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Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD)
Practice Exam 2025 Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
focuses on wastewater, drinking water, and environmental compliance topics relevant to GA EPD operator certifications.
- What is the primary purpose of the Georgia EPD? A. Regulate federal tax policy B. Maintain state parks C. Protect and improve Georgia's air, land, and water resources D. Manage wildlife resources The Georgia EPD's mission is to protect and improve air, land, and water to meet environmental standards and ensure public health.
- Which act governs Georgia’s water quality standards? A. Safe Air Act B. Solid Waste Disposal Act C. Georgia Water Quality Control Act D. National Pollution Act This state act gives Georgia EPD the authority to implement water quality standards and permitting programs.
- What is a typical permit issued under the NPDES program? A. Hazardous waste storage permit
B. Groundwater recharge permit C. Discharge of treated wastewater to surface waters D. Stormwater runoff report The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits facilities to discharge treated wastewater to U.S. waters.
- Who enforces environmental laws in Georgia? A. Georgia Department of Public Health B. Federal Bureau of Investigation C. Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) D. Department of Energy The EPD is the designated enforcement agency for environmental law within the state.
- A facility discharging pollutants without a permit is in violation of which law? A. Clean Water Act B. Endangered Species Act C. CERCLA D. Clean Air Act The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants to surface waters without an NPDES permit.
- What is the maximum allowable fecal coliform concentration in recreational waters in Georgia (geometric mean)? A. 400 cfu/100 mL B. 200 cfu/100 mL
SPCC Plans are required for facilities to prevent oil spills into navigable waters. 10.The Georgia EPD uses what program to ensure safe drinking water? A. Water Reclamation Initiative B. Public Drinking Water Program C. Nonpoint Source Pollution Plan D. Clean Streams Program The Public Drinking Water Program monitors and enforces drinking water quality standards. 11.What is the term for the land area that drains into a specific waterbody? A. Contour region B. Watershed C. Aquifer D. Wetland A watershed includes all land and water areas that drain into a particular river or stream. 12.What is the permit called for land disturbance over 1 acre in Georgia? A. NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit B. Drinking Water Construction Permit C. Air Emissions Certificate D. Solid Waste Plan This permit is required for construction activities disturbing more than one acre to manage erosion and sedimentation.
13.What does MS4 stand for in Georgia stormwater programs? A. Major Sewer Storm System B. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System C. Managed Sediment Spill System D. Multi-State Sanitation Service MS4s are regulated entities that convey stormwater runoff separately from sanitary sewers. 14.What is one common parameter monitored in wastewater effluent? A. Chlorophyll B. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) C. Nitrate Aerosol Index D. Pathogenic Virus Count BOD measures the oxygen demand of organic matter and is critical in wastewater treatment performance. 15.When is a DMR submitted? A. Only after an inspection B. Monthly, as required by permit C. Annually D. Every 5 years A Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) is typically submitted monthly to report pollutant levels. 16.What Georgia law governs erosion and sediment control? A. State Soil Law B. Environmental Cleanup Act
Under the Lead and Copper Rule, stable systems sample every 3 years unless otherwise required. 20.What is the main source of phosphorus in wastewater? A. Human waste and detergents B. Rainwater runoff C. Air emissions D. Cooling water Phosphorus primarily comes from fecal matter and synthetic cleaning agents. 21.Which parameter is used to evaluate nutrient pollution? A. TDS B. Total Nitrogen C. pH D. Color Total nitrogen is a key indicator of nutrient pollution in water bodies. 22.Who sets the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for drinking water? A. Georgia Department of Health B. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency C. WHO D. Georgia Legislature EPA establishes MCLs, which Georgia adopts through EPD regulation. 23.What is the maximum level of nitrate in drinking water per EPA standards? A. 10 mg/L B. 5 mg/L
C. 20 mg/L D. 50 mg/L High nitrate levels can cause health risks like methemoglobinemia, especially in infants. 24.How often must a certified operator inspect a public water system's chlorine residual? A. Weekly B. Daily C. Monthly D. Annually Chlorine residuals are monitored daily to ensure effective disinfection. 25.Which process removes suspended solids from water? A. Ion exchange B. Sedimentation C. Filtration only D. Reverse osmosis Sedimentation allows heavier particles to settle before further treatment. 26.What is the term for the minimum concentration of chlorine required to ensure disinfection? A. Peak chlorine B. Injection dose C. Residual chlorine D. Chlorine demand
C. The property owner D. Contractors Permit holders are legally accountable for compliance with environmental regulations. 31.What is the purpose of a Notice of Violation (NOV) issued by the Georgia EPD? A. To immediately shut down a facility B. To formally notify a facility of noncompliance C. To revoke a permit D. To schedule an inspection An NOV is a formal enforcement action that identifies noncompliance and requires corrective action. 32.Which of the following would typically be included in a facility’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)? A. Wildlife census B. Best management practices for preventing stormwater contamination C. Drinking water quality reports D. Fire suppression testing logs A SWPPP outlines practices to prevent stormwater contamination from industrial or construction sites. 33.What is the typical pH range for treated municipal wastewater effluent? A. 3– 5 B. 6– 9 C. 10– 12
D. 2– 4
Most discharge permits require effluent pH to be within the 6–9 range to protect aquatic life. 34.What does “nonpoint source pollution” refer to? A. Wastewater treatment discharges B. Pollution that comes from diffuse sources such as runoff C. Pollution from industrial smokestacks D. Groundwater contamination from landfills Nonpoint source pollution occurs from runoff over land, not from a specific discharge pipe. 35.What is the primary treatment goal in a sedimentation basin? A. Bacteria removal B. Nitrate conversion C. Settle out suspended solids D. Adjust water hardness Sedimentation allows heavier particles to settle from water as part of clarification. 36.Which term refers to the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles? A. Hardness B. Turbidity C. Alkalinity D. Salinity Turbidity is a key indicator of water clarity and treatment efficiency.
D. Safe Drinking Water Act The Clean Water Act mandates state-level water quality standards. 41.What does “secondary containment” refer to in chemical storage? A. Storing twice the chemical volume B. A backup system to contain spills if the primary container fails C. Fire suppression D. Drainage only Secondary containment prevents chemical leaks from spreading to the environment. 42.Which EPD division handles hazardous waste compliance? A. Water Resources B. Land Protection Branch C. Drinking Water Unit D. Public Health Division The Land Protection Branch manages hazardous waste, landfills, and related programs. 43.What is the best way to manage used oil at a municipal facility? A. Discharge it to a sewer B. Recycle or dispose according to EPD guidelines C. Mix with water and flush D. Incinerate onsite Used oil must be handled as a regulated waste and properly recycled or disposed.
44.When does the Georgia EPD require Tier II chemical inventory reporting? A. When requested by EPA B. Annually, for facilities storing hazardous chemicals above thresholds C. Only after spills D. Every 10 years Facilities must report chemical storage to emergency responders and EPD annually. 45.What is the role of activated sludge in a wastewater treatment plant? A. Filtration of solids B. Biological treatment to remove organic matter C. Chlorine disinfection D. UV light sterilization Activated sludge uses microorganisms to break down organic material in wastewater. 46.In Georgia, what is the required buffer width along state waters under the Erosion and Sedimentation Act? A. 50 feet B. 10 feet C. 25 feet D. 100 feet Georgia mandates a 25-foot undisturbed vegetative buffer along most state waters. 47.What is the purpose of a Water Quality Certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act?
B. Industrial Pretreatment Permit C. Solid Waste Handling Permit D. Air Quality Permit Landfills are regulated under solid waste handling permits issued by the EPD. 51.Which of the following is NOT typically considered a hazardous waste? A. Used oil B. Pesticides C. Batteries D. Rainwater Rainwater is generally not considered hazardous unless contaminated. 52.What must accompany a facility’s discharge sampling under the NPDES program? A. Vendor contract B. Chain of custody documentation C. Safety inspection D. Security clearance Chain of custody ensures the integrity of samples for legal and compliance purposes. 53.A facility that applies treated effluent to land instead of discharging to surface water needs a: A. LAS (Land Application System) permit B. Stormwater permit C. Groundwater registration
D. Solid waste permit The LAS program is used in Georgia to manage land-based effluent systems. 54.When must a facility report a bypass of untreated wastewater to EPD? A. Weekly B. Immediately or within 24 hours C. With the next billing cycle D. At the end of the year Bypasses must be reported promptly to prevent environmental damage and public health risks. 55.What is the purpose of an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)? A. Hiring new employees B. Preparing for environmental and operational emergencies C. Water rate adjustments D. Conducting annual training only ERPs are critical for responding to spills, system failures, and natural disasters. 56.Which of the following increases the corrosiveness of water? A. High pH B. Low pH C. High turbidity D. High BOD Low pH (acidic water) can corrode pipes and infrastructure.
Biosolids from treatment plants are regulated under sludge management rules in the NPDES and LAS programs.
