NCEES Environmental Engineering

Question 1

On the NCEES PE Environmental exam, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test measures:

Accepted Answer

The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms in degrading organic matter

Answer

The chemical oxygen demand of industrial effluents at high temperature

Answer

The total dissolved solids in a water sample

Answer

The oxygen saturation of surface water streams

Question 2

In NCEES PE Environmental engineering, the primary treatment of wastewater involves:

Accepted Answer

Physical removal of settleable solids and floating materials

Answer

Biological nutrient removal

Answer

Chemical precipitation of heavy metals

Answer

UV disinfection of pathogens

Question 3

According to NCEES PE Environmental standards, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate in drinking water is:

Accepted Answer

10 mg/L as N

Answer

1 mg/L as N

Answer

50 mg/L as N

Answer

100 mg/L as N

Question 4

In NCEES PE Environmental practice, the Streeter-Phelps model describes:

Accepted Answer

Dissolved oxygen sag in streams downstream of an organic waste discharge

Answer

Groundwater flow in confined aquifers

Answer

Atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants from a point source

Answer

Leachate migration through landfill liners

Question 5

On the NCEES PE Environmental exam, which unit process is used to remove hardness (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) from drinking water?

Accepted Answer

Lime-soda softening

Answer

Chlorination

Answer

Coagulation-flocculation

Answer

Activated carbon adsorption

Question 6

In NCEES PE Environmental engineering, the Darcy-Weisbach equation is used to calculate:

Accepted Answer

Head loss due to friction in pipes

Answer

Groundwater seepage velocity

Answer

Evapotranspiration rates in watersheds

Answer

Settling velocity of particles