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.
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1. Water Systems- Surface And Groundwater
a. Types of water systems (lakes, rivers, estuaries, oceans, wetlands, confined
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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
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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
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3. Collection, Treatment and Disposal
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
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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