Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Class C Water License Exam

What should the water line disinfecting process ensure besides chlorine dosage?

1. Proper detention time

2. Water temperature

3. Storage tank capacity

4. Alkalinity levels

The correct answer is: Proper detention time

The water line disinfecting process involves ensuring that adequate contact time, or proper detention time, is maintained to effectively eliminate pathogens present in the water. This means that water treated with disinfectants like chlorine needs to remain in contact with the contaminants for a sufficient duration to allow the disinfectant to do its job effectively. Insufficient detention time can lead to inadequate disinfection, allowing harmful bacteria and other pathogens to survive, which poses a risk to public health. While factors like water temperature, storage tank capacity, and alkalinity levels can also influence the disinfection process, they do not directly pertain to the effectiveness of chlorine disinfection the same way that proper detention time does. For example, temperature can affect the reaction rate of chlorine but does not substitute the need for adequate contact time. Similarly, storage tank capacity is more related to operational efficiency and ability to meet demand rather than the effectiveness of the disinfection process itself. Alkalinity can influence chlorine demand but maintaining proper detention time remains critical to ensure that the disinfection of the system is completed effectively.