Technical practice questions
Environmental Engineering Interview Questions
Real Environmental Engineering interview questions with answers. Filter by sub-field and difficulty, then drill them in practice mode.
Showing 25 of 25 questions
Beginner
Fundamentals, definitions, expected of any candidate
Intermediate
Applied reasoning, design tradeoffs, calculations
Advanced
Deeper scenario / system-design questions and edge cases (stretch material)
BeginnerWater & Wastewater Treatment
What is BOD and why does it matter?
BODwater qualitywastewater
BeginnerWater & Wastewater Treatment
What's the difference between BOD and COD?
BODCODwater quality
BeginnerWater & Wastewater Treatment
Walk me through the stages of conventional wastewater treatment.
wastewater treatmentprocess train
IntermediateWater & Wastewater Treatment
How does the activated sludge process work?
activated sludgebiological treatment
IntermediateWater & Wastewater Treatment
What's the difference between HRT and SRT?
HRTSRTreactor design
BeginnerWater & Wastewater Treatment
Explain coagulation and flocculation.
coagulationflocculationdrinking water
BeginnerWater & Wastewater Treatment
What's the typical drinking water treatment process for surface water?
drinking watertreatment train
IntermediateWater & Wastewater Treatment
What are disinfection byproducts and how do you control them?
disinfection byproductsTHMsHAAschlorination
BeginnerStormwater & Hydrology
Explain the Rational Method.
Rational Methodrunoffhydrology
IntermediateWater & Wastewater Treatment
What are nitrification and denitrification?
nitrificationdenitrificationnutrient removal
BeginnerFundamentals
What is a mass balance and why is it so important?
mass balancefundamentals
IntermediateFundamentals
Compare a CSTR and a plug flow reactor.
reactor designCSTRPFRkinetics
BeginnerGroundwater
What is Darcy's Law?
Darcy's lawgroundwater flow
IntermediateGroundwater
How do contaminants move through groundwater?
contaminant transportadvectiondispersionretardation
BeginnerAir Quality
Why is PM2.5 more dangerous than PM10?
PM2.5particulate matterair quality
BeginnerRegulations & Permitting
What are the criteria air pollutants?
Clean Air ActNAAQScriteria pollutants
BeginnerRegulations & Permitting
What is an NPDES permit?
Clean Water ActNPDESpermitting
BeginnerWater & Wastewater Treatment
What is eutrophication?
eutrophicationnutrientswater quality
IntermediateWater & Wastewater Treatment
How do you size a sedimentation basin?
sedimentationoverflow rateclarifier design
IntermediateSolid Waste
What goes into a modern landfill liner system?
landfill designleachateliners
IntermediateSustainability & LCA
What are the stages of a life cycle assessment?
life cycle assessmentISO 14040sustainability
IntermediateFundamentals
What is Henry's Law and where is it used?
Henry's lawair strippingVOCs
IntermediateWater & Wastewater Treatment
What is alkalinity and why does it matter in treatment?
alkalinitypHnitrification
IntermediateFundamentals
Explain first-order decay.
kineticsfirst-order decayhalf-life
BeginnerStormwater & Hydrology
What's the difference between a detention pond and a retention pond?
stormwaterdetentionretentionBMPs