MA Water Operator flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Watershed protection
- Land-use controls and buffer zones to prevent contaminants from entering source water, protecting public health and reducing treatment costs.
- Sanitary survey
- On-site inspection of water system to identify potential contamination risks and ensure compliance with regulations.
- GWUDI
- Groundwater under direct influence of surface water; requires additional treatment to meet surface water treatment rules.
- Coagulation
- Process of adding chemicals to destabilize particles and allow them to clump together for removal.
- Flocculation
- Gentle mixing to promote particle collisions and formation of larger floc particles for settling.
- Sedimentation
- Gravity settling of floc and particles in a basin; design based on surface overflow rate and detention time.
- Filtration
- Passing water through porous media to remove residual particles; monitored by turbidity and headloss.
- Backwashing
- Reverse flow of water through a filter to clean it; criteria include bed expansion and backwash rate.
- CT concept
- Disinfectant concentration multiplied by contact time; used to determine disinfection efficacy for pathogen inactivation.
- Chlorine demand
- Difference between applied chlorine dose and residual after contact time; must be satisfied before free residual appears.
- Breakpoint chlorination
- Point where chlorine demand is satisfied and free chlorine residual begins to increase, shown on a chlorination curve.
- Trihalomethanes
- Disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter; regulated with MCLs.
- Haloacetic acids
- Disinfection byproducts formed during chlorination; regulated with maximum contaminant levels.
- UV disinfection
- Inactivates pathogens by damaging DNA; does not provide residual; often used with chlorine.
- Ozone disinfection
- Strong disinfectant and oxidant; no residual; can form bromate in bromide-containing waters.
- Turbidity
- Measure of water clarity; regulatory limit typically 0.3 NTU in filtered water; monitored continuously.
- DPD method
- Common method for measuring chlorine residual using DPD indicator; results compared to color standards.
- Bacteriological sampling
- Testing for total coliform and E. coli; presence indicates potential contamination and triggers repeat sampling.
- Chain of custody
- Documentation tracking sample possession from collection to analysis; ensures legal defensibility.
- Safe Drinking Water Act
- Federal law governing public water systems; EPA sets national standards for drinking water quality.
- Total Coliform Rule
- Requires monitoring for total coliform; repeat sampling and corrective actions if positive.
- Surface Water Treatment Rule
- Requires filtration and disinfection for surface water systems; includes CT requirements.
- Lead and Copper Rule
- Requires corrosion control, monitoring, and public education if action levels exceeded.
- Consumer Confidence Report
- Annual report to customers summarizing water quality and compliance; required by EPA.
- Public notification
- Required for violations (e.g., MCL exceedance, monitoring failure) within specified timeframes.
- Confined space entry
- Requires permit, atmospheric testing, ventilation, attendant, and rescue plan; ensures safety.
- Lockout/tagout
- Isolate energy sources before maintenance; follow written procedures to prevent accidental startup.
- Emergency response plan
- Includes vulnerability assessment, communication, and coordination with local emergency services.
- Flow rate formula
- Q = V × A (velocity × cross-sectional area); units must be consistent (e.g., ft³/s, gpm).
- Detention time
- t = V / Q (volume divided by flow rate); convert units carefully to match.
- Pressure and head
- 1 psi = 2.31 ft of water; head (ft) = pressure (psi) × 2.31.
- Water horsepower
- WHP = (Q (gpm) × head (ft)) / 3960; brake horsepower = WHP / efficiency.