Advanced Wastewater Treatment
A higher-level course for wastewater operators preparing for advanced certification. Covers activated sludge process control, chemical and biological phosphorus removal, nitrification and denitrification, enhanced biological nutrient removal configurations, and wastewater reclamation and reuse. Aligned to Clean Water Act and NPDES permit requirements plus industry best practices.
5
Practice questions
50
Exam questions
90 min
Timed exam
0
Math drill types
Exam outline and weighting
Passing score for this exam is 70%. Topic weights below match how the exam distributes its questions.
Activated Sludge Treatment
30% of exam · 1 questionsAeration basin biology, MLSS and MCRT, F/M ratio, sludge settleability, return and waste sludge control, and troubleshooting.
Wastewater Phosphorus Removal
18% of exam · 1 questionsChemical precipitation with metal salts, biological phosphorus uptake, dosing control, and sludge handling impacts.
Wastewater Nitrogen Removal
22% of exam · 1 questionsAmmonia oxidation, nitrification kinetics, anoxic denitrification, alkalinity demand, and carbon supplementation.
Enhanced Biological Nutrient Control
18% of exam · 1 questionsA2O, Bardenpho, UCT and SBR configurations, recycle streams, ORP and DO control, and sidestream phosphorus release.
Wastewater Reclamation
12% of exam · 1 questionsTertiary filtration, membranes, advanced oxidation, disinfection for reuse, reuse categories, and monitoring requirements.
Sludge Digestion
10% of exam · 0 questionsAnaerobic and aerobic digestion of wastewater solids: digester operation, volatile solids reduction, gas production, and process control.
Sample questions
A taste of the bank — answers and explanations included.
Mean cell residence time (MCRT) is calculated by dividing the pounds of solids under aeration by which value?
Approximately how many pounds of oxygen are required to oxidize one pound of ammonia nitrogen during nitrification?
Approximately how much total phosphorus does conventional secondary treatment remove without chemical addition or a biological phosphorus process?
Reclaimed water piping, valves, and appurtenances are identified with which color?
In the University of Cape Town (UCT) configuration, return activated sludge is directed to which zone?