FREE Environmental Compliance Inspector Water Quality Compliance Questions and Answers

Question 1

An inspector is reviewing a facility's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which authorizes the discharge of treated wastewater into a river.
The permit's discharge limits are primarily based on technology-based standards set by the EPA for that specific industrial category.
What are these national, technology-based standards formally known as?

Accepted Answer

Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELGs)

Answer

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Answer

Water Quality Standards (WQS)

Answer

Safe Drinking Water Standards (SDWS)

Question 2

A state environmental agency has identified a lake as 'impaired' because it does not meet water quality standards for phosphorus, even after all permitted point sources have installed required pollution control technology. Under the Clean Water Act, what must the state now develop for this lake?

Accepted Answer

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

Answer

A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit

Answer

A new set of Water Quality Criteria

Answer

An Effluent Limitation Guideline (ELG)

Question 3

Which federal law is primarily focused on protecting the quality of public drinking water supplies, including sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater, by authorizing the EPA to set enforceable health standards for contaminants?

Accepted Answer

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Answer

Clean Water Act (CWA)

Answer

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Answer

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

Question 4

An inspector is visiting a manufacturing plant that has stormwater runoff from its industrial activity areas, such as material storage yards and loading docks. This runoff flows through a ditch directly into a nearby creek. Under the Clean Water Act's NPDES program, what is this type of discharge most likely to require?

Accepted Answer

A stormwater discharge permit

Answer

A permit for indirect discharge to a POTW

Answer

A Section 404 dredge and fill permit

Answer

A No Exposure Certification (NEC)

Question 5

During a review of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), an inspector notes that a significant industrial user (SIU) is discharging pollutants that are interfering with the POTW's treatment process. Which component of the Clean Water Act specifically addresses the regulation of industrial discharges to municipal sewer systems?

Accepted Answer

The National Pretreatment Program

Answer

The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program

Answer

The Safe Drinking Water Program

Answer

The Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program

Question 6

An environmental compliance inspector is verifying the records for a public water system. The system is required to provide its customers with an annual report on the quality of the water it delivers. What is this report officially called?

Accepted Answer

Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

Answer

Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR)

Answer

Source Water Assessment Report (SWAR)

Answer

Water Quality Standards Report (WQSR)