Detailed Examination Content

Institute of Professional Environmental Practice

Detailed Examination Content Outline of Part II:

Practice Area B: Water Quality

All approved QEP candidates are required take one of four practice area exams under Part II. 1. Water Systems- Surface And Groundwater 3 Wt% a. Types of water systems (lakes, rivers, estuaries, oceans, wetlands, confined 4 15 aquifers, unconfined aquifers, etc.) b. Hydrology and hydraulics of water systems c. Beneficial uses and related water quality requirements - Agricultural - Industrial/commercial - Residential (Potable Water) - Fish and wildlife habitat - Recreational d. Sources of contamination - Point source (outfalls, Treatment Works’ discharges, etc.) e. Non-point source (agriculture runoff, urban storm water runoff, development air deposition, etc.) 2. Water Quality Assessment 30 a. Water Quality Characteristics and Significance  Physical (turbidity, solids [TSS], temperature, odor, color, dissolved oxygen, etc.)  Chemical - Inorganic (pH, TDS, heavy metals, hardness, alkalinity, etc.) - Organic (natural, BOD, synthetic - solvents, pesticides, surfactants, etc.)  Biological (pathogenic organisms, indicator organisms, etc., biological assessment)  Radiological  Groundwater changes with time and distance b. Sampling and Measurement Techniques  Sampling issues (representative, grab vs. composite, contaminant avoidance, etc.)  Analytical issues (usability and interpretation of results, accuracy and precision, interference, etc.), data quality objects, levels of detection, quantification, etc.), treatment plant performance versus compliance.  Quality Assurance/Quality Control c. Hydraulics & Hydrology  In-plant hydraulics (flow measurement/control, distribution  Surface water hydrology (run-off prediction, flow in open channels)  Hydrology (ground water well yields, draw down, well pollution-prevention methods)  Hydrology and hydraulics of water systems

2010 Page 1 of 2 3. Collection, Treatment and Disposal 35 a. Objectives of prevention, control & treatment  Point source  Non-point source  Storm water run-off b. Pollution Prevention Methods (audits, material substitution, best management practices & systems, wellhead protection, process modifications, etc.) c. Pollution Control and Treatment Methods  Collection/distribution systems  Water and wastewater treatment processes - Physical (screening, sedimentation, filtration, etc.) - Chemical (coagulation, neutralization, ion exchange, etc.) - Biological (lagoons, suspended growth reactors, fixed film reactors, natural systems)  Sludge and/or biosolids management and stabilization, biological and chemical quality, use and disposal  Wastewater effluent management disposal d. Water distribution and storage 4. Treatment Plant Operation & Management 20 a. Legal/Regulatory Compliance (general concepts, generic regulatory approaches)  Compliance criteria and documentation b. Reuse specifications c. Standard Operating Procedures d. Best-In-Class type comparisons e. Risk Assessment and Management  Toxicity assessment (aquatic bioassay, whole effluent, bioaccumulation, etc.)  Fate and transport of contaminants

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