OIT OIT Environmental Regulations and Permits 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Lead and Copper Rule, what action must a water system take if lead levels exceed the action level of 15 ppb?
- Immediately shut down the system
- Notify customers and take corrective actions (Correct answer)
- Increase chlorine dosage
- Raise the water pressure
Correct answer: Notify customers and take corrective actions
When lead exceeds the 15 ppb action level, the utility must notify affected customers and implement approved corrosion control or other corrective actions.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the Total Coliform Rule (TCR)?
- To limit industrial chemicals in drinking water
- To ensure drinking water is free from harmful coliform bacteria (Correct answer)
- To regulate the use of chloramines in water treatment
- To set standards for turbidity in finished water
Correct answer: To ensure drinking water is free from harmful coliform bacteria
The Total Coliform Rule sets standards for coliform bacteria to protect against microbial contamination in public water systems.
Question 3: What is the required frequency for reporting violations of primary drinking water standards to the state?
- Annually
- Monthly
- As soon as practicable, no later than 48 hours (Correct answer)
- Within 30 days
Correct answer: As soon as practicable, no later than 48 hours
Primary standard violations must be reported to the state as soon as practicable but no later than 48 hours after discovery.
Question 4: Which term describes the legal document issued to a water utility that defines the conditions under which it may operate?
- Operating manual
- Permit to operate (Correct answer)
- Discharge license
- Water rights deed
Correct answer: Permit to operate
A permit to operate (or operating permit) is the legal document that authorizes a water utility to operate and defines compliance conditions.
Question 5: What is the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) primarily designed to protect against?
- Heavy metal contamination in groundwater
- Giardia and Cryptosporidium from surface water sources (Correct answer)
- Nitrate contamination in private wells
- Chemical spills in distribution systems
Correct answer: Giardia and Cryptosporidium from surface water sources
The SWTR requires filtration and disinfection of surface water supplies to specifically protect against Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium.
Question 6: What is the significance of a Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL)?
- It is a legally enforceable health-based standard
- It is a non-enforceable guideline for aesthetic water quality (Correct answer)
- It sets the maximum allowable disinfectant residual
- It defines limits for radioactive contaminants
Correct answer: It is a non-enforceable guideline for aesthetic water quality
SMCLs are non-enforceable guidelines set by the EPA for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance but not direct health.
OIT OIT Environmental Regulations and Permits 2
Under the Lead and Copper Rule, what action must a water system take if lead levels exceed the action level of 15 ppb?