Water Treatment Operator-in-Training (OIT) Practice Test

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Prepare for the Water Treatment Operator-in-Training Test. Study with quizzes and detailed explanations to maximize your understanding and readiness for the exam.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What is meant by the term "combined sewers"?

Industrial sewage and domestic sewage are collected in the same sewers
Stormwater and sewage are collected in the same sewers
The main sewer line which takes all of a city's sewage to the treatment plant
A sewer which contains both gravity sewers and force mains

The correct answer is: Stormwater and sewage are collected in the same sewers

The term "combined sewers" specifically refers to systems designed to collect both stormwater runoff and sewage—domestic waste and industrial waste—in a single pipe network. This design is intended to efficiently manage and transport both types of wastewater to a treatment facility. During periods of heavy rainfall, these systems can become overwhelmed, leading to the discharge of untreated sewage into nearby bodies of water, which is a significant environmental concern. In the context of this question, the focus is on the integration of stormwater and sewage flow. When a combined sewer system experiences excess flow, typically due to heavy rain, it can lead to combined sewer overflows (CSOs), which can pose public health risks and environmental issues. Understanding this concept is critical for water treatment operators, as it directly impacts the management and treatment of wastewater in urban areas. The other options describe different sewer configurations or functions but do not capture the essence of what "combined sewers" specifically entail.