Basic Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Basic Wastewater Operator Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with helpful hints and explanations. Ensure your success!

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What is the flow rate in gallons per minute if a WWTP has a flow of 5.0 MGD?

3472 gpm
0.24 gpm
57.8 gpm
7200 gpm

The correct answer is: 3472 gpm

To determine the flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm) from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with a flow of 5.0 million gallons per day (MGD), it's essential to understand the conversion between daily and minute flow rates. One million gallons equals approximately 1,000,000 gallons. When you have a flow rate of 5.0 MGD, you multiply this by 1,000,000 to find the total number of gallons in one day: 5.0 MGD × 1,000,000 = 5,000,000 gallons per day. Next, to convert gallons per day to gallons per minute, you need to divide the total gallons in a day by the number of minutes in a day. There are 1,440 minutes in a day (24 hours × 60 minutes): 5,000,000 gallons ÷ 1,440 minutes ≈ 3,472.22 gallons per minute. Rounding that value gives approximately 3,472 gpm. This calculation directly supports why the selection reflects a proper conversion from MGD to gpm and illustrates an understanding of how to perform unit conversions in water flow contexts.