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Water Operator Certification Study Material ( New
Mexico) (Basic) Final Midterm Exam With Well Detailed
Question & Answers Perfectly A+ Graded New 2025
Updated Version
Maximum Contaminent Level CORRECT ANSWER>>>> MCL
Public water system is a system that serves a population of ___ or more regularly
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 25
Maximum total chlorine residual ___ mg/l CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 4
What type of contaminant is Iron CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Secondary
Primary contaminant is sometimes added to water supplies to prevent tooth decay
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Fluoride
The Failure of a public water system to comply with the NM Drinking Water Regulations must be
reported to NMED within ___ hours CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 48
MCL for Total Trihalomethanes ___ mg/l CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 0.
SDWA sampling results must be reported to CORRECT ANSWER>>>> New Mexico
Enviroment Department (NMED)
Ground water systems must sample for inorganic chemicals every ___ years CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 3
The SDWA Compliance Cycle for Standardized Monitoring Rule consists of ___ Compliance
Periods CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 3
___ or less than 5% bacteriological samples must be taken every month before a system is allowed to have TWO positive samples without violating the drinking water standard?
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 40
Action level for Lead ___ mg/l CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 0.
If Bacteriological retakes are done this month what is the minimum number of samples that
must be turned in next month? CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 5
if a 3-log removal is required for Giardia Lamblia what percentage of organisms can survive and
still meet requirements CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 0.
To insure the water being sampled is from the main and not the customers plumbling
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Flush line
Number is used to determine how many Bac-t samples must be taken CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> People served
Minimum number of Bac-T samples required each month? CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 1
Anytime the MCL is exceeded and fecal coliform positive results come back from any of the
samples CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Non-acute violation
If retakes are required this month what is the minimum number of samples required next
month CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 5
Bacteria that are found only in surface water supplies CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Cryptosporidium & Giardia
How soon must NMED be notified that a Bacterial MCL has been exceeded? ___ hours
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 24
Coliform group CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Indicator organism
Waterborne pathogens found in all water supplies CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Typhoid,
Cholera, Dysentery, Hepatitis, Paratyphoid (types A & B)
Disease causing Bacteria CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Pathogens
Water CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Universal solvent
Ground & Surface CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Two sources of water
Water that is safe to drink CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Potable
Natural water cycle CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Hydrologic Cycle
Water that is lost or given up to the atmosphere by plants or the surface of streams, lakes and
oceans. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Evapotranspiration
Destruction of Pathogens CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Disinfection
May be used for the removal of Iron & Manganese, some kinds of Taste & Odors, and some
dissolved gases, such as Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Chlorine
Byprouducts of drinking water chlorination. these byprouducts form when chlorine reacts with
dissolved natural organic matter, moslty plant life CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Trihalomethanes
Cause problems with liver, kidney, central nervous systems, may increase cancer risk and have
possible reprouductive health risks CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Trihalomethanes
At what temperature does the designed fusible plugs melt? ___ F CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 157
Why is Fluoride added to drinking water? CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Prevent tooth decay
Chemicals used as sources of fluoride CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Sodium silicofluoride
and hydrofluorosilic acid
Optimum concentration of fluoride in water. ___ mg/l CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 0.8 - 1.
Factor is used to determine the optimum dosage of fluoride CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Air temperature
Liquid fluoride CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Hydrofluorosilicic acid
If a system adds fluoride, fluoride testing should occur CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Daily
Why is fluoride an Inorganic Primary Contaminant CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Causes
harder more brittle bones
Equipment used to feed liquid fluoride or liquid chlorine CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Positive displacement diaphragm metering pumps
Percentage unaccounted for water become excessive? CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 10
Located where the service is attached to the main CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Corporation
stop
Type of valve is best suited for throttling flows CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Butterfly Valve
Under registers and records less water than actually used CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Worn meter
Caused by closing a valve too quickly CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Water hammer
The best way to protect the water supply from contamination by cross-connection
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Air gap
The positive side of the cathodic protection system CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Cathode
When filling a main, the water velocity should never exceed? ___ ft/sec CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 1
Used when two storage tanks that serve the same area have different overflow elevations
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Altitude Valve
Mineral Contaminants CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Iron, Manganese, Carbon Dioxide,
Hydro Sulfide
Turbidity Contaminants CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Silt & Clay, Suspended Matter That will
not readily settle Most Turbidity carry a negative charge causing a electro-chemical repulsion called
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Zeta Potential
Inorganic contaminants CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Lead, Mercury, Nitrate, Nitrite,
Selenium, Arsenic, Radionuclides
Organic contaminants CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Pesticides, Herbicides, Synthetic
Organic Chemicals, Volatile Organic Chemicals
Microbiological contaminants CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Bacteria, Virus & Protozoa
Radiological Contaminants CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Natural or man made sources of
Radiation A physical & Chemical reaction occurring which results in the formation of insoluable solids
(Floc) which settles CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Coagulation
Violations for Chemical/s Must be reported in ___ days CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 7
Violations for Radiological must be reported in ___ hours CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 48
Sanitary survey records must be kept ___ years CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 10
Removal of taste and odor problems CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Air stripping
Head loss for a Rapid sand Filter should not be more than ___ feet CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 8
Rapid sand filter run time should not exceed ___ hours CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 100
Determines what water level that is required for water treatment operator CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Population
Chlorine gas flexible feed tubes should be replaced every ___ months CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 6
Flash mixers detention time be ___ minutes or 5 to 7 feet per second CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 1 - 3
Low voltage current through the water in a storage tank which concentrates corrosion on the
sacrificial anode CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Cathodic protection
Should be representative of the system CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Bacti samples
Hours to analyze bacti samples. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 30
Positive bacti resampling must take place CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Original location,
one upstream and one downstream
Repeat bacti samples must be collected within ___ hours CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 24
Chlorine gas is _____ times heavier than air. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 2.
MCL for iron. ___ mg/l CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 0.
Minimum residual pressure in a distribution system without public notification is ___ psi
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 20
Dissimilar metals reacting to each other in an aqueous solution CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Galvanic corrosion
Water needed for a bacti sample. ___ ml CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 100
Gate valve primary usage in a distribution system CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Isolation
Has a secondary MCL CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Manganese
Action level for copper. ___ mg/l CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 1.
Any person responsible for the operation of all or any portion of a water supply system or
wastewater facility CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Operator
Makes sure public waters systems treat the water to meet water quality standards, designed to
protect the public from unnecessary health risks. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Safe Drinking
Water Act (SDWA)
New Mexico Water Conservation Fee CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 3 cents per 1000 gallons
Used to fund sample collection and testing for inorganic, organic, and radiological contaminants
in accordance with the 1986 SDWA CORRECT ANSWER>>>> New Mexico Water
Conservation Fee
Compliance sampling will either occur at CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Point of entry or
point of use Taken from customers taps after plumbing has been flushed with fresh water from the
distribution system CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Microbiological samples
Disinfection by-products samples are taken from? CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Distribution
system
Found in the intestinal tract of warm blooded animals and humans CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Coliform bacteria
These bottles are clear plastic disposable container that are supplied by the manufacturer with
the colilert testing kits CORRECT ANSWER>>>> IDEXX
If coliform bacteria are present in the water supply ___ may be present CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Pathogens
These bottles have a hinged cap that has a snap on type seal and a hinged latch to secure it also
come with a plastic key CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Snap Lid bottle
Never use a kitchen sink faucet that swivels or and outdoor faucet that drips when selecting a
__ CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Sampling point
You should flush the line ___ minutes or until the temperature changes before taking a sample
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 3 - 5
How many mL for a chlorine sample CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 5
how many mL for a pH sample CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 10
Hold the bottle at a ___ degree angle while filling it CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 45
Samples must be refrigerated at ___ degrees Fahrenheit CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 39
When would you collect microbiological samples for reasons other than monitoring compliance
CORRECT ANSWER>>>> New & repaired water lines or wells that have been disinfected
When collecting microbiological samples for reasons other than monitoring compliance such as
new water lines You would check ___ on the form CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Special
sample
It is important to take compliance sample at the beginning of the week incase CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> Repeat samples are needed
Radiological violation records must be kept ___ years. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 10
Chemical violation records must be kept ___ years CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 10
All vents and overflows on a storage tank should be CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Screened
If a single chlorine cylinder freezes CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Feed Rate is too high
Prevents water passing from the high pressure side back to the suction side and recirculate through
the impeller again. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> Wear rings
Chlorine is ___ times heavier than water CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 1.
Gate valves have ___ turns per inch CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 3
Average detention time for flocculation process in minutes CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 30
Detention time in rapid mix process in minutes CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 1 - 3
Trunk line in a large municipal should have a isolation valve every ___ feet CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 300 - 600
If a excavation is over ___ feet deep shoring may be needed if there isn't enough space to
adequately slope a trench. CORRECT ANSWER>>>> 5
A excavation over ___ feet deep must have a ladder for access CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 4
Ladders in a trench must be located no more than ___ feet from workers CORRECT
ANSWER>>>> 25
