Wastewater Operator Class 3 Definitions
Clean Water Act Ans- 1977 primary legislation concerning water pollution and its regulation. It
establishes the NPDES permit system that prohibits point sources from discharging pollutants into
waters of the United States.
EPA Ans- Environmental Protect...
Wastewater Operator Class 3 Definitions
Clean Water Act Ans- 1977 primary legislation concerning water pollution and its regulation. It
establishes the NPDES permit system that prohibits point sources from discharging pollutants into
waters of the United States.
EPA Ans- Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States
charged with protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based
on laws passed by Congress
NPDES Ans- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System is a permit issued by state or federal
government regulating amount of pollutants wastewater treatment plants can discharge
CFR Ans- Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and
regulations published in the 'Federal Register' by the executive departments and agencies (like EPA) of
the Federal Government of the United States
Wastewater Ans- The spent water of a community from homes, businesses, and industries
Domestic Wastewater Ans- Wastewater from homes and businesses with little to no industrial
components
Wastewater Physical Characteristics Ans- temperature, color (gray), odor (musty), turbidity
Sewer Use Ordinance Ans- Local ordinance that addresses what is prohibited from being discharged and
sets limits for particular pollutants
POTW Ans- Publicly Owned Treatment Works. A treatment works, as defined by Section 212 of the CWA,
that is owned by the state or municipality. Includes the treatment plant and the collection system.
Industrial Pretreatment Program Ans- A program run by a permitting authority requiring industries to
pretreat wastes and establishing discharge limits for the water sent to the POTW
,Sanitary Sewer Ans- Sewer system that transports spent water from homes, business, and industries to
the wastewater treatment plant
SSO Ans- Sanitary Sewer Overflow. Untreated of partiality treated sewage overflows from a sanitary
sewer collection system
Storm Sewer Ans- Sewer system that transports stormwater runoff to a water body
Combined Sewer System Ans- A sewer system that transports both sanitary sewage and stormwater
typically found in older municipalities
CSO Ans- Combined Sewer Overflow. A discharge of untreated wastewater from a combined sewer
system at a point prior to the headworks of a POTW. CSOs generally occur during wet weather (rainfall
or snowmelt)
Sewer Main Ans- Pipe that collects the wastewater from the system laterals and branch sewers and
conveys it to larger trunk sewers
Trunk Sewers Ans- The main arteries of a collections system that convey water to treatment plants or
interceptors
Manhole Ans- Opening to a sewer line for the purpose of permitting operators or equipment to enter or
leave a sewer
Lift Station Ans- A wastewater pumping station that lifts the wastewater to a higher elevation; usually
the next gravity sewer or the treatment plant
The Collection System Ans- A network of pipes equipment, and appurtenances that collect, pump, and
transport wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant
Slope Ans- The ratio of the vertical distance over the horizontal distance. Rise over run
, Velocity Ans- Ratio of distance over time (miles per hour) Minimum 2 ft/sec prevents solids from
dropping out. Maximum 10 ft/sec because more than that causes scouring
Roughness Coefficient Ans- Related to the roughness of the interior of a pipe. Manning's formula.
Roughness coefficient "n" The higher the value, the rougher the pipe
Valves Ans- Devices used to stop or modify the flow of water in a pipe
Check Valve Ans- A valve that normally allows water to flow through it in only one direction
Inflow Ans- A direct discharge into the sewer system through illegal connections or surface water
entering through faulty joints or displaced manhole covers
Infiltration Ans- The seepage of groundwater into the sewer system through cracked joints or pipes
Exfiltration Ans- Sewage that unintentionally leaks out of a sewer pipe and into the environment.
Usually from broken pipes, joints, cracks
Cross-Connection Ans- A connection between a potable water supply and non-potable water
Backflow Ans- Non-potable water that flows into the potable water supply due to back pressure
Backsiphonage Ans- Water flowing into the potable water supply due to negative pressure
FOG Ans- Fats, Oil, and Grease. Congeal in system and cause blockages
Hydrogen Sulfide Ans- Sewer gas that smells like rotten eggs and:
is heavier than air
is explosive when mixed with air
is corrosive
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