Passed PE Environmental

I just found out I passed the Environmental PE and wanted to share what showed up on my exam to help others studying. For Part 1, definitely know Manning’s equation, the Rational Method, and weather concepts like lapse rate and what causes stable vs. unstable atmospheric conditions, as well as the basics of the Gaussian plume model. There were several air pollution control questions, including fabric filter/baghouse problems with air-to-cloth ratios and mass loading, plus general pollution control concepts. Wastewater topics included SVI (sludge volume index) calculations, treating sludge with lime using TS concentrations, pump selection for sludge, and lots of unit conversions with ppm. Water questions covered hardness (what causes it and how to soften water using lime/soda ash) and the difference between primary vs. secondary pollutants in both water and air (important: these are defined differently for each). Regulatory questions included primary vs. secondary drinking water standards and what states vs. EPA can enforce. For Part 2, there were many conceptual safety and regulatory questions: PPE selection, confined spaces (silos/tanks/wet wells and what makes them permit-required), respirators, and how much oxygen should be in a room. Make sure you can convert concentrations from ppm to mg/L. Hazardous waste identification was tested, so know the four characteristics (ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic), along with exposure pathway logic (source, transport, exposure point, route, receptor). Other topics included landfill volume/geometry with tricky extra dimensions, project scheduling/critical path, mass balance, porosity used in site assessment and groundwater flow, valorization and waste-to-energy concepts, lead and copper rule 90th-percentile compliance questions, and exhaust system components (hood, fan, demister—with the air cleaning system being a separate item). Big repeated themes were lime chemistry, sludge treatment, air pollution control, risk/exposure, groundwater flow, and regulations. I highly recommend using Quizlet for fast conceptual review just search Environmental PE and there are several to look at. If you focus on fundamentals the exam is very fair. GOOD LUCK!