Operator Training - Schedule of Courses Sponsored by WWOAP and AWWA - click here
Operator Certification Exams
2008 DEP Certification at the WWOAP Conference -
Date to be Announced
Check back here at a later date for Announcement...(doc file)
Check back here at a later date for Registration Form...(doc file)
Check back here at a later date for DEP flyer regarding License Upgrades...(ppt file)
Check back here at a later date for DEP flyer regarding Exam selection...(ppt file)
EPA Publishes Technical Guidance Manual for Small Filtered
Water Suppliers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a final
guidance manual called "Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule Turbidity Provisions." This document, which
is intended for small filter plant operators, provides information
on the combined filter effluent and individual filter effluent
requirements in the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment
Rule (LT1). The LT1 is a Federal and State regulation that
establishes a treatment technique to control Cryptosporidium.
The rule applies to public water systems serving fewer than
10,000 persons and classified as either a surface water system
or a ground water system under the direct influence of surface
water.
The manual includes the following major chapters:
- Turbidity Requirements
- Turbidity Sampling Methods and Turbidimeters
- Data Collection and Management
- Filter Self-Assessment
- Comprehensive Performance Evaluation
- Turbidity and the Treatment Process
- Treatment Optimization
The LT1 turbidity manual is now available on line at www.epa.gov/safewater/mdbp/lt1eswtr.html.
This free file is in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF)
and is about 6 megabytes in size.
DEP Offers Reimbursement for Training Expenses
Did you know that PADEP will reimburses some operators for
training expenses up to $1,500? You must meet these criteria
to qualify:
- You work for a small water system (community or
non-community) serving 3,300 people or less.
- You have taken a PADEP approved training course
to prepare for taking the certification exam or to meet the
continuing education requirement for your first 3-year renewal.
Reimbursement rates are either $30/hour or $50/hour depending
on whether you are paid wages for your services. Limitations
are $750 for training courses geared toward preparing for the
exam and $750 for courses to meet continuing education requirements.
More details are available by calling DEP at 717-705-4090.
Self Assessment Toolkit for Operators
The National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) is offering
a Water System Self-Evaluation Tool called “Staying Ahead
of the Curve: How well do you know your water system?” This
tool was created by the Maryland Center for Environmental Training,
with USEPA funding. The kit covers three objectives: measuring
the technical, managerial and financial strength of a system;
developing capital, operation and maintenance planning strategies
and budgeting expertise; and proactively complying with regulatory
requirements.
The kit can be ordered by calling (800) 624-8301.
Highlights of HB-1830 Operators Certification Act
The Operators Certification Act was signed on February 21, 2002
and is now known as Act 11. The following is a summary of the "new
provisions" of the last version of HB-1830 that supposedly
went to the governor's desk for signature. This is not an interpretation
just a report on what the sections are. For a full review please
read the entire bill.
"Available Operator" means certified operator on site
or able to be contacted as necessary to make process control
decisions.
"Grandparenting" will be allowed for those current
non-certified operators of systems that did not in the past require
a certified operator at the request of the owner of the system.
This operator will then have to meet the requirements to become
certified after a specified period of time.
"Operator in Responsible Charge" means an individual
designated by the owner to be the certified operator who makes
the process control decisions that directly impact the quality
and/or quantity of the water or wastewater.
"Owner" - is anyone who is employed or directs a water
or wastewater system including officers, "employes",
directors, for both private and any form of government agency
or authority.
"Process control decision" - is any action or inaction
that, "
may affect the public health or environment."
"Certification Board" - goes to six members. The "new" members
are "a certified operator who is the owner or official of
a privately owned water or wastewater system, and a member of
the general public who is knowledgeable in water systems or wastewater
systems.
Criminal background check - applicants for certification or
recertification shall submit a report of criminal history record
from the PA State Police with the application. Renewal applicants
shall submit the police report on a schedule developed by the "board".
Classifications and subclassifications still exist in this version
of the act, along with the statement that the examinations for
certification shall meet nationally accepted standards which
shall "promote reciprocity with other jurisdictions."
The Certification Program Advisory Committee has been expanded
to seventeen members, including two additional members who are "owners
of a manufactured housing community that have water/wastewater
systems". Two extra members can be added to this committee
expanding it to nineteen members on a temporary basis to handle
specific issues.
"Certification classes " for the wastewater side are
still "A" through "F". For the water systems
there are classes "A" through "D" based on
volume of water treated, and a new "E" class for the
distribution side of a system only.
An interim program of regulations will be developed until the
final regulations are adopted by the EQB.
Professional engineers can still get their certificates without
taking the certification exams, if they can prove that their
Professional Engineering Exam or their College or University
class exams meet or exceed the requirements for all or a portion
of the Operators Certification Examination.
Continuing education will be needed by all applicants for renewal
including engineers, and grandfathered certificates. The number
of credits to be obtained will be spelled out in the regulations.
Reciprocity is to be based on any Board-approved reciprocity
register or if the exam given in another jurisdiction meets the
same requirements for Pennsylvania's classifications and subclassifications.
Certified Operators must:
- Meet all requirements for recertification or renewal certification
including any continuing education requirements.
- Report to the system owner any known violation or system
condition that may be or are causing violation of any department
regulation or permit condition or requirement.
- Provide for the suitable operation and maintenance of a
water or wastewater system using available resources needed
to comply with all laws, regulations permit conditions, etc.
- Report to the system owner any action necessary to prevent
or eliminate a violation.
- Make or implement proper decisions for the system.
Owners must:
- Employ, identify and report to the state the names of available
operators and information as required.
- Require, supervise and direct certified operators to take
actions to comply with all rules, regulations, etc.
- Provide to the certified operators in responsible charge
copies of all current permits. (May request in writing that
the state DEP provide these permits.)
Criminal and civil penalties are still present for both the
operator and owner. Criminal penalties can range from $50 to
$1,000 for owners for each offense and from $50 to $500 for operators.
Civil penalties up to $1,000 per day for each violation for either
the owner or operator are stipulated. These penalties "may
be assessed whether or not the violation was willful or negligent."
A "Whistle-Blower" provision has been added to protect
the person who make a good faith report of a violation that is
more than minimal or "merely technical" in nature.
The Act itself can be read by logging on to The
Pennsylvania General Assembly Web page. Scroll down to
and click on 1830.
|