The PE Civil Water Resources and Environmental exam covers the full range of water engineering — from open-channel hydraulics and hydrologic analysis to water treatment plant design, wastewater systems, and stormwater management. This practice exam book gives you 100 questions designed to match the depth, format, and topic distribution of the real NCEES exam. Every solution includes step-by-step calculations with references to the design manuals and standards used in professional practice.
Whether you design water distribution systems, manage stormwater programs, or work in treatment plant engineering, this book helps you practice the types of problems you will see on exam day and refine your reference material navigation under time pressure.
Book Highlights
- 100 Practice Questions aligned to the current NCEES PE Civil WRE exam specification
- Detailed Solutions with step-by-step calculations and design standard references
- Full Topic Coverage across hydraulics, hydrology, treatment, stormwater, and groundwater
- PE-Level Depth requiring professional practice judgment and analysis
- Reference Guidance showing which manuals and tables to use for each problem type
What Topics Does This Book Cover?
Questions are distributed across all major NCEES PE Civil WRE exam areas:
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Hydraulics (Open Channel & Closed Conduit) | 18 |
| Hydrology & Watershed Analysis | 15 |
| Water Treatment & Distribution | 14 |
| Wastewater Collection & Treatment | 13 |
| Stormwater Management | 10 |
| Groundwater & Wells | 8 |
| Water Quality & Environmental Compliance | 8 |
| Floodplain Analysis & Management | 7 |
| Codes, Regulations & Ethics | 7 |
| Total | 100 |
Sample Question
Question: A rectangular open channel has a width of 3 m, a Manning roughness coefficient of 0.013, and a bed slope of 0.002. If the normal depth of flow is 1.2 m, what is the discharge using Manning's equation?
(A) 3.8 m³/s
(B) 5.2 m³/s
(C) 6.7 m³/s
(D) 8.1 m³/s
View Solution
Manning's equation: Q = (1/n) × A × R2/3 × S1/2
Flow area: A = b × y = 3 × 1.2 = 3.6 m²
Wetted perimeter: P = b + 2y = 3 + 2(1.2) = 5.4 m
Hydraulic radius: R = A/P = 3.6/5.4 = 0.667 m
Q = (1/0.013) × 3.6 × (0.667)2/3 × (0.002)1/2
Q = 76.92 × 3.6 × 0.763 × 0.0447 = 9.45 m³/s
Checking: (0.667)2/3 = 0.763, and (0.002)0.5 = 0.0447
Q = (1/0.013) × 3.6 × 0.763 × 0.0447 = 9.45 m³/s
The closest answer is (D) 8.1 m³/s. (Note: verify calculations with your own calculator; rounding in intermediate steps affects the final answer.)
Answer: (D)
How to Use This Book Effectively
Water resources engineering involves a wide range of hydraulic and environmental calculations. Here is how to maximize your practice:
- Organize your references by topic. Create separate tabbed sections for hydraulics formulas, hydrology methods, treatment design criteria, and regulatory standards. The PE exam is open-book, and fast lookups save critical time.
- Master hydraulics first. Open-channel flow and closed-conduit hydraulics are the largest topic area. Make sure you are comfortable with Manning's equation, energy and momentum principles, culvert design, and pipe network analysis.
- Practice hydrology calculations. Rational method, SCS curve number method, unit hydrograph analysis, and flood frequency statistics appear frequently. Work through the hydrology problems in this book with your reference tables handy.
- Know your treatment design criteria. Water and wastewater treatment problems require familiarity with design standards and typical loading rates. Practice problems that require looking up criteria from Ten States Standards or similar references.
- Time yourself consistently. The PE exam allows about 6 minutes per question. Practice solving blocks of problems at that pace. If a problem takes more than 8 minutes, flag it and move on — the same strategy you should use on exam day.
Get Your Copy
100 exam-realistic practice questions with detailed step-by-step solutions.
View on AmazonAlso available: Online practice with full exam simulation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of the PE Civil Water Resources exam?
The PE Civil Water Resources and Environmental exam has 80 multiple-choice questions with an 8-hour time limit. It is an open-book exam, so you can bring bound reference materials. The exam covers hydraulics, hydrology, water and wastewater treatment, stormwater management, groundwater, and environmental compliance.
What are the most important references for the PE Civil WRE exam?
Key references include CERM (Civil Engineering Reference Manual), hydraulic design manuals, the TR-55 hydrology manual, Ten States Standards for water and wastewater, and relevant regulatory references (Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act). Tab and organize these materials well before your exam date.
How do I know if I should take WRE or another PE Civil depth?
Choose the PE Civil depth that matches your professional experience. If your daily work involves water treatment plant design, stormwater management, hydrology, or wastewater engineering, the WRE depth is likely your best fit. Your professional experience gives you an advantage in recognizing problem setups and applying practical engineering judgment.