In today’s post, we’re going to learn about food-to-microorganism ratio , also known as F-M ratio. It’s a common test question on the certification exam, so be sure to learn it. After you finish watching this video, try solving a similar F-M ratio math problem on your own. The practice exams …
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In today’s post, we’ll learn how to calculate detention time. It’s a common question on the operator certification exam, so be sure to understand this concept. This applies to both water and wastewater treatment. For more help, enroll in our online courses or try these practice exams. So what is detention time? It’s …
In today’s post, we’ll show you how to calculate flowrate through a pipe. It’s a fairly simple concept, and only involves one formula: Flowrate = (Velocity of water) x (Cross sectional area of pipe) In the following video, I demonstrate how to calculate flowrate in a pipe. If you’re looking for practice problems …
The following paragraphs summarize my recommendation for studying for the exam. Take an online course First, take an online course offered by your favorite instructor, and get familiar with the content of Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volumes 1 and 2, which are published by Sacramento State University. The more you become familiar …
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In this article, we’ll solve a practice problem on percent removal efficiency . Simply put, it’s the amount of waste removed in percent format. For example, it can be used to calculate how much BOD was removed in the primary clarifier. Moreover, this concept can be applied to the removal of total suspended solids (TSS) …
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To improve your math skills, let’s solve a wastewater math practice problem. In this post, we’ll learn how to calculate the weir overflow rate of a primary clarifier. The weir overflow rate is used to determine the potential for high velocities over the weir. Wastewater moving at a high velocity would cause more solids to …
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Let’s face it. If math is your weakness, you’re going to cringe every time you think about the wastewater operator certification exam. It’s the last thing you want to think about, especially on the weekends. However, it’s important to start thinking about various aspects of the test before you walk into the exam center. In …
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In the following practice problem, we’ll learn how to calculate detention time. Simply put, it’s the amount of time the wastewater spends inside of a basin, such as a primary clarifier or a secondary clarifier. For example, if an influent spends three hours inside of a basin to get from the point of entry to …
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Food-to-Microorganism is a way to manage the activated sludge process at a wastewater treatment plant. It’s a common concept that is tested on the wastewater treatment operator exam, so make sure that you understand it before you take your exam. In short, it calculates the ratio of organics (BOD or COD) to the amount of …
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The best way to prepare for the math section of the water and wastewater operator exam is to solve as many practice problems as possible. Try to get your hands on many different books that contain relevant math problems, and solve them until you feel confident with your knowledge of the material. And when you’re …
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The following practice problem tests the basic concept of volatile solids reduction, which is a process that uses bacteria to break down volatile solids in the absence of oxygen inside the anaerobic digester. These volatile solids originate from the waste sludge, which is gathered from the primary and secondary treatment systems. After the volatile solids …
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The following is a wastewater math practice problem regarding Sludge Volume Index, also known as SVI. Most of the time, these problems are not complicated, but make sure you understand the formula that is used to calculate it. In order to prepare for your operator exam, try to work on many wastewater math practice problems …
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Food-to-microorganism ratio is used at a wastewater treatment plant to control and manage the activated sludge process. It ensures that there is enough microorganisms in the aeration tank to remove the incoming organics (food) from the sewage. Without a correct ratio, there may not be enough microorganisms to remove the food from the influent, and …
Sludge Volume Index, also known as SVI, is another way for wastewater treatment operators to control the activated sludge process. It is a number that is used to determine if the activated sludge process is working correctly. Simply by looking at the number, an operator will be able to tell if the aeration tank …