Water & wastewater · Handwritten-style study notes

Operator Math Study Notes (Texas Class D)

One-page operator math notes for the Texas Class D exam. The constants and formulas you reach for most: volume in gallons, the pounds formula for dosage, flow conversions, detention time, and pressure from head. Everything here matches our sourced formula reference.

The magic numbers

7.48gallons in one cubic foot of water

8.34pounds in one gallon of water

0.785circle factor (area = 0.785 x D x D)

0.433psi added by one foot of water

2.31feet of head in one psi

1,440minutes in one day

Change inches to feet FIRST: inches / 12.

Area & volume

Rectangle area = length x width

Circle area = 0.785 x D x D

Box volume = L x W x depth

Round volume = 0.785 x D x D x depth

Then gallons = cubic feet x 7.48

A pipe is a round tank on its side: circle end x length x 7.48.

Dosage - the pounds formula

lbs/day = flow (MGD) x dose (mg/L) x 8.34

Works for chlorine, alum, lime - any chemical.

Flow must be in MGD, dose in mg/L.

A one-time batch (a main to disinfect)? Use its volume in MG in place of flow.

Flow & conversions

Flow = amount / time

GPM x 1,440 = GPD

GPD / 1,000,000 = MGD

Per minute -> per day is always x 1,440.

Detention time

Detention time = volume / flow

Match units: gallons / GPM = minutes; gallons / GPH = hours.

Volume on top, flow on the bottom, every time.

Pressure & head, and percent

psi = feet x 0.433

feet = psi x 2.31

Feet is the bigger number, psi the smaller.

Percent removed = (in - out) / in x 100

Always divide by the amount you started with (the in).

These are original study notes styled to look handwritten, not real exam questions. They reflect the standard operator facts and formulas for this exam; official requirements come from the TCEQ sources on the linked pages.

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