North Carolina Surface Water Math Practice Test

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• Define “total suspended solids” (TSS) and its implications for water quality.
• How many total pounds of alum is added from Monday through Friday given the following rates: 250 lbs, 210 lbs, 195 lbs, 204 lbs, and 212 lbs?
• What would be the total weight of chlorine needed for disinfection if a 500,000-gallon tank requires 50 mg/L dosage of 70% HTH?
• To ensure effective monitoring of surface water, what should be considered regarding sampling?
• How many gallons per minute are in 3.2 cubic feet per second?
• What does the acronym BMP stand for in surface water management?
• Which indicator is commonly used in biological assessments to measure ecosystem health?
• What phenomenon is eutrophication primarily associated with?
• What is the impact of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) on water bodies?
• How many gallons are there in 14 cubic feet?
• What is a watershed management plan designed to do?
• What does coordinated management in IWRM typically involve?
• If the alum feed rate is set at 2.6 mg/L, how much alum is in pounds when treating 5.5 million gallons?
• Which of the following is an example of a chemical parameter measured in surface water testing?
• How does the presence of riparian buffers affect wildlife?
• Why is it important to regularly monitor streams and rivers?
• What role do riparian buffers play in surface water protection?
• What is stormwater runoff?
• Describe the importance of riparian buffers in surface water protection.
• How many minutes of detention time will a flow of 8,328 gpm through a cylindrical tank 20 feet high with a diameter of 80 feet allow?
• What is the daily amount of aluminum sulfate needed if a plant treats 9 MGD with a desired feed rate of 20 mg/L?
• What parameter does the Clean Water Act require the states to regulate?
• How does stream channelization typically affect water quality?
• The clearwell at a 3 MGD plant is 102 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. What is the volume of the tank in cubic feet?
• What is an allowable exceedance in water quality standards?
• Why is sampling frequency important in surface water quality monitoring?
• How do algae blooms indicate surface water quality issues?
• What is the role of water quality standards established by the EPA?
• How many MGD can a 55 gpm well produce?
• A sedimentation basin is 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 12 feet deep. What is the volume of the tank in cubic feet?
• How many hours of detention time will a sedimentation basin measuring 120 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 20 feet deep provide if the flow is 6 MGD?
• What is the concept of “water quality trading”?
• How does temperature generally affect the solubility of oxygen in water?
• Why is dissolved oxygen important for aquatic life?
• What are the potential consequences of groundwater over-extraction on surface waters?
• What is the primary purpose of surface water management in North Carolina?
• A sedimentation basin is 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 12 feet deep. What is the volume of the tank in gallons?
• Convert 65 feet of head to inches of Mercury.
• What can be a result of poor water quality in surface water?
• Why are fish population assessments important in surface water management?
• Which of the following best describes the effect of increased sediment in surface water?
• What are point source pollutants?
• What does the term “biomagnification” refer to in aquatic ecosystems?
• What is the difference between chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)?
• How can community involvement enhance surface water protection?
• What effect can increasing water temperatures due to urban heat islands have on aquatic life?
• What does TMDL stand for in the context of water quality?
• What is the average dosage in mg/L if 1,170 lbs of lime was fed over 5 days treating 3.5 million gallons per day?
• If a storage tank is 40 feet high with a diameter of 85 feet, what is the detention time in hours if the flow is 8 MGD?
• Which of the following is an example of a source of point source pollution?
• Which feature is crucial for effective water quality management plans?
• What is the pollution potential of heavy metals in surface waters?
• What is the purpose of stream restoration projects?
• What does sedimentation often do to aquatic habitats?
• What is the objective of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)?
• What can be a consequence of failing to manage surface water correctly?
• What is an indicator of potential pathogens in water?
• Why are constructed wetlands important in water management?
• What factors can influence the rate of evaporation from surface water?
• What role does runoff play during weather events like hurricanes?
• What environmental issue does surface water quality directly impact?
• What is a common method for measuring pH in surface water?
• What does a biological assessment in surface water quality monitoring involve?
• Define non-point source pollutants.
• During June, a 12 MGD plant treated 6 million gallons and used 5,400,000 gallons for backwash. What percent was the backwash?
• What does the water quality index (WQI) measure?
• Which species is commonly used as an indicator of surface water quality?
• What is sedimentation, and why is it a concern for water quality?
• Why is historical water quality data valuable for analysis?
• Define turbidity in the context of surface water.
• What federal law sets water quality standards for surface waters?
• What can increased temperatures in water bodies do to aquatic life?
• What can increased frequency of floods due to climate change impact?
• How many gallons of water are in a storage tank that is 35 feet tall with 20 feet of water and a diameter of 90 feet?
• What is the significance of turbidity in water quality assessment?
• What are the consequences of failing to adhere to NPDES permitting requirements?
• How many million gallons per day does 4400 gpm convert to?
• What is the average alum dosage in mg/L when 1,071 lbs of alum is added over five days and 5.5 million gallons are treated daily?
• What role do wetlands play in the ecosystem?
• How does agriculture typically impact surface water quality?
• What is the detention time in minutes for a basin of 40 feet by 30 feet with a flow of 3 MGD?
• How can weather events disturb surface water quality?
• What is the acceptable range of pH for most freshwater ecosystems?
• For a 500,000-gallon tank needing a 50 mg/L chlorine dosage, how many pounds of 70% HTH are required?
• What is an important role of a watershed management plan?
• Convert 55 gallons to cubic feet.
• Which condition can lead to increased evaporation from surface water?
• What are water quality objectives?
• What type of pollutants can accumulate in aquatic organisms?
• What is the significance of the 303(d) list in North Carolina?
• What is periphyton?
• What does integrated water resources management (IWRM) emphasize?
• What impact does climate change have on rainfall patterns?
• An operator needs to convert a flow rate of 4,200 gpm to million gallons per day. What is the equivalent flow rate?
• What is the detention time in minutes for a basin that measures 175 feet by 40 feet by 20 feet with a flow of 8 MGD?
• Convert 140 psi to feet of head.
• How many MGD can a 1440 gpm plant produce?
• What impact do invasive species have on native aquatic ecosystems?
• Which best describes the concept of eutrophication?
• How many feet are there in 8.3 meters?
• What is an effective way to encourage public engagement in surface water protection?
• How does precipitation affect streamflow?
• High turbidity can indicate what in terms of water quality?
• How many miles are there in 10,000 feet?
• What was the average dose in mg/L for alum fed on a five-day period with amounts of 1,150 lbs, 1,200 lbs, 1,175 lbs, 1,250 lbs, and 1,225 lbs, if 8 million gallons were treated each day?
• Why is water chemistry important in surface water management?
• Which agency is charged with enforcing water quality regulations in North Carolina?
• How can temperature changes from runoff impact aquatic life?
• What is one potential outcome of nutrient pollution?
• What type of events can lead to erosion of surface water bodies?
• What is one consequence of hurricanes on surface water?
• Convert a flow rate of 1,500 gallons per minute to MGD.
• How many pounds of 70% pure HTH must be added to a 2 million gallon tank for disinfection at 50 ppm?
• A cylindrical tank is 20 feet high with a diameter of 85 feet. With a flow of 6 MGD to the tank, what is the detention time in hours?
• How can effective water management contribute to surface water quality?
• How do invasive species affect surface water ecosystems?
• What role does citizen science play in monitoring water quality?
• What is the flow rate in gallons per day of a plant treating 5 MGD?
• Convert 16 inches to feet.
• Which of the following can stabilize sediments in water bodies?
• What is 84 feet of head in psi?
• Convert 6 million gallons per day to cubic feet per second.
• How many pounds of alum are needed to achieve 30 ppm if the plant treats 4 MGD?
• How do stormwater management practices help in reducing pollution?
• Convert 860 minutes to days.
• How does changing land use in a watershed typically affect surface water quality?
• What role does public participation play in surface water management?
• What is the primary benefit of adopting low-impact development (LID) practices in urban areas?
• What is the process called when excess nutrients lead to algal blooms in water bodies?
• Which practice helps to mitigate the effects of climate change on water resources?
• Which factor is a major concern for the impact of urbanization on surface water?
• What does watershed management aim to optimize?
• How does an aquifer relate to surface water?
• What is one of the negative effects of sedimentation on surface water systems?
• How do aquatic plants affect surface water quality?
• How does increased temperature typically affect oxygen levels in surface waters?
• 300 pounds of lime are applied to treat 4 million gallons of water. What is the dosage in mg/L?
• How is surface water runoff defined?
• How do phytoplankton impact surface water ecosystems?
• Convert the temperature of water from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius.
• What might happen to water quality after heavy precipitation events?
• How many pounds of 7% bleach are needed to yield 2 parts per million in 6 million gallons per day?
• If a facility treats 5.5 million gallons of water with an average alum dosage of 7.34 mg/L, how many grams of alum are required daily?
• Which of the following is NOT a component of the hydrologic cycle relevant to surface water?
• What would be the total number of pounds of alum needed if the desired dosage increases to 10 mg/L for the same 5.5 million gallons treated?
• Convert 198,000 gallons to cubic feet.
• What is the primary factor influencing stream habitat quality?
• What best defines an aquifer?
• What is the main objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA)?
• What is one of the main purposes of the NPDES permitting system?
• What is the conversion factor to change mg/L to pounds per million gallons?
• What is the significance of fecal coliform in water quality testing?
• What type of parameters are dissolved oxygen levels considered?
• How are surface water and groundwater related?
• At maximum flow rate, what is the rate of filtration in gpm/ft² for a 5.5 MGD treatment plant with 6 filters, each 15 feet by 20 feet?
• What are two main sources of pollution impacting North Carolina's surface waters?
• How can urban development negatively affect surface water?
• What is the average flow rate in gallons per minute for a plant treating water at 3.5 MGD?
• How does agricultural runoff typically affect surface water quality?
• Why is sampling frequency important in surface water monitoring?
• Convert 13,428 ft² to acres.
• What is a key feature of effective surface water management?
• How many gallons are to be removed from a storage tank that is 30 feet tall with a diameter of 120 feet if 8 feet of water is to be pumped?
• What was the percent backwash water used if 200 million gallons of water were treated and 3.6 million gallons of backwash water were used?
• What is the urban heat island effect?
• During a week, an operator adjusts the alum dosage from 12 mg/L to 15 mg/L. If the flow rate remains constant at 4,200 gpm, what is the new daily alum feed rate in pounds?
• What does the term bioconcentration mean?
• What is the purpose of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)?
• How many total grams of alum are added daily if the operator uses an average alum feed of 51.4 mg/L on a flow of 5.5 million gallons?
• How many grams are in 10.7 pounds?
• How does the flow rate of a plant in gpm need to change to achieve a feeding rate of 500 lbs/day at 12 mg/L dosage?
• What is the term for the upper surface of saturated soil or rock?
• How does shoreline development typically impact surface water?
• Convert the temperature of water from 12 degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit.
• In order to calculate the total feed of alum required in a water treatment process, what unit analysis is typically performed?
• The clearwell at a 3 MGD plant is 102 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. How many gallons of water can the tank hold?
• Which of the following is a primary producer in surface water ecosystems?
• How high is the water level in feet if a pressure gauge at the base of a storage tank reads 52 psi?
• Which factor is commonly measured to assess the nutrient level in surface waters?
• How do properly managed sewage treatment plants affect surface water quality?
• A sedimentation basin is 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 12 feet deep. What is the surface area of the tank in square feet?
• What is a common indicator of nutrient pollution in surface water?
• How many pounds of 7% bleach are needed to dose 5,000,000 gallons of water with a concentration of 2 mg/L?
• What is the rate of filtration in gpm/ft² for a 12 MGD water plant with 6 filters each measuring 15 feet by 25 feet?
• Convert 0.005 to a percent.
• What effect does urban development have on surface water runoff?
• What outcome might result from excessive nutrient enrichment in water bodies?
• How can wetlands positively impact surface water quality?
• What type of pollutants are heavy metals classified as?
• What benefit do wetlands provide in relation to surface water quality?
• What is the filter rate in gpm/ft² for an 8 MGD plant with 4 filters measuring 20 feet wide and 30 feet long?
• What is a likely outcome of not managing sewage treatment plants effectively?
• What role do excess nutrients play in water quality?
• Which problem is most likely linked to high levels of total suspended solids (TSS)?
• How many liters are there in 4.5 gallons?
• What role does stakeholder collaboration play in water quality management?
• What is the significance of conducting a water quality assessment?
• What is a primary benefit of treating domestic wastewater in sewage treatment plants?
• Convert 0.005 ppm to ppb.
• How many pounds of lime must be fed daily to achieve a dosage of 9 mg/L if the plant treats 4 MGD?
• Convert 892 gpm to cubic feet per second.
• Why is maintaining the natural flow of streams and rivers significant?
• Which of the following best explains the process of calculating the average alum dosage in mg/L?
• How can land conservation improve surface water quality?
• How does land use impact water quality?
• What is a primary function of sediments in aquatic ecosystems?
• If an operator is feeding alum at a rate of 12 mg/L and the plant flow is 4,200 gpm, how many pounds per day is being fed?
• Which process is primarily responsible for high sediment loads in construction areas?
• If 285 million gallons of water were treated in a month and 200,000 gallons of backwash water was used per day, what percentage of backwash water was used?
• What is the primary reason for monitoring surface water quality in North Carolina?
• What does a high level of BOD indicate about surface water?
• What natural process can negatively affect river ecosystems when groundwater is over-extracted?
• Which is one method to mitigate stormwater pollution?
• What is the definition of nonpoint source pollution?
• A treatment plant adds 200 pounds of lime to 4.5 million gallons of water. Calculate the lime dosage in milligrams per liter.
• What does "flow regime" refer to in the context of surface waters?
• What defines a watershed?
• Explain the significance of a watershed in surface water management.
• What does bioaccumulation refer to?
• How can wetlands mitigate flooding risks?
• What is a common challenge in managing water quality in North Carolina?
• A basin measuring 175 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 20 feet deep holds how many gallons of water?
• The clearwell at a 3 MGD plant is 102 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep. What is the surface area of the tank in square feet?
• How can climate change affect surface water resources?
• What role does the hydrologic cycle play in surface water systems?
• What does TMDL stand for, and why is it important?
• If a treatment plant treats water at a rate of 1.5 MGD, approximately how many cubic feet does it treat in a month?
• What is the weight in pounds of 55 gallons of water?
• Convert 150 horsepower to kilowatts.
• Identify one method for treating surface water to ensure it is safe for drinking.
• How many gallons of water will 2 basins hold, each 65 feet long, 15 feet deep, and 20 feet wide?
• Which one of the following is a local benefit of public participation in water management?
• What does Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) measure?
• Convert 87% to a decimal.
• What role does sediment control have in construction projects affecting surface water?
• In relation to surface water, what is the primary goal of IWRM?