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OSSF Test Practice: Questions and Answers for Wastewater Treatment Systems, Exams of Water and Wastewater Engineering

A comprehensive set of practice questions and answers related to on-site sewage facilities (ossf) systems. It covers various aspects of ossf design, installation, maintenance, and regulations, including soil types, drainfield design, septic tank operation, and wastewater treatment principles. The questions are designed to test knowledge of ossf systems and their impact on the environment.

Typology: Exams

2024/2025

Available from 04/13/2025

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OSSF TEST PRACTICE
What must be known to determine the size of spray area required for an OSSF
spray irrigation system? - โœ” โœ” Rate of irrigation (Ri) allowed in that area and
(Q) in gal/day
Systems that routinely require a pump tank include - โœ” โœ” surface and drip
irrigation and sand filters
The setback from a public water well for an aerobic plant is - โœ” โœ” 50 feet
A maintenance provider for a surface application OSSF using a proprietary
aerobic plant must have an employee who is - โœ” โœ” a licensed maintenance
provider or a registered maintenance technician
OSSF disposal systems that are routinely required to have maintenance
contracts are - โœ” โœ” surface and subsurface drip irrigation
What is the purpose of requiring an affidavit to be filed with the county real
property records for a surface application system? - โœ” โœ” to notify future
property owners of the type of OSSF used and the maintenance requirements
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OSSF TEST PRACTICE

What must be known to determine the size of spray area required for an OSSF spray irrigation system? - โœ” โœ” Rate of irrigation (Ri) allowed in that area and (Q) in gal/day

Systems that routinely require a pump tank include - โœ” โœ” surface and drip irrigation and sand filters

The setback from a public water well for an aerobic plant is - โœ” โœ” 50 feet

A maintenance provider for a surface application OSSF using a proprietary aerobic plant must have an employee who is - โœ” โœ” a licensed maintenance provider or a registered maintenance technician

OSSF disposal systems that are routinely required to have maintenance contracts are - โœ” โœ” surface and subsurface drip irrigation

What is the purpose of requiring an affidavit to be filed with the county real property records for a surface application system? - โœ” โœ” to notify future property owners of the type of OSSF used and the maintenance requirements

When a maintenance contract is required for a single-family residence OSSF, the minimum frequency of site visits and type of testing is - โœ” โœ” once every four months with chlorine residual or fecal coliform testing

Required samples for testing from a surface application system are collected from - โœ” โœ” the pump tank effluent line port

An LPD system for a new three-bedroom home with 2200 Sq ft (having water- saving devices) with 9-inch-wide trenches with 1 foot of gravel depth installed in Class III soil would require __________ linear feet of dosing pipe. - โœ” โœ” 400

An important part of the installation of an LPD system is - โœ” โœ” checking and adjusting pressure on lines

Drip irrigation systems are most sensitive to which type of contaminant? - โœ”

โœ” suspended solids

A drip irrigation system must - โœ” โœ” be equipped with mechanisms to flush from the drainfield back to the treatment unit or pump tank

A mound or soil substitution drainfield is often used - โœ” โœ” when existing soils will not provide adequate treatment due to depth or texture

List each of the major soil horizons - โœ” โœ” surface soil A, surface soil B, and parent material

_____________ is a term describing the ability of water to migrate through a soil profile under either _________ or __________ conditions. - โœ” โœ” Hydraulic conductivity, saturated, unsaturated

Interconnected pores in the soil profile allow ______ and _______ to enter the soil at its surface and migrate downward - โœ” โœ” air, water

List the four components of soil - โœ” โœ” air, water, organics, inorganics

A drainfield is 50 feet by 90 feet and must be covered with an average of 15 inches of sand loam. How many cubic yards of sandy loam soil must be purchased (find the volume of a rectangular object)? - โœ” โœ” 208.3 cubic yards

What would be the volume of a 5-foot-diameter pump tank that is 5 feet tall with the inlet 1 foot below the rim? - โœ” โœ” 587 gals

What would be the percent slope on a lot 250 feet deep that drops 20 feet in elevation over the depth of the lot? - โœ” โœ” 8%

How many cubic yards of gravel would be needed to fill a ditch 3 feet deep, 10 feet wide, and 12 feet long with 18 inches of gravel? 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.

  • โœ” โœ” 6.67 cubic yards

A septic tank is 6 feet in diameter and is 8 feet deep. How many gallons will it hold if the overflow line is located half way up from the bottom? - โœ” โœ” 846 gals

Calculate the working liquid capacity (volume) for this septic tank. SEE PAGE 2- 39!! - โœ” โœ” 1077gals

What is the surface area (area in square feet) of an evapotranspiration system 40 feet wide and 65 feet long? - โœ” โœ” 2,600 sqft

Figure the acreage for a piece of property that measures 256 feet on each of four sides. - โœ” โœ” 1.5 acres

Figure the area of a lot that measures 60ft by 280ft - โœ” โœ” 16,800sqft ,0. acres

A disposal option that might be considered in a clay soil would be a ________. - โœ” โœ” drip or spray irrigation

Parasites (helminths) found in untreated sewage include ________. - โœ” โœ” hookworm, round worms, and tapeworms

Viruses are responsible for such diseases as - โœ” โœ” poliomyelitis and infectious hepatitis

A type of bacteria that indicates sewage contamination is ________. - โœ” โœ” fecal coliform

An official inspector of a new OSSF is a(n) _______. - โœ” โœ” designated representative

A trench requires 430 cubic feet of gravel. How many cubic yards must be purchased? - โœ” โœ” 16 cubic yards

A septic tank had a working volume of 31 cubic feet. How many gallons does this septic tank hold? - โœ” โœ” approx. 232 gals

The area of a lot is 20,076 square feet. What is the area of this lot in acres? - โœ” โœ” 0.46 acres

A trench measures 30 inches wide. How wide is the trench in feet? - โœ” โœ” 2.5'

A particular hazard that OSSF installers face that most construction workers do not is _______. - โœ” โœ” infectious waterborne diseases

List the equipment and procedures to protect a work site. - โœ” โœ” signs, regulated speed, cones, barricade, high level flags

Who can legally install a septic tank followed by a low-pressure dosing drain field at a rental house? - โœ” โœ” Installer II

Planning materials for an OSSF utilizing secondary treatment must be prepared by a/an - โœ” โœ” PE (professional engineer) or RS (registered sanitarian)

Penalties for violating the laws, rules, or regulations covering OSSF can be imposed under what headings - โœ” โœ” criminal, injunction, administrative

List the 9 steps of the permitting process - โœ” โœ” 1) Site Evaluations

  1. Selection of an OSSF

  2. System must be planned

  3. Professional designer (PE or RS) submits planning materials

  4. Permit application and planning materials must be prepared and submitted

  5. The application and planning materials are reviewed by permitting authority

List the OSSF licenses that require previous experience - โœ” โœ” installer II, Site evaluator (SE), and Maintenance Provider (MP)

An individual who visits a site and conducts soil evaluations and a site survey is a(n) __________. - โœ” โœ” site evaulator

An individual who holds a valid license from the TCEQ and who is compensated by another individual to construct, install, alter, or repair an OSSF is a(n) _________. - โœ” โœ” installer

The _______ is responsible for reviewing permit applications, site evaluations, planning materials, and conducting inspections of OSSFs - โœ” โœ” DR (designated representative)

_______ adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 and revised them several times

  • โœ” โœ” TCEQ

Class II soils include the USDA classes of _________ and __________. - โœ” โœ” sandy loam, loam

The _________ is a tool to graphically delineate soil textural classes. - โœ” โœ” USDA soil textural triangle

List the two unsuitable types of soil structure or structural condition. - โœ” โœ” Platy (like a stack of plates)

Massive ( can't break it up, huge pieces)

A soil color pattern of orange and brown on a background of gray or bluish color is called - โœ” โœ” mottling

The ideal soil environment for organic effluent decomposition is one of good ______ and ________. - โœ” โœ” soil air, soil water balance

Soil associations are _______ units which encompass broad areas with similar patterns of __________, __________, __________, and _________. - โœ” โœ” soil. soil profiles, vegetation, relief, and drainage

The county ____________________ is an essential tool for conducting a site evaluation but does not take the place of the on-site field soil evaluation. - โœ” โœ” soil survey

Sites with greater than ____ percent slope are unsuitable. - โœ” โœ” 30

If a soil forms a ribbon greater than 2 inches, and neither smooth or gritty consistency predominates, the soil is _______, class _____. - โœ” โœ” clay, IV

Soil suitability factors include: _________, ________, and _________. - โœ” โœ” soil texture, soil depth, and restrictive horizon

Overall site suitability factors include ________, ________, ___________, and ____________. - โœ” โœ” site factor, soil factors, groundwater evaluation, and surface drainage analysis

A common reason for wastewater system failure is __________. - โœ” โœ” hydraulic overloading (due to modernized tank usually)

The value Q is - โœ” โœ” Quantity of Sewage (GPD)

Some malfunctioning OSSF can be made to function properly with minimal cost by implementing ______________. - โœ” โœ” water conservation measures.

In estimating water usage for a single-family dwelling, the number of _________ in the home is a key indicator; however, _________ should also be considered. - โœ” โœ” bedrooms, square footage

List four water saving plumbing devices that can be used in a home. - โœ” โœ” low flow toilets, low flow shower head, low flow faucets, pressure reducing valves

Identify four water-saving habits homeowners should adopt - โœ” โœ” don't leave water running, full laundry and dishwasher loads, reduce/eliminate use of garbage disposals, not using toilet for trash disposal

Two wastewater tests commonly used to measure the strength of sewage are the ________ test and the ________ test. - โœ” โœ” BOD, TSS

The minimum water usage rate that should be used for planning an OSSF for a new home with three bedrooms and 3000 square feet of interior living area is _______ gallons/day. - โœ” โœ” 300

Blockage in the home plumbing system is often caused by _______, ________, and _________. - โœ” โœ” oils, greases, and fats

It is recommended that _____________ are not used because they significantly increase the amount of suspended solids and organic matter that is discharged to sewage disposal system. - โœ” โœ” garbage disposal

The minimum distances a watertight sewage treatment tank should be from a water-well and a property line are - โœ” โœ” 50 feet and 5 feet respectively

which of the following is true regarding septic tanks? - โœ” โœ” The must have two- or three-compartments

A septic tank serving a new five-bedroom home with 3800 sqft must have a minimum capacity of - โœ” โœ” 1,250 gallons

Of what materials may a septic tank be constructed? - โœ” โœ” steel reinforced concrete

The expected volume of wastewater (Q) in gal/day from an older (pre-1990) three-bedroom mobile home would be - โœ” โœ” 300

Which of the following characteristics should a poured-in-place concrete septic tanks have? - โœ” โœ” watertight, designed by PE, Structurally sound

The standard inlet and outlet devices in a septic tank should be - โœ” โœ” tees

Properly sealed septic tanks are - โœ” โœ” vented through the building plumbing

The liquid depth of a septic tank - โœ” โœ” must be at least 30 inches

Which of the following is true of a septic tank with 15 inches of cover? - โœ” โœ” it must have an access port with a riser

Which if the following is acceptable for the line from the building to the treatment tank? - โœ” โœ” cast iron, SDR 26 plastic pipe, and Schedule 40 plastic pipe

Most of the settable solids and scum that enter a properly designed septic tank will be - โœ” โœ” removed in the first compartment

Which of the following should a house sewer have? - โœ” โœ” A two way sanitary clean-out, minimum 1/8 inch per foot fall, minimum diameter of 3 inches

Which of the following applies if effluent is to be pumped? - โœ” โœ” A high- water alarm must be provided, the pump must be installed in a separate chamber, a check valve should be in line if the disposal area is upgrade

T/F: Septic tanks may be 1.5 inch-thick steel - โœ” โœ” F

T/F: Septic tanks may be reinforced fiberglass - โœ” โœ” T

T/F: Two single-compartment septic tanks in series are allowed - โœ” โœ” T

T/F: The tank must be level - โœ” โœ” T

T/F: A minimum 4-inch-thick sand, sandy loam, clay loam, or pea gravel pad is required under prefabricated tanks - โœ” โœ” T

The standard drainfield depth in East and Central Texas is limited to - โœ” โœ” 18 inches minimum and 36 inches maximum

The minimum distance between standard drainfield excavations is - โœ” โœ” 3 feet

Grease interceptors are needed - โœ” โœ” on wastewater lines from commercial kitchens

Which of the following is true if porous media in a standard drainfield? - โœ” โœ” It should be uniform in size, it should be 0.75 inch to 2 inches in size, it should be clean and resistant to breakdown

A standard drainfield excavation should - โœ” โœ” be level within 1 inch per 25 feet or a maximum of 3 inches whichever is less

A standard perforated drainline should be which of the following? - โœ” โœ” 3 inches to 4 inches in diameter, a maximum length of 150 feet, laid parallel in multiple-line system

The purpose of the geotextile fabric over gravel is to - โœ” โœ” prevent backfill from entering porous media

A pumped effluent drainfield - โœ” โœ” is an alternative for well-drained clay soils on nearly level sites, has a 2% or less slope for single-family dwellings only

Which of the following must be known prior to actually laying out a new OSSF? - โœ” โœ” building location, size of the property, soil conditions in the drainfield

In an unlined ET system, wastewater is disposed of by which of the following? - โœ” โœ” evaporation, transpiration, soil absorption

A gravelless pipe drainfield - โœ” โœ” can be backfilled with Class Ib, II, or III soil

A leaching chamber system - โœ” โœ” requires 25% less absorptive area than a standard system for new construction

Aerobic treatment units - โœ” โœ” utilize aerobic bacteria and oxygen to break down complex organics and produce carbon dioxide