Water Treatment Operator-in-Training (OIT) Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Water Treatment Operator-in-Training Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Backflow siphonage is caused by:

positive pressure in the water main
unprotected connections
unprotected openings
negative pressure in the water main

The correct answer is: negative pressure in the water main

Backflow siphonage occurs when there is a negative pressure within a water main, creating a vacuum effect. This situation can draw water from other sources, including potentially contaminated water, back into the potable water supply. When negative pressure is present, it can disrupt the normal flow of water, causing it to reverse direction. Understanding the role of negative pressure is crucial in recognizing how backflow siphonage can create risks to water quality. Proper system design and function are intended to maintain positive pressures to prevent this occurrence. While other factors like unprotected connections and openings can contribute to overall backflow risks, the unique mechanism of siphonage is directly tied to negative pressure scenarios in the distribution system.