Certification Practice Examination Questions

Industrial Pretreatment Program Coordinator Certification Practice Examination Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

1. The main objective of an industrial pretreatment program is to:

• Encourage industries to increase water use
• Prevent pollutants from interfering with wastewater treatment

operations

• Reduce the cost of wastewater treatment
• Increase sludge production

Rationale: The pretreatment program’s primary goal is to prevent

pollutants from disrupting POTW processes or passing through untreated.

2. The Clean Water Act Section 307(b) authorizes EPA to:

• Provide funding for industrial facilities
• Establish pretreatment standards for new and existing industrial sources
• License operators
• Monitor stormwater discharges 1 / 4

Rationale: Section 307(b) directs EPA to set national pretreatment

standards.

3. A POTW stands for:

• Public Office for Technical Works
• Private Operator of Treatment Works
• Publicly Owned Treatment Works
• Pollution Operations Treatment Wing

Rationale: A POTW is a wastewater treatment facility owned by a

municipality or public entity.

4. The General Pretreatment Regulations are found in:

• 40 CFR Part 403
• 40 CFR Part 403
• 40 CFR Part 136
• 40 CFR Part 122

Rationale: The national pretreatment program framework is in 40 CFR Part

403.

5. “Significant Industrial User” (SIU) is defined primarily by:

• Ownership of the facility
• Discharge volume and pollutant characteristics 2 / 4

• Type of business license
• Age of the facility

Rationale: SIU status depends on discharge flow, potential to impact the

POTW, or subject categorical standards.

6. A “Categorical Industrial User” (CIU) is regulated by:

• Local limits only
• NPDES permit
• Federal categorical pretreatment standards
• Voluntary agreements

Rationale: CIUs are subject to standards issued under 40 CFR Parts 405–

471.

7. A “pass through” violation occurs when:

• Industrial users exceed local discharge limits
• Pollutants exit the POTW untreated, causing permit violations
• Sampling is missed
• Flow exceeds design capacity

Rationale: Pass through means pollutants pass through the POTW and

cause NPDES violations.

• / 4

8. An “interference” violation means:

• Overloading of the POTW hydraulically
• Pollutants disrupt POTW operations or sludge use/disposal
• Unauthorized connections
• Minor exceedances of pH limits

Rationale: Interference impairs treatment or disposal processes.

• Which of the following is an example of a pollutant parameter

commonly limited in industrial discharges?

• Temperature only
• Dissolved oxygen
• Heavy metals such as lead, copper, zinc
• Chlorophyll-a

Rationale: Metals are common pretreatment focus pollutants due to

toxicity.

10. Local limits are established to:

• Replace federal categorical standards
• Protect the POTW and ensure NPDES compliance
• Apply to domestic users only
• Increase treatment costs

Rationale: Local limits supplement federal standards to protect the

treatment system.

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