CSOs occur in older combined sewer systems when storm runoff overwhelms capacity, causing untreated sewage mixed with stormwater to discharge to waterways.
What treatment process removes dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium from water?
Answer: Water softening (ion exchange)
Water softening uses ion exchange resins to replace calcium and magnesium ions (which cause hardness) with sodium or potassium ions.
What is the purpose of the Clean Water Act Section 404 program?
Answer: Regulating discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before discharging fill material into navigable waters or wetlands.