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Chemical feed and solutions: California T1 water treatment operator math

Solution strength, specific gravity, dilution, blending, feeders, jar tests, chemical cost.

Below are 3 worked examples. Each answer is computed with the formulas and constants on the CA Exam Conversion Sheet (revised 4/30/2026), and the solution names the line it uses.

Formulas from the sheet for this topic

Example 1. A liquid chemical weighs 9.6 lbs per gallon. What is its specific gravity?

  1. A) 1.73
  2. B) 1.15
  3. C) 1.28
  4. D) 2.30
Show the answer and worked solution

Answer: B) 1.15

1. Specific Gravity = Chemical Weight (lbs/gal) ÷ 8.34 [Sheet p.1, Solutions: "Specific Gravity (SG) = Chemical Weight (Lbs/Gal) / 8.34"] = 9.6 ÷ 8.34 = 1.151. 2. Answer: 1.15 (rounded to 3 significant figures).

Source: CA Exam Conversion Sheet (Revised 4/30/2026), p.1, Solutions: "Specific Gravity (SG) = Chemical Weight (Lbs/Gal) / 8.34"

Example 2. A chemical metering pump is calibrated at 540 mL/min. How many gallons per day does it feed?

  1. A) 2,940 GPD
  2. B) 205 GPD
  3. C) 778 GPD
  4. D) 8.56 GPD
Show the answer and worked solution

Answer: B) 205 GPD

1. GPD = (Feed, mL/min × 1,440 min/day) ÷ (1,000 mL/L × 3.785 L/gal) [Sheet p.1, Solutions: "GPD = (Feed, ml/min. x 1,440 min/day) / (1,000 ml/L x 3.785 L/gal)"]. 2. = 540 × 1,440 ÷ 3,785 = 777,600 ÷ 3,785 = 205.4 GPD. 3. Answer: 205 GPD (rounded to 3 significant figures).

Source: CA Exam Conversion Sheet (Revised 4/30/2026), p.1, Solutions: "GPD = (Feed, ml/min. x 1,440 min/day) / (1,000 ml/L x 3.785 L/gal)"

Example 3. An operator dissolves 101 lbs of soda ash in 175 gallons of water. What is the percent strength of the solution by weight?

  1. A) 57.7%
  2. B) 6.47%
  3. C) 3.24%
  4. D) 6.92%
Show the answer and worked solution

Answer: B) 6.47%

1. Water weight = 175 gal × 8.34 lbs/gal = 1,459.5 lbs [Sheet p.1, Units and Conversion Factors, row 16: "1 Gal (H2O) = 8.34 lbs"]. 2. Solution total weight = 101 + 1,459.5 = 1,560.5 lbs. 3. Chemical in Solution (%) = Dry Chemical × 100 ÷ Solution Total Weight [Sheet p.1, Solutions: "Chemical in Solution (%) = Dry Chemical (Lbs) x 100 / Solution Total Weight (lbs)"] = 101 × 100 ÷ 1,560.5 = 6.472%. 4. Answer: 6.47% (rounded to 3 significant figures).

Source: CA Exam Conversion Sheet (Revised 4/30/2026), p.1, Units and Conversion Factors, row 16: "1 Gal (H2O) = 8.34 lbs"; p.1, Solutions: "Chemical in Solution (%) = Dry Chemical (Lbs) x 100 / Solution Total Weight (lbs)"

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