New Brunswick Wastewater Treatment Operator Level 1 Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
- What is the primary purpose of wastewater treatment?
- Produce drinking water
- Remove pathogens, solids, and pollutants
- Increase water hardness
- Create sludge for disposal
Answer: B
Rationale: Wastewater treatment’s main objective is to remove harmful
contaminants before discharge.
- What does BOD measure? 1 / 4
- Total solids
- Chlorine demand
- Amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to degrade organic matter
- Toxicity
Answer: C
Rationale: BOD represents the oxygen bacteria need to break down
biodegradable organics.
- What is the typical pH range for effective biological wastewater
treatment?
A. 2–4
B. 4–6
C. 6.5–8.5
D. 9–11
Answer: C
Rationale: Most microorganisms thrive in a near-neutral pH of 6.5–8.5.
- What is the term for wastewater entering a plant?
- Effluent
- Influent
- Filtrate
- Sludge 2 / 4
Answer: B
Rationale: Influent is wastewater entering a treatment system.
- Grit removal occurs in which stage?
- Tertiary treatment
- Disinfection
- Activated sludge
- Preliminary treatment
Answer: D
Rationale: Preliminary treatment removes sand, gravel, and heavy grit to
protect equipment.
6. The main purpose of primary clarification is to:
- Remove dissolved solids
- Remove settleable solids and floatables
- Oxidize ammonia
- Sterilize wastewater
Answer: B
Rationale: Primary clarifiers settle heavy solids and skim off lighter
materials.
- What is the typical detention time in a primary clarifier? 3 / 4
- 5 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 1–3 hours
- 24 hours
Answer: C
Rationale: Primary clarifiers commonly operate with 1–3 hours of
detention.
8. Activated sludge is primarily composed of:
- Sand
- Microorganisms and organic solids
- Metals
- Disinfectants
Answer: B
Rationale: Activated sludge is a biological mass of microorganisms and
organics.
- Which parameter indicates the amount of solids in aeration?
- pH
B. ORP
C. MLSS
- Turbidity
- / 4