Environmental Engineering Sheet 1
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1) Question.
The product of ions and ions in a stronger alkali is
Answer. -
2) Question.
Standard EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) solution is used to determine the
Answer.Standard EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid) solution is used to determine the total hardness of water.
EDTA forms stable complexes with calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions, which are responsible for water hardness.
This test is known as the EDTA titration method.
Quick Memory Trick:
EDTA → Hardness (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)
Turbidity → Nephelometer
Dissolved Oxygen → Winkler's method
Residual Chlorine → Orthotolidine (OT) or DPD method
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3) Question.
The maximum permissible limit for flouride in drinking water is
Answer. -
4) Question.
The phenolic compounds in public water supply should not be more than
Answer. -
5) Question.
The most common cause of acidity in water is
Answer.The most common cause of acidity in natural water is dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂).
CO₂ dissolves in water and forms carbonic acid (H₂CO₃):
CO2 + H2O ---> H2CO3
Carbonic acid lowers the pH of water, making it acidic.
Quick Memory Trick:
CO₂ → Carbonic acid → Acidity
O₂ → Dissolved oxygen
H₂ → Not responsible for water acidity
N₂ → Inert gas
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6) Question.
Which of the following is not a water borne disease?
Answer.- Dysentery – Water-borne disease (spread through contaminated water/food).
- Cholera – Water-borne disease (caused by contaminated water).
- Typhoid – Water-borne disease (spread through contaminated food and water).
- Malaria – Not a water-borne disease. It is a vector-borne disease, transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
Correct Answer: ✅ 4. Malaria
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7) Question.
The polluted water is one which
Answer.Polluted water is water whose physical, chemical, or biological quality has deteriorated due to the presence of undesirable substances. These impurities make the water unsafe or unsuitable for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, and other domestic purposes without proper treatment.
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8) Question.
Ground water is usually free from
Answer.Groundwater is usually free from suspended impurities because it passes through layers of soil and rocks, which act as natural filters and remove suspended particles. However, it generally contains dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, chlorides, and sulphates.
Therefore, groundwater is usually free from suspended impurities but not from dissolved impurities.
✅ Answer: 1. Suspended impurities
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9) Question.
As compared to shallow-wells, deep wells have
Answer.Option 3. More discharge ✅ (Correct)
- Deep wells draw water from deeper aquifers, which have a larger storage capacity.
- They provide a higher and more reliable discharge than shallow wells and are less affected by seasonal fluctuations.
- Shallow well: Low discharge, more susceptible to contamination, affected by seasonal changes.
- Deep well: High discharge, safer water quality, and reliable year-round supply.
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10) Question.
The maximum discharge of a tube-well is about
Answer.Maximum discharge of tube well → 50 L/s
Suitable soil for tube well → Deep alluvial soil
Source of water → Groundwater
Main component to prevent sand entry → Strainer (Screen)
Material used around strainer → Gravel packing
Most suitable pump for deep tube well → Submersible pump
Tube well classification → Shallow tube well, Deep tube well
Typical life of a tube well → 20–30 years
Purpose of gravel packing → Increase yield and prevent sand entry
Most suitable aquifer → Confined aquifer
Common diameter of tube well → 100–450 mm
Tube well is economical when → Groundwater table is deep and demand is high
Main advantage → Continuous and reliable water supply
Main disadvantage → Requires pumping power (electricity/diesel)
Yield depends on → Aquifer properties and well design
Development of tube well is done to → Remove fine particles and increase discharge
Specific capacity of tube well → Discharge per unit drawdown (Q/s)
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11) Question.
The type of value, which is provided on the suction pipe in a tube-well, is
Answer.Answer: ✅ 2. Reflux valve (Foot valve / Non-return valve)
Explanation:
A reflux valve (foot valve) is provided on the suction pipe of a tube well to:
Prevent the backflow of water when the pump stops.
Keep the suction pipe full of water (maintain priming)
Exam Point:
Reflux valve = Non-return valve (NRV) = Foot valve ✅
Location: Bottom end of the suction pipe.
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12) Question.
Select the correct relationship between porosity (N), specific yield (y) and specific retention (R)
Answer. -
13) Question.
The devices which are installed for drawing water from the sources are called
Answer.Intakes are structures or devices installed at the source of water (river, lake, reservoir, canal, etc.) to draw or collect water for water supply or treatment.
Aquifer → Underground water-bearing formation.
Aquiclude → Impervious underground layer that does not allow water to pass.
Filters → Remove impurities from water.
Intakes → Draw water from the source. ✅
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14) Question.
The depression of water table in a well due to pumping will be maximum
Where R is the radius of influence
Answer.When a well is pumped, the groundwater level forms a cone of depression.
Maximum drawdown (depression of the water table) occurs at the well itself (closest to the well).
As the distance from the well increases, the drawdown decreases.
At the radius of influence (R), the drawdown becomes nearly zero.
Exam Point:
Maximum drawdown → At the well (close to the well) ✅
Minimum drawdown → At the radius of influence (R)
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15) Question.
The suitable method of forecasting population for a young and rapidly increasing city is
Answer.The Geometrical Increase Method assumes that the population increases by a constant percentage (compound growth).
It is most suitable for:
Young cities
Rapidly growing cities
Memory Trick:
Young & rapidly growing city → Geometrical Increase Method ✅
Old & stable city → Arithmetical Increase Method
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16) Question.
The horizontal tunnels constructed at shallow depths along the banks of a river to intercept the ground water table are called -
Answer.Infiltration galleries are horizontal tunnels or perforated pipes constructed at shallow depths along the banks of rivers to intercept and collect groundwater that naturally filters through the soil.
Exam Points:
Infiltration gallery → Horizontal tunnel near river bank. ✅
Infiltration well → Vertical well.
Purpose → Collect naturally filtered groundwater.
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17) Question.
The water obtained from ........ is generally known as sub-surface water.
Answer. -
18) Question.
The water obtained from ....... is generally known as underground water.
Answer.Sub-surface water (groundwater) is the water stored below the ground surface in the pores and fractures of soil and rocks. Water obtained from artesian wells comes from confined aquifers beneath the earth's surface, so it is classified as sub-surface water.
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19) Question.
The water obtained from the tube wells is known as -
Answer. -
20) Question.
The water supply system means -
Answer.