NJ Water/Wastewater Operator flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Watershed protection area

Land area draining to a surface water intake where contaminant sources can affect raw-water quality; delineating it supports source water protection planning and monitoring.

Groundwater under direct influence

Groundwater that is hydraulically connected to surface water and may contain surface-water pathogens; it is regulated like surface water and requires appropriate treatment barriers.

Specific capacity

Well yield divided by drawdown, usually expressed in gallons per minute per foot; a higher value indicates a more efficient well and aquifer connection.

Reservoir turnover

Seasonal mixing of a stratified reservoir when surface and bottom waters reach similar density; it can resuspend sediments and release iron, manganese, and taste-and-odor compounds.

Wellhead protection area

A delineated zone around a public well where potential contaminant sources can reach the well within a specified time of travel; used for land-use and source protection.

Primary MCL

An enforceable maximum contaminant level set to protect public health from a contaminant in drinking water; violations require treatment, reporting, and public notification.

Secondary MCL

A non-enforceable drinking water standard for aesthetic qualities such as taste, odor, color, corrosivity, or foaming; it helps systems manage consumer acceptance rather than acute health risk.

Lead action level

The 90th-percentile lead concentration of 0.015 mg/L in tap samples; exceeding it triggers corrosion control, public education, and lead service line replacement requirements.

Total coliform MCL

A drinking water rule limit based on the presence of total coliform bacteria in routine and repeat samples; systems that exceed it must assess the distribution system and notify the public.

Disinfection byproduct LRAA

Locational running annual average used for TTHM and HAA5 compliance; the limits are 80 µg/L for TTHM and 60 µg/L for HAA5 at each monitoring location.

CT

Disinfectant concentration in mg/L multiplied by contact time in minutes; regulatory CT tables specify required values based on disinfectant, temperature, pH, and pathogen.

Coagulation

A treatment step that destabilizes suspended particle charges so particles can collide and agglomerate; optimum coagulant dose and pH are established by jar testing.

Flocculation

Gentle mixing after rapid mix that encourages small destabilized particles to collide and grow into larger floc that can be removed by sedimentation and filtration.

Filter backwash

An upward-flow washing step that expands granular filter media and removes captured solids; it is followed by media ripening or filter-to-waste before normal service.

Lime-soda softening

A precipitation process that removes calcium and magnesium hardness by adding lime and sometimes soda ash; it produces sludge and raises pH, requiring stabilization.

Cross-connection

Any actual or potential link between a potable water system and a nonpotable source; it creates a pathway for contamination by backpressure or backsiphonage.

Air gap

A physical separation between a potable water outlet and the highest possible level of a nonpotable receiving vessel; it is the highest-level backflow protection.

Minimum distribution pressure

The lowest pressure that must be maintained in a water main to prevent contamination; 20 psi is the common regulatory minimum during main breaks and fire flow.

Infiltration and inflow

Infiltration is groundwater entering sewers through defects, while inflow is stormwater entering through direct connections; both add clear water that reduces treatment capacity.

Sanitary sewer overflow

A release of untreated sewage from a collection system before reaching the treatment plant; it must be reported, contained, and corrected under state requirements.

Cavitation

Formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in a pump when local pressure falls below vapor pressure; it causes noise, vibration, and impeller damage and is prevented by adequate NPSH.

Affinity laws

Pump relationships showing flow changes directly with speed, head with the square of speed, and power with the cube of speed for a constant impeller diameter.

Confined space entry

Entry into a space with limited access and poor ventilation; testing must show oxygen at least 19.5%, no flammable gas, and acceptable toxic gas before entry.

Lockout tagout

An energy-control procedure that isolates power sources with locks and tags before maintenance; it prevents accidental startup and release of stored energy.

DPD method

A colorimetric test for chlorine residual in which DPD reagent reacts with chlorine to produce a color measured by a photometer or comparator.

Bacteriological holding time

Drinking water bacteriological samples must be analyzed within 30 hours of collection; sterile bottles contain sodium thiosulfate to neutralize chlorine.

Chain of custody

A written record tracking sample possession, time, and location from collection through laboratory analysis; it supports data integrity and regulatory defensibility.

Turbidity NTU

Nephelometric turbidity units measure light scattering by suspended particles; turbidity is a key indicator of filtration performance and microbial risk.

Consumer Confidence Report

An annual report that public water systems provide to customers describing source water, detected contaminants, compliance, and health effects; it is due by July 1.

Sanitary survey

An on-site inspection by the primacy agency of a public water system's source, treatment, distribution, operation, and records to identify sanitary defects and compliance issues.

NJPDES DMR

A discharge monitoring report submitted by an NJPDES-permitted wastewater facility; it records monitoring results and demonstrates compliance with permit effluent limits.

Tier 1 public notice

Immediate public notification required for acute health risks such as E. coli or nitrate exceedances; the system must notify customers within 24 hours and consult the primacy agency.