Section 327 IAC 8-12-3.2 - Certified operator gradesAuthority: IC 13-14-8; IC 13-18-11-1.5; IC 13-18-11-13
Affected: IC 13-18-11
Sec. 3.2.
(a) Grade operator-in-training (O.I.T.) is available under the following guidelines: (1) To a person meeting the following: (A) Currently employed at a public water system with facilities classified as a Class WT 3, WT 4, or WT 5 water treatment plant or a Class DSL water distribution system.(B) Has fulfilled the qualifications of section 3(a)(2) and 3(b)(1) of this rule.(2) In accordance with the following: (A) Until the O.I.T. meets the experience requirement needed for the classification of treatment plant or distribution system where the O.I.T. is accumulating work experience.(B) Operating work must be accomplished under the supervision of a certified operator in responsible charge who must verify to the commissioner the satisfactory achievement of acceptable experience by the O.I.T.(C) An O.I.T. may not do any of the following:(i) Serve as a certified operator in responsible charge.(ii) Transfer an O.I.T. certification to a water treatment plant or water distribution system with a public water system identification number (PWSID) different than the PWSID for which the certification was issued.(iii) Hold two (2) water treatment plant or water distribution system O.I.T. certifications concurrently.(iv) Renew the O.I.T. certification.(b) A water distribution system certified operator may possess a valid certification in one (1) or more of the following three (3) grades:(1) Grade DSS is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class DSS water distribution system after having fulfilled the following requirements: (A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Attain a minimum of one (1) year of acceptable work experience in the operation of a Class DSS water distribution system.(2) Grade DSM is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class DSS and Class DSM water distribution system after having fulfilled the following requirements: (A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Attain one (1) of the following acceptable work experience requirements:(i) One (1) year in the operation of a Class DSM water distribution system.(ii) Two (2) years in the operation of a Class DSS water distribution system.(3) Grade DSL is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class DSS, Class DSM, and Class DSL water distribution system after having fulfilled the following requirements: (A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Must be able to do the following: (i) Maintain inventories.(ii) Order supplies and equipment.(iii) Interpret chemical and bacteriological sample reports.(D) Attain one (1) of the following acceptable work experience requirements: (i) One (1) year in the operation of a Class DSL water distribution system.(ii) Three (3) years in the operation of a Class DSM water distribution system.(iii) Five (5) years in the operation of a Class DSS water distribution system.(iv) An acceptable number of years of experience approved by the commissioner if gained in operation of a combination of the various classifications of water distribution systems.(c) A water treatment plant certified operator may possess a valid certification in one (1) or more of the following six (6) grades:(1) Grade WT 1 is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class WT 1 water treatment plant or a Class DSS water distribution system at a nontransient noncommunity water system serving five hundred (500) or fewer individuals or a community water system serving one hundred (100) or fewer individuals after having fulfilled the following requirements: (A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Must be able to do the following: (i) Maintain inventories.(ii) Order supplies and equipment.(iii) Interpret chemical and bacteriological sample reports.(D) Attain a minimum of one (1) year of acceptable work experience in the operation of a Class WT 1 water treatment plant.(2) Grade WT 2 is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class WT 1 and a Class WT 2 water treatment plant and a Class DSS water distribution system at a nontransient noncommunity water system serving five hundred (500) or fewer individuals or a community water system serving one hundred (100) or fewer individuals after having fulfilled the following requirements:(A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Must be able to do the following:(i) Maintain inventories.(ii) Order supplies and equipment.(iii) Interpret chemical and bacteriological sample reports.(D) Attain one (1) of the following acceptable work experience requirements:(i) One (1) year in the operation of a Class WT 2 water treatment plant.(ii) Two (2) years in the operation of a Class WT 1 water treatment plant.(3) Grade WT 3 is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class WT 1, Class WT 2, and Class WT 3 water treatment plant and a Class DSS water distribution system at a nontransient noncommunity water system serving five hundred (500) or fewer individuals or a community water system serving one hundred (100) or fewer individuals after having fulfilled the following requirements:(A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Must be able to do the following:(i) Maintain inventories.(ii) Order supplies and equipment.(iii) Interpret chemical and bacteriological sample reports.(D) Attain the following acceptable work experience at a minimum:(i) Two (2) years in the operation of a Class WT 3 water treatment plant.(ii) Successful completion of educational work at college level in:(CC) science; related to water treatment may be substituted for work experience required according to item (i) at the ratio of four (4) semesters or six (6) quarters of schooling for a maximum substitution of one (1) year of experience.
(4) Grade WT 4 is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class WT 1, Class WT 2, and Class WT 4 water treatment plant and a Class DSS water distribution system at a nontransient noncommunity water system serving five hundred (500) or fewer individuals or a community water system serving one hundred (100) or fewer individuals after having fulfilled the following requirements:(A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Must be able to do the following:(i) Maintain inventories.(ii) Order supplies and equipment.(iii) Interpret chemical and bacteriological sample reports.(D) Attain the following acceptable work experience at a minimum:(i) Two (2) years in the operation of a Class WT 4 water treatment plant.(ii) Successful completion of educational work at college level in:(CC) science; related to water treatment may be substituted for work experience required according to item (i) at the ratio of four (4) semesters or six (6) quarters of schooling for a maximum substitution of one (1) year of experience.
(iii) Two (2) years in the operation of a Class WT 3 water treatment plant may substitute for a maximum of one (1) year of experience required according to item (i).(5) Grade WT 5 is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class WT 1, Class WT 2, Class WT 4, and Class WT 5 water treatment plant and a Class DSS water distribution system at a nontransient noncommunity water system serving five hundred (500) or fewer individuals or a community water system serving one hundred (100) or fewer individuals after having fulfilled the following requirements: (A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.(B) Meet the qualifications of section 3 of this rule.(C) Must have the ability to do the following:(i) Use conversion factors.(ii) Solve simple mathematical equations.(iii) Understand the following:(AA) Simple chemical laboratory equipment.(BB) The bacteriological procedures used in water supply work.(iv) Maintain inventories.(v) Order supplies and equipment.(D) Attain the following acceptable work experience at a minimum:(i) One (1) of the following:(AA) Three (3) years in the operation of a Class WT 5 water treatment plant.(BB) Five (5) years in the operation of a Class WT 4 water treatment plant.(ii) Successful completion of educational work at college level in:(CC) science; related to water treatment may be substituted for work experience required according to item (i) at the ratio of four (4) semesters or six (6) quarters of schooling for one (1) year of experience, up to a maximum of two (2) years of experience.
(iii) Two (2) years in the operation of a WT 3 water treatment plant may be substituted for one (1) year of experience required according to item (i) up to a maximum substitution of two (2) years experience.(6) Grade WT 6 is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class WT 6 water treatment plant that requires operator qualifications determined by the commissioner on an individual plant basis in response to the specialized nature of the water treatment plant.(d) An applicant for water treatment plant or water distribution system operator certification may submit proof to the commissioner to demonstrate the achievement of an equivalent level of acceptable training or work experience for that required by the following subsections: (e) A Grade WT 3, Grade WT 4, and Grade WT 5 operator is qualified to apply for the appropriate wastewater treatment plant certification according to 327 IAC 5-22 to treat wastewater from a water treatment plant provided the operator is certified to operate that classification of water treatment plant.Water Pollution Control Board; 327 IAC 8-12-3.2; filed Nov 20, 2000, 4:11 p.m.: 24 IR 980; filed Oct 24, 2006, 3:03 p.m.: 20061122-IR-327050255FRA