As in effect on April 1, 2008
The certification program is established in order to assist in protecting the quality of waters in the state of Utah by helping ensure that personnel in charge of wastewater works are trained, experienced, reliable and efficient; to protect the public health and the environment and provide for the health and safety of wastewater works operators; and to establish standards and methods whereby wastewater works operating personnel can demonstrate competency.
These certification rules apply to all wastewater treatment works and sewerage systems, with the exception of Onsite Wastewater Systems and Large Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems as defined in R317-1-1. This includes both wastewater collection systems and wastewater treatment systems except underground wastewater disposal systems. Wastewater works operated by political subdivisions must employ certified operators as required in this rule. Operators of wastewater systems not requiring certified operators (such as industrial wastewater treatment systems) may be certified according to provisions of these rules for testing and certification.
The Certification Program for Wastewater Works Operators is authorized by Section 19-5-104 of the Utah Code Annotated.
A. "Board" means the Water Quality Board.
B. "Category" means type of certification (collection or wastewater treatment).
C. "Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Council, stating that the recipient has met the minimum requirements for the specified operator grade described in this rule.
D. "Certified Operator" means a person with the appropriate education and experience, as specified in this rule, who has successfully completed the certification exam or otherwise meets the requirements of this rule.
E. "Chief Operator" means the supervisor in direct responsible charge of all shift operators for a collection or treatment system.
F. "Collection System" means the system designed to collect and transport sewage from the beginning points that the collection entity regards as their responsibility to maintain and operate, to the points where the treatment facility assumes responsibility for operation and maintenance.
G. "Council" means the Utah Wastewater Operator Certification Council.
H. "Continuing Education Unit (CEU)" means ten contact hours of participation in and successful completion of an organized and approved continuing education experience. College credit in approved courses may be substituted for CEUs on an equivalency basis as defined in this rule.
I. "Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)" means active on-site charge and performance of operation duties. The person in direct responsible charge is generally a supervisor over wastewater treatment or collection who independently makes decisions affecting all treatment or system processes during normal operation which may affect the quality, safety, and adequacy of treatment of wastewater discharged from the plant. In cases where only one operator is employed, this operator shall be considered to be in direct responsible charge.
J. "Executive Secretary" means the Executive Secretary of the Water Quality Board.
K. "Grade Level" means any one of the possible steps within a certification category of either wastewater collection or wastewater treatment. There are four levels each for collection and treatment system operators, Grade I being the lowest and Grade IV the highest level. There is one level for lagoon operators.
L. "Grandfather Certificate" means a certificate issued to an operator, without taking an examination, by virtue of the operator meeting experience and other requirements in R317-10-11.G of this rule.
M. "Operating Experience" means experience gained in operating a wastewater treatment plant or collection system which enables the operator to make correct supervisory, operational, safety, and maintenance decisions affecting personnel, water quality, public health, regulatory compliance, and wastewater works operation, efficiency, and longevity.
N. "Operator" means any person who is directly involved in or may be responsible for operation of any wastewater works or facilities treating wastewater.
O. "Population Equivalent (P.E.)" means the population which would contribute an equivalent waste load based on the calculation of total pounds of B.O.D. contributed divided by 0.2. This calculation may be used where a significant amount of industrial waste is discharged to a wastewater system.
P. "Restricted Certificate" means a certificate issued upon passing the certification examination when other requirements have not been met.
Q. "Small Lagoon System" means a wastewater lagoon system serving fewer than 3500 population equivalent.
R. "Wastewater Works" means facilities for collecting, pumping, treating or disposing of sanitary wastewater.
A. The chief operator and supervisors who make process decisions for the system and are designated to be in direct responsible charge must be certified at no less than the level of the facility classification. All other operators in direct responsible charge must be certified at no less than one grade lower than the facility classification or at the lowest required facility classification except as provided in B below. All facilities must have an operator certified at the facility level on duty or on call. If a facility or system undergoes a re-rating, all operators considered to be in DRC must be certified at the appropriate level within one year after notification of the new rating.
B. The Executive Secretary must be notified by the facility owner within 10 working days after termination of employment of the Chief Operator considered in DRC, or when he is otherwise unable to perform those duties. The wastewater works must have a certified operator or an operator with a restricted certificate at the appropriate level within one year from the date the vacancy occurred.
C. For newly constructed wastewater works, a certified operator or an operator with a restricted certificate at the appropriate level must be employed within one year after the system is deemed operable.
D. Those required to be certified may operate a system with a restricted certificate of the required grade for up to one year for a Class I or Class II facility, or up to two years for a Class III or Class IV facility, but may not continue to operate a system if they are unable to obtain an unrestricted certificate at the end of the stipulated period.
E. Contracts
1. General. In lieu of employing a DRC operator as part of its workforce, a facility owner may enter into a contract for DRC services with an operator certified at the appropriate level, or with another public or private entity with operators certified at the appropriate level.
2. Any such contract must be reviewed and approved by the Executive Secretary.
3. If the contract is with another entity, it must include the names of the certified individuals who will be in direct responsible charge of the operation of the facility. At a minimum the contract must contain the following elements:
a. A clear description of the overall duties and responsibilities of the facility owner and the responsibilities of the contracted DRC operator(s) related to the supervision of the facility's operation, including the frequency of visits and the duties to be performed.
b. Identification of the contract period and effective date of the contract
c. Consideration
d. Termination clause
e. Execution by authorized signatories
Treatment plants and collection systems shall be classified in accordance with Table 1.
TABLE 1
FACILITY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
FACILITY CLASS
CATEGORY I II III IV
Collection Pop. 3,500 3,501 to 15,001 to 50,001 and
(1) Served and less 15,000 50,000 greater
Treatment Range 30 and 31 to 55 56 to 75 76 and
Plant (2) of Fac. less greater
Points
Small Pop. 3,500 and less
Lagoon Equiv.
Systems(3) Served
(1) Simple "in-line" treatment (such as booster pumping,
preventive chlorination, or odor control) is considered an
integral part of a collection system.
(2) Treatment plants shall be assigned "facility points"
in accordance with Table 2 "Wastewater Treatment Plant
Classification System".
(3) A combined certificate shall be issued for treatment
works/collection system operation.
TABLE 2
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Each Unit process should have points assigned only once.
Item Points
SIZE (2 PT Minimum - 20 PT Maximum)
Max. Population equivalent (PE) served, 1 - 10
peak day(1)
Design flow average day or peak month average, 1 - 10
whichever is larger(2)
VARIATION IN RAW WASTE (3)
Variations do not exceed those normally or 0
typically expected
Recurring deviations or excessive variations of 2
100 - 200% in strength and/or flow
Recurring deviations or excessive variations of 4
more than 200% in strength and/or flow
Raw wastes subject to toxic waste discharges 6
Acceptance of septage or truck-hauled waste 2
PRELIMINARY TREATMENT
Plant pumping of main flow 3
Screening, comminution 3
Grit removal 3
Equalization 1
PRIMARY TREATMENT
Clarifiers 5
Imhoff tanks or similar 5
SECONDARY TREATMENT
Fixed film reactor 10
Activated sludge 15
Stabilization ponds w/o aeration 5
Stabilization ponds w/aeration 8
TERTIARY TREATMENT
Polishing ponds for advanced waste treatment 2
Chemical/physical advanced waste treatment w/o 15
secondary
Chemical/physical advanced waste treatment 10
following secondary
Biological or chemical/biological advanced waste 12
treatment
Nitrification by designed extended aeration only 2
Ion exchange for advanced waste treatment 10
Reverse osmosis, electrodialysis and other 15
membrane filtration techniques
Advanced waste treatment chemical recovery, carbon 4
regeneration
Media Filtration 5
ADDITIONAL TREATMENT PROCESSES
Chemical additions (2 pts./each for max. of 6 pts.) 2 - 6
Dissolved air flotation (for other than sludge
thickening) 8
Intermittent sand filter 2
Recirculating intermittent sand filter 3
Microscreens 5
Generation of oxygen 5
SOLIDS HANDLING
Solids conditioning 2
Solids thickening (based on technology) 2 - 5
Mechanical dewatering 8
Anaerobic digestion of solids 10
Utilization of digester gas for heating 5
or cogeneration
Aerobic digestion of solids 6
Evaporative sludge drying 2
Solids reduction (including incineration, wet 12
oxidation)
On-site landfill for solids 2
Solids composting 10
Land application of biosolids by contractor 2
Land application of biosolids under direction 10
of facility operator in DRC
DISINFECTION (10 pt. max.)
Chlorination or ultraviolet irradiation 5
Ozonation 10
EFFLUENT DISCHARGE (10 pt. max.)
Mechanical Post aeration 2
Direct recycle and reuse 6
Land treatment and disposal (surface or subsurface) 4
INSTRUMENTATION (6 pt. max.)
Use of SCADA or similar instrumentation systems
to provide data with no process operation 0
Use of SCADA or similar instrumentation systems
to provide data with limited process operation 2
Use of SCADA or similar instrumentation systems
to provide data with moderate process operation 4
Use of SCADA or similar instrumentation systems
to provide data with extensive/total process operation 6
LABORATORY CONTROL (15 pt. max)(4)
Bacteriological/biological (5 pt. max):
Lab work done outside the plant 0
Membrane filter procedures 3
Use of fermentation tubes or any dilution 5
method (or E. coli determination)
Chemical/physical (10 pt. max):
Lab work done outside the plant 0
Push-button, visual methods for simple tests 3
(i.e. pH, settleable solids)
Additional procedures (ie, DO, COD, BOD, gas 5
analysis, titrations, solids volatile
content)
More advanced determinations (ie, specific 7
constituents; nutrients, total oils,
phenols)
Highly sophisticated instrumentation (i.e., 10
atomic absorption, gas chromatography)
(1) 1 point per 10,000 P.E. or part; maximum of 10 points
(2) 1 point per MGD or part
(3) Key concept is frequency and/or intensity ofdeviation
or excessive variation from normal or typical fluctuations; such
deviation may be in terms of strength, toxicity, shock loads,
inflow and infiltration, with point values ranging from 0 - 6.
(4) Key concept is to credit laboratory analyses done
on-site by plant personnel under the direction of the operator
in direct responsible charge with point values ranging
from 0 - 15.
A. General
1. "Qualification Points" means total of years of education and experience required. All substitutions are year for year equivalents. A college "year" is considered 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of credit.
2. College-level education must be in a job-related field to be credited. However, partial credit may be given for non-job related education at the discretion of the Council.
3. Experience may be substituted for a high school education or a graduate equivalence degree in Grades I and II only.
4. Education may be substituted for experience, as specified below.
B. Grade I - 13 points required
1. High school diploma or equivalency (12 points), or highest grade completed (one point per grade, up to 12 points).
2. One year operating experience (one point per year).
3. Experience may be substituted for all or any part of the education requirements, on a one-to-one basis.
4. Education may not be substituted for experience.
C. Grade II - 14 points required
1. High school diploma or equivalency (12 points), or highest grade completed (one point per grade, up to 12 points).
2. Two years operating experience (one point per year)
3. Up to one year of additional education may be substituted for an equivalent amount of operating experience.
4. Experience may be substituted for all or any part of the education requirement, on a one-to-one basis.
D. Grade III - 16 points required
1. High school diploma or equivalency (12 points), or highest grade completed (one point per grade, up to 12 points).
2. Four years operating experience (one point per year)
3. Up to 2 years of additional education may be substituted for an equivalent amount of operating experience. Relevant and specialized operator training may be substituted for education requirement, where 25 CEUs is equivalent to 1 year of education.
E. Grade IV - 18 points required
1. High school diploma or equivalency (12 points), or highest grade completed (one point per grade, up to 12 points)
2. Six years operating experience (one point per year)
3. Up to 2 years of additional education may be substituted for an equivalent amount of operating experience. Relevant and specialized operator training may be substituted for education requirement, where 25 CEUs is equivalent to 1 year of education.
A. Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Board from recommendations made by interested organizations including the Department of Environmental Quality, Utah League of Cities and Towns, Water Environment Association of Utah, the Professional Wastewater Operators Division of the Water Environment Association of Utah, the Utah Rural Water Association, Utah Valley State College, and the Civil/Environmental Engineering Departments of Utah's universities. The Council shall serve at the discretion of the Board to oversee the certification program.
B. The Council shall consist of eight members as follows:
1. Three members who are operators holding valid certificates. At least one shall be a wastewater collection system operator.
2. One member with three years management experience in wastewater treatment and collection, who shall represent municipal wastewater management.
3. One member who is a civil or environmental engineering faculty member of a university in Utah.
4. One non-voting member who is a Senior Environmental Engineer in the Division of Water Quality or other duly designated person who shall represent the Board.
5. One member from the private sector.
6. One member representing vocational training.
C. Voting Council members shall serve as follows:
1. Terms of office shall be for three years with two members retiring each year (except for the third year when three shall retire).
2. Appointments to succeed a Council member who is unable to serve his full term shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
3. Council members may be reappointed, but they do not automatically succeed themselves.
D. Each year the Council shall elect from its membership a Chairman and Vice Chairman.
E. The duties of the Council shall include:
1. Preparing and conducting examinations for the various grades of operators, and issuing and distributing the certificates.
2. Regularly reviewing the certification examinations to ensure compatibility between the examinations and operator responsibilities.
3. Ensuring that the certification examinations and training curricula are compatible.
4. Distributing examination applications and notices.
5. Receiving all applications for certification and evaluating the record of applicants as required to establish their qualifications for certification under this rule.
6. Maintaining records of operator qualifications and certification.
7. Preparing an annual report for distribution to the Board and other interested parties.
F. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting official Council business.
Prior to taking an examination, an applicant must file an application of intention with the Council, accompanied by evidence of qualifications for certification in accordance with the provisions of this rule on application forms available from the Council.
A. The time and place of examinations to qualify for a certificate shall be determined by the Council. All examinations shall be graded and the applicant notified of the results. Examination fees shall be charged to cover the costs of testing.
B. Normally, all examinations for certification shall be written. However, upon request an oral examination will be given. Such examination shall be conducted by at least two people, at least one of whom is a Council member. Those persons assisting the Council member must be approved by the Council. All exams shall be administered in a manner that will ensure the integrity of the certification program.
C. In the event an applicant fails an exam, the applicant may request to review the exam within 30 days following receipt of the exam score. The Council shall not review examination questions for the purpose of changing individual examination scores. However, questions may be edited for future examinations. If an error is found in the grading of the exam, credit may be given.
A. All certificates shall indicate one of the following grades for which they are issued.
1. Wastewater Treatment Operator - Grades I through IV.
2. Restricted Wastewater Treatment Operator - Grades I through IV.
3. Wastewater Collection Operator - Grades I through IV.
4. Restricted Wastewater Collection Operator - Grades I through IV.
5. Small Lagoon System Operator - Grade I Wastewater Treatment and Collection System Combined.
6. Restricted Small Lagoon System Operator - Grade I Wastewater Treatment and Collection System Combined.
B. An applicant shall have the opportunity to take any grade of examination. A restricted certificate shall be issued if the applicant passes the exam but lacks the experience or education required for a particular grade.
An unrestricted certificate shall be issued if the applicant passes the exam and the experience and education requirements appropriate to the particular grade are met. Restricted certificates shall become unrestricted when the appropriate experience and education requirements are met and a change in status fee is paid. A restricted certificate does not qualify a person as a certified operator at the grade level that the restricted certificate is issued, until the limiting conditions are met, except as provided in R317-10-5. Upon application, a restricted certificate may be renewed subject to the conditions in C below. Replacement certificates may be obtained by payment of a duplicate certificate fee.
C. Certificates shall continue in effect for a period of up to three years unless revoked prior to that time. The certificate must be renewed each three years by payment of a renewal fee and submittal of evidence of required CEUs. The certificates expire on December 31 of the last year of the certificate. Operators considered in DRC must renew by the expiration date in order for the wastewater works to remain in compliance with this rule. Request for renewal shall be made on forms supplied by the Council. It shall be the responsibility of the operator to make application for certificate renewal.
D. An expired certificate may be reinstated within three months after expiration by payment of a reinstatement fee. After three months, an expired certificate cannot be reinstated, and the operator must retest to become certified. The required CEUs for renewal must be accrued before expiration of the certificate.
E. CEUs must be earned during the 3 year period prior to the expiration date of the certificate.
F. The Council may, after appropriate review, waive examination of applicants holding a valid certificate or license issued in compliance with other certification plans having equivalent standards, and issue a comparable Utah certificate upon payment of a reciprocity fee.
If the applicant is working in another state at the time of application, or has relocated to Utah but has not yet obtained employment in the wastewater field in Utah, a letter of intent to issue a certificate by reciprocity may be provided. When the applicant provides proof of employment in the wastewater field in Utah, and meets all other requirements, a certificate may be issued.
G. A grandfather certificate shall be issued, upon application and payment of an administrative fee, to qualified operators who must be certified (chief operators, supervisors, or anyone considered in direct responsible charge). The certificate shall be valid only for the wastewater works at which the operator is employed as that facility existed on March 16, 1991. Operators must obtain initial certification on or before March 16, 1994. The certificate may not be transferred to another facility or person. If the facility undergoes an addition of a new process, even if the facility classification does not change, or the collection system has a change in rating, the respective operator must obtain a restricted or unrestricted certificate within one year as specified in this rule.
Grandfather certificates shall be issued for a period of up to three years and must be renewed prior to the expiration date to remain in effect. Renewal shall include the payment of a renewal fee and submittal of evidence of required CEUs. The renewal fee shall be the same as that charged for renewal of other certificates. If the grandfather certificate is not renewed prior to the expiration date, the wastewater works may be considered to be out of compliance with this rule. The operator would then be required to pass the appropriate certification examination to become a certified operator.
The grandfather certificate shall be issued if the currently employed operator:
1. Was a chief operator or person in direct responsible charge of the wastewater works on March 16, 1991; and
2. Had been employed at least ten years in the operation of the wastewater works prior to March 16, 1991; and
3. Demonstrates to the Council his capability to operate the wastewater works at which he is employed by providing employment history and references.
A. CEUs shall be required for renewal of each certificate according to the following schedule:
TABLE 3
REQUIRED CEUs FOR RENEWAL OF EACH CERTIFICATE
CEUs REQUIRED IN
OPERATOR GRADE A 3-YEAR PERIOD
Grade I 2
Grade II 2
Grade III 3
Grade IV 3
B. All CEUs for certificate renewal shall be subject to review for approval to ensure that the training is applicable to wastewater works operation and meets CEU criteria. Identification of approved training, appropriate CEU or credit assignment and verification of successful completion is the responsibility of the Council. Training records shall be maintained by the Council.
C. All in-house or in-plant training which is intended to meet any part of the CEU requirements must be approved by the Council. In-house or in-plant training must meet the following general criteria to be approved:
1. Instruction must be under the supervision of an instructor approved by the Council.
2. An outline must be included with all submittals listing subjects to be covered and the time allotted to each subject.
3. A list of the teacher's objectives must be submitted which documents the essential points of the instruction ("need-to-know" information) and the methods used to illustrate these principles.
D. No more than one-half of required CEU credits, over a three-year period prior to the expiration date of a certificate, shall be given for registration and attendance at the annual technical program meetings of the Water Environment Association of Utah, the Water Environment Federation, Rural Water Association of Utah, or similar organizations.
E. Training must be related to the responsibilities of a wastewater works operator. If a person holds multiple wastewater operator certificates (treatment and collection), CEU credit may be received for each certificate from one training experience only if the training is applicable to each certificate. It is recommended that at least one- half of the required CEUs be technical training directly related to the job duties.
A. Initial recommendations. All decisions of the Council shall be in the form of recommendations for action by the Executive Secretary. The Council shall notify an applicant of any initial recommendation. Any such applicant may, within 30 days of the date the Council's notice was mailed, request reconsideration and an informal hearing before the Council by writing to: Wastewater Operator Certification Council, Division of Water Quality, Department of Environmental Quality, State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870. The Council shall notify the person of the time and location for the informal hearing.
B. Following the informal hearing, or the expiration of the period for requesting reconsideration, the Council shall notify the Executive Secretary of its final recommendation.
C. A challenge to the Executive Secretary's determination regarding Certification may be made as provided in R317-9-3.
A. Grounds for suspending or revoking an operator's certificate may be any of the following:
1. Demonstrated disregard for the public health and safety;
2. Misrepresentation or falsification of figures and/or reports submitted to the State;
3. Cheating on a certification exam;
4. Falsely obtaining or altering a certificate; or
5. Gross negligence, incompetence or misconduct in the performance of duties as an operator.
B. Suspension or revocation may result where it may be shown that circumstances and events relative to the operation of the wastewater works were under the operator's jurisdiction and control. Circumstances beyond the control of an operator shall not be grounds for suspension or revocation action.
C. The Council may make recommendations to the Executive Secretary regarding the suspension or revocation of a certificate. Prior to making any such recommendation, the Council shall inform the individual in writing of the reasons the Council is considering such a recommendation. The Council shall allow the individual an opportunity for an informal hearing before the Council. Any request for an informal hearing shall be made within 30 days of the date the Council's notification is mailed.
D. Following an informal hearing, or the expiration of the period for requesting a hearing, the Council shall notify the Executive Secretary of its final recommendation.
E. A challenge to the Executive Secretary's determination may be made as provided in R317-9-3.
A. Noncompliance with these Certification rules is a violation of Section 19-5-115 Utah Code Annotated.
B. The Council shall refer cases of noncompliance with this rule to the Executive Secretary.
water pollution, operator certification, wastewater treatment
October 22, 2007
October 2, 2007
19-5
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