Previous PSC Questions in

Environmental Engineering
(AE, ATP and Lecturer only)

Assistant Engineer Civil -09/07/2015 –LSGD/PWD/Irrigation

1. How the temporary hardness of water is removed?
a) By boiling b) by lime soda process
c) by zeolite process d) by aeration
2. In a water supply scheme, for what purpose aeration is carried out?
a) To remove taste and odour b) for complete elimination of colloidal matter
c) for killing pathogenic bacteria d) for coagulation
3. Which of the following laws gives the diameter of a sphere which will settle at a
specific terminal velocity?
a) Darcy’s Law b) Stoke’s Law
c) Hooke’s Law d) Gay-Lussac’s Law
4. What is called, the time in hours taken by rainwater that falls at the farthest point to
reach the outlet of a catchment?
a) Effective duration b)Basin lag
c) Time of concentration d) Recession time
5. Among the following, by which method the efficiency of a sedimentation tank can be
increased for a given discharge?
a) By increasing the depth of the tank b) by decreasing the depth of the tank
c) by increasing the area of the tank d) by decreasing the area of the tank

Assistant Engineer Civil - 30/07/2015 – Archaeology/Agriculture

6. Example of subsurface source of water.
a) River b)Ponds
c) Spring d) Streams
7. The standard unit of turbidity of water is that which is produced by 1 mg of
__________ dissolved in one litre of distilled water.
a) Finely divided silica b) Platinum cobalt
c) Potassium permanganate d) Formazin
8. A compound that imparts temporary hardness to water:
 a) Calcium sulphate b) Magnesium chloride
c) Calcium nitrate d) Magnesium carbonate
9. Which of the following is incorrect regarding a slow sand filter:
a) Incoming water should not be treated by coagulants
b) Depth of water should be double the depth of filter
c) Loss of head is limited to a maximum of 1.2 m
d) Cleaning should not be done by backwashing

10. A method of disinfection of drinking water:

a) Treatment with excess lime b) treatment with ozone
c) Electro-Katadyn process d) All the above
11. BOD of effluent from secondary biological treatment of sewage is:
a) 0-5% of the original b)5-10% of the original
c) 25-40% of the original d) 50-60% of the original
12. During sludge digestion:
a) Acidity condition should prevail b) alkaline condition should prevail
c) Acidity or alkaline condition d) Neutral condition should prevail
13. The disposal method in which solid waste is heated in an oxygen free atmosphere
and reduced to gaseous, liquid and solid fractions:
a) Pyrolysis b) Pulverisation
c) Incineration d) Composting
14. The best system of plumbing of drainage work in building is:
a) One pipe system b) Two pipe system
c) Single stack system d) Partially ventilated single stack system

Assistant Engineer Civil - 13/02/2016 – Kerala Water Authority

15. Which method of analysis of water distribution system is most suitable for long and
narrow pipe system?
a) Circle method b) Hardy Cross method
c) Equivalent pipe method d) Electrical analysis method
16. For disinfecting water supply, it is required to treat 5,00,000 litres of daily supply
with 0.5 ppm of chlorine. If the disinfectant is available in the form of bleaching
powder containing 30% of available chlorine, the amount of bleaching powder
required to treat the daily flow of water is:
a) 0.833 kg b)0.916 kg
 c) 0.918 kg d) None
17. In water treatment settling unit, water having a temperature of 20 degree centigrade
carries solid particles with average diameter of 0.05 mm and specific gravity 1.20.
Given ν = 0.01 centi Stokes. Settling velocity of settling particles is:
a) 0.027 cm/s b)3.1 mm/s
b) c) 2.73 cm/s d) 0.21 mm/s

18. A main sewer is to be designed to receive a flow from 1 km2 area of a community
where the population density is 200 person/ha. The average sewage flow is 150 litres
per capita per day. Assume peak factor = 3. The design flow for the main sewer is:
a)7.934 mlpd b)8.13 mlpd
c)10.0 mlpd d) 9.0 mlpd

19. The minimum dissolved oxygen which should always be present in water in order to
save aquatic life:
a) 1 ppm b)40 ppm
c) 4 ppm d)10 ppm
20. In the case of surface water with a pH range of 6 to 8, which is the most suitable
coagulant?
a) Alum b) Quick lime
c) Lime d) Potassium permanganate
21. The strength of chlorine in fresh bleaching powder is:
a) About 60% b) About 10%
c) About 20% d) About 30%
22. Estimate the quantity of secondary sludge produced by a secondary settling tank
treating sewage discharge of 3.5 mld. The sludge may be assumed to have a solid
concentration of 200 mg/l, removal efficiency of suspended solids as 90% and the
solid content of the sludge as 6%:
a) 10.5 cum/day b) 8.3 cum/day
c) 9.1 cum/day d) 7.93 cum/day

Assistant Engineer Civil - 13/02/2016 – Hydrology/Ground Water/SIDCO/KSHB/KSRTC

23. The measure of the amount, to which light is absorbed or scattered by the
suspended material in water, is called:
a) Colour b) Turbidity
c) pH d) Acidity
24. Blue baby disease is caused in infants due to drinking water, containing higher
concentrations of:
a) Nitrates b) Cadmium
c) Sulphides d) Chlorides
25. The commonly used indicator for measuring iron concentration in water is:
a) Sodium thiosulphate b) Silver nitrate
c) Eriochrome Black T d) 1, 10 phenanthraline
26. The suitable method for distribution system for a city with haphazard growth pattern
is:
a) Ring system b) Grid system
c) Tree system d) Reticulated system
27. The settling of particles in a sedimentation tank depends upon:
a) Length of tank b) Width of tank
c) Depth of tank d) Length and width of tank
28. A floatation unit is usually provided to remove:
a) Suspended solids b) Oil and grease
c) Grit d) Stones
29. A commonly used coagulant is:
a) Sodium b) Chlorine
c) Alum d) Lime
30. From septic tank, the effluents are discharged into:
a) Soak pit b) Drainage
c) Oxidation pond d) Public sewer
31. The maximum efficiency of BOD removal is achieved in:
a) Aerated lagoons b) Trickling filters
c) Digestion tank d) Oxidation ditch
32. Biochemical oxygen demand of wastewater represent:
a) Total concentration of biochemical matter
b) Total organic matter
c) Concentration of biodegradable organic matter
d) Concentration of chemically degradable organic matter

33. Bulking of sludge can be controlled by:

a) Denitrification b) Aeration
 c) Coagulation d) Chlorination

Assistant Engineer Civil - 19/12/2017 – Harbour Engineering

34. While planning a water supply reservoir, as compared to an irrigation reservoir, the
design yield may be kept
a) Higher b) Lower
c) Equal d) Lower or higher, as per designer’s discretion
35. A test used for determining the biological quality of drinking water is
a) Acidity test b) Coliform test
c) Iodine test d) Vidal test
36. Consider the following statements.
1. Chlorination of water kills the viruses of polio, viral hepatitis and jaundice.
2. Treatment of water with ozone removes the chlorine from water.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
37. Which of the following statements are the important characteristics of a slow sand
filter?
a) Cleaning of filter is done by scrapping and sand removal.
b) Lack of pre-treatment.
c) Greater efficiency of bacterial removal as compared to rapid sand filter.
d) Efficient in colour, taste and odour removal.

38. Hardness of water is caused by the presence of calcium (Ca 2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+)
ions. Which are the least soluble forms of calcium and magnesium at normal water
temperature?
a) CaCl2 and MgCO3 b) Ca(HCO3)2 and MgCl2
c) Ca(OH)2 and Mg(HCO3)2 d) CaCO3 and Mg(OH)2

39. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

a) BOD/COD = 0, Waste-water is toxic
b) BOD/COD ≤ 0.2, Acclimatization of seed is necessary
c) BOD/COD ≥ 0.6, Waste-water is non-biodegradable
d) BOD = COD = 0, Waste-water is devoid of organic matter

40. Which one of the following filters should be recommended for protected rural water
supply project?
a) Pressure filter b) Slow sand filter
 c) Diatomaceous earth filter d) Rapid sand filter
41. Traps are used in household drainage system to:
a) Prevent entry of foul gases in the house
b) Restrict the flow of water
c) Provide a partial vacuum
d) Trap the solid wastes

42. If 60 ppm is the concentration of suspended solids present in turbid raw water, then
how much dry solids will be deposited per day in the tank, assuming 70% removal in
the basin and average specific gravity of the deposit is 2?
a) 112 kg b) 142 kg c)168 kg d)192 kg

43. Which of the following statements explains the term pyrolysis?

a) Solid-waste is heated in closed containers in oxygen-free atmosphere
b) Solid-waste is incinerated in the presence of oxygen
c) Wastewater is treated with oxygen
d) Dissolved solids from water are removed by distillation

44. Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere is getting destroyed owing to its reaction with
a) CO2 b) Hydrogen peroxide c) Oxides of nitrogen d)
chlorofluorocarbons

45. Poise has the unit of

a) Dyne-s/cm2 b)Dyne-cm/s c) Dyne-s/cm d) Dyne-
cm/s2

46. Consider the following statement.

Activated sludge process can be said to comprise
1. Conversion of dissolved organic matter into biological flocs.
2. Removal of dissolved BOD of the wastewater.
3. Digestion of the sludge.
Which of these statements are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only b) 1, 2 and 3 c) 2 and 3 only d) 1 and 3 only

Assistant Engineer Civil - 27/05/2005 – Harbour Engineering – Pg. 17

47. Self-purification of running water in streams may be due to:
a) Sedimentation, Oxidation and Coagulation
b) Dilution, Sedimentation and Oxidation
c) Dilution, Sedimentation and Flocculation
d) Dilution, Oxidation and Coagulation

48. Traps are used in household drainage system to:

 a) Prevent entry of foul gases in the house
b) Restrict the flow of water
c) Provide a partial vacuum
d) Trap the solid wastes

49. The permissible turbidity for drinking water is:

a) 15 to 20 ppm b) 5 to 10 ppm c) 1 to 5 ppm d) 10 to 15
ppm
50. Hardness of water is caused by the presence of the following in water
a) Chlorides and Sulphates b) Calcium and Magnesium
c) Nitrites and Nitrates d) Sodium and Potassium
51. The deposition of alkali salts on the inside walls of a tube well is known as:
a) Corrosion b) Precipitation c) Flocculation d) Incrustation

52. The following chemical is used for coagulation:

a) Ammonium chloride b) Aluminium chloride c) Aluminium sulphate d) Copper
sulphate

53. The pipe which carries discharge from sanitary fittings such as water closets, urinals
etc. is called:
a) Waste pipe b) Vent pipe c) Discharge pipe d) Soil pipe

54. The most significant gaseous air pollutant is:

a) Carbon dioxide b) Oxygen c) Nitrogen d) Sulphur dioxide

55. The growth of algae is useful in:

a) Sedimentation tank b) slow sand filter
c) Oxidation pond d) sludge digestion tank

56. The trap which is not used in house drainage system is:
a) Gulley trap b) P-Trap c) S- Trap d) C- Trap

57. If the expected turbidity of water is more than 5000 ppm, the turbidimeter used for
analysis is:
a) Jackson’s turbidimeter b) Hillege turbidimeter
c) Bayley’s turbidimeter d) Any one of the above
58. In the treatment of water, lime soda process is used for removing:
a) Flourides b) Colour and odour c) permanent hardness d) Bacteria

59. The minimum velocity which will prevent the silting or deposition of particles of solid
matter inside the sewers is:
 a) Self-cleansing velocity b) Minimum velocity c) Cleaning velocity d) Non-scouring
velocity

60. The permissible and excessive limits of fluoride in drinking water in India have been
set up at:
a) 1 and 2 ppm b) 10 and 12 ppm c) 0.1 and 0.2 ppm d) 5 and 10 ppm

Assistant Project Engineer - 18/09/2008 – KLDC – Pg. 198

61. The drop manholes are generally provided in sewers for:
a) Hilly townships b) Industrial areas c) Large townships d) Cities in plains
62. No treatment of sewage is given if dilution factor is
a) More than 500 b) Between 400 and 500
c) Between 200 and 300 d) less than 200

63. Dimensions of a rectangular settling tank are: length 24 m, width = 6m, depth = 3 m.
If 2 hour detention period for the tank is recommended, the rate of flow of sewage
per hour is:
a) 432 m3 b) 216 m3 c) 108 m3 d) 864 m3

64. With self-cleansing velocity in sewers:

a) Silting occurs at bottom
b) Scouring occurs at bottom
c) Silting and scouring occur at the bottom
d) Non silting and non-scouring occur at the bottom

65. Disinfection of drinking water is done to remove

a) Odour b) bacteria c) turbidity d) Colour

66. Fresh sewage is generally

a) Alkaline b) Acidic c) Highly decomposed d) None of these

67. The value of sludge index ranges between

a) 0-10 b) 10-150 c) 150-350 d) 500-1000

68. The coagulant used for treating water

a) Alum b) Iron salts c) Chlorinated copper d) None of these

69. Tintometer is used to measure:

a) Hardness b) Odour C) Colour d) Turbidity
Assistant Engineer - 08/11/2008 – PWD/Irrigation – Pg. 228
70. The acceptable range of pH for potable water is
a) 7-8.5 b) 8-10 c) 2-5 d) Above 10

71. MPN is
a) Most permissible number b) Most probable number
c) Most possible number d) None of the above

72. Uniformity coefficient of filler sand is given by

a) D50/D5 b) D50/D10 c) D60/D10 d) D10/D60

73. Self-cleaning velocity is

a) The minimum velocity of flow required to maintain a certain amount of solids in flow
b) The maximum velocity of flow required to maintain a certain amount of solids in flow
c) Such a velocity as would be sufficient to flush out any deposited solids in water
d) Such a flow velocity as would be sufficient to ensure that sewage does not remain in
sewer

74. Which of these following would help prevent escape of foul sewer gases from a
water closet?
a) Air gap b) Vent pipe c) Gully trap d) P-trap

75. The function of algae in oxidation pond is

a) Provide mat or surface of the oxidation pond so as to prevent evaporation of
water
b) Provide oxygen for bacteria to degrade organic matter
c) Provide greenish appearance to pond
d) Prevent odour nuisance

76. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

a) COD – Biodegradability of waste water’
b) BOD – Strength of waste
c) Nitrate – Methanoglobinemia
d) Methane – Product of anaerobic decomposition

77. If the total hardness and alkalinity of a sample of water are 300 g/L and 100 mg/L (on
CaCO3 scale) respectively, then its carbonate and non-carbonate hardness in unit mg/L
will be respectively
a) 400 and 300 b) 100 and 400 c) 100 and 200 d) 400 and 200

78. Which of the following forms of chlorine has no disinfecting property?

a) Hypochlorous acid b) Hypochlorite ion c) Trichloramine d) Monochloramine

79. The two main gases liberated from an anaerobic sludge digestion tank would include
a) Carbon dioxide and methane b) Ammonia and carbon dioxide
 c) Ammonia and methane d) Ammonia and hydrogen sulphide

Lecturer in Civil Engineering - 04/04/2009 – Technical Education – Pg. 250

80. Air binding in rapid sand filter is encountered when:
a) There is excessive negative head
b) Water is subjected to prolonged aerations
c) The raw water contains dissolved gases
d) The filter bed comprises largely of coarse sand

81. The two main gases liberated from an anaerobic sludge digestion tank would include
a) Ammonia and carbon dioxide b) Carbon dioxide and methane
c) Methane and hydrogen sulphide d) Ammonia and methane
82. Which one of the following forms of chlorine has o disinfecting property?
a) Hypochlorous acid b) Hypochlorite ion
c) Monochloramine d) Trichloramine
83. Hardy Cross method of hydraulic analysis of pipe networks, besides satisfying the
continuity and energy principles, must also satisfy the condition that:
a) Algebraic sum of head losses around any closed loop is zero
b) Flow into any junction is equal to flow leaving the junction
c) Flow in each pipe has head loss according to Darcy-Weisbach or any other pipe
head loss equation
d) Momentum principle is followed

Assistant Engineer - 04/06/2010 – KSHB – Pg. 301

84. The maximum permissible chlorine contents for public supplies should be between:
a) 0.1 to 0.2 ppm b) 0 to 0.4 ppm c) 1.2 to 4 ppm d) 6.5 to 8 ppm

85. Oil and grease can be removed by:

a) Floatation units b) Rocks and screens c) Biological growth d) Disinfection

86. The self-cleaning velocity normally adopted for sewers is

a) 0.1 m/s b) 0.2 m/s c) 0.4 m/s d) 0.85 m/s

87. Plain chlorination is done after

a) Aeration b) Sedimentation c) Filtration d) Softening

88. The best material for pipes to be laid under water is:
a) Cast iron b) Steel c) Cement concrete d) Asbestos cement
 89. The first stage of water treatment is:
a) Sedimentation b) Filtration c) Disinfection d) Coagulation and mixing

90. The bacterial removal efficiency of a rapid sand filter is around:

a) 90% b) 70% c) 50% d) 30%

91. Methanoglobinemia is caused if water is supplied with high concentration of:

a) Chlorides b) Fluorides c) Nitrates d) Nitrites

92. Which of the following tests reveal the amount of residual chlorine in treated water?
a) Amperometeric test b) Orthotoludene test
c) Iodometric test d) Any of the above

93. Zeolite process can lower hardness upto:

a) 0 mg/L b) 10 mg/L c) 50 mg/L d) 100 mg/L

Assistant Engineer - 12/04/2012 – Harbour Engineering – Pg. 389

94. The population forecasting method suitable for new younger cities expanding at
faster rates
a) Geometric progression method b) Arithmetic increase method
c) Incremental increase method d) Method of varying increments

95. The standard unit of colour of water is that which is produced by 1 mg of _________
dissolved in 1 litre of distilled water.
a) Finely divided silica b) Platinum cobalt
c) Potassium permanganate d) Formazin

96. Water can be considered as soft, if hardness is less than

a) 50 ppm b) 75 ppm c) 150 ppm d) 200 ppm

97. Cleaning of slow sand filter is done by

a) Back washing b) Scrapping and removal of sand
c) Feeding coagulants d) Any of the above

98. Water distribution system suitable for towns which have developed in a haphazard
manner without properly planned roads
 a) Radial system b) Ring systemc) Grid iron system d) Dead end system

99. Alum is a
a) Disinfectant b) Catalyst c) Flocculant d) Coagulant

100. Disappearance of pink colour of water of a well due to KMnO 4 indicates that water
contains
a) Acidity b) Turbidity c) Alkalinity d) Organic matter

101.Which of the following will result in appearance of residual chlorine in water?

a) Super chlorination b) Double chlorination
c) Break-point chlorination d) Post chlorination

Assistant Engineer - 07/09/2013 – KSRTC – Pg. 514,917

102. For removal of temporary hardness in water
a) Water is filtered b) Water is boiled
c) Lime is added d) Chlorination is done

103.Zeolite is
a) A naturally occurring salt b) Hydrated silica
c) Hydrated alumina-silicate d) Dehydrates calcium silicate

104.Coagulants are used when turbidity of water is more than

a) 50 ppm b) 60 ppm c) 70 ppm d) 80 ppm

Assistant Town Planner - 20/08/2015 – Town and Country Planning – Pg. 737
105. High COD to BOD ratio of an organic pollutant represents
a) High biodegradability of the pollutant
b) Low biodegradability of the pollutant
c) Presence of free oxygen for aerobic decomposition
d) Presence of toxic material in the pollutant

106. Which is a secondary air pollutant?

a) Photochemical smog b) Sulphur dioxide c) Nitrogen dioxide d) Dust particles
-5.6
107.A wastewater sample contains 10 mmoles/litre of hydroxyl ions at 25°C. The pH of
the sample is:
 a) 8.6 b) 8.4 c) 5.6 d) 5.4

108.Facultative bacteria survive in:

a) The presence of oxygen b) The absence of oxygen
c) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’ d) Neither ‘a’ nor ‘b’

109. A biogas plant treats waste by:

a) Aerobic digestion b) Anaerobic digestion
c) Carbon fixation d) Calcification

Assistant Engineer - 11/10/2017 – LSGD – Pg. 1001

110. In treatment of water, what for sedimentation with coagulation is done?
a) To remove iron and manganese b) To remove foul gases
c) To remove bacteria d) Remove fine colloidal particles

111. What is defined as the difference between the amount of chlorine added to water
and the amount of chlorine remaining at the end of a specified contact period?
a) Chlorine demand b) Break-point chlorination
c) Free residual chlorine d) Super chlorination

112. Among the following, in which filter backwashing cannot be done for cleaning the
filter?
a) Slow sand filter b) Rapid sand filter
c) Pressure filter d) Rapid gravity filter

113.What is an oxidation ditch?

a) Primary treatment system b) Extended aeration system
c) Sludge return system d) Sludge disposal system

114.In which of the following, the sludge digestion and sedimentation takes place in the
same chamber?
a) Trickling filter b) Sludge digestion tank c) Septic tank d) Imhoff tank

115. Among the following, which is not classified under surface sources of water?
a) Streams b) Stored rain water c) Springs d) Impounded reservoirs