2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 91 - Board of Examiners for Operators of Treatment Plants for Drinking Water and Used Water (§§ 2801 — 2823) › § 2802 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below:
(a) Puerto Rican waters. — Shall mean the coastal waters, and the surface and underground bodies of water.
(b) Drinking water. — Shall mean water fit for human consumption which fulfills the requirements established in §§ 405 et seq. of Title 12, or any other applicable legislation or regulations.
(c) Used water. — Means any watery substance disposed of in the course of industrial, commercial, municipal, residential, agricultural, recreational, or institutional operations or establishments, or from any other source.
(d) Board. — Means the Board of Examiners for Operators of Treatment Plants and/or Systems for Drinking Water and Used Water, created by § 2803 of this title.
(e) License. — Means the authorization, whether provisional or permanent, issued by the Board to a person pursuant to this chapter to operate one class and category of treatment plant and/or system.
(f) Operator-in-training. — Means any person who has approved the corresponding practical examination and has been authorized by the Board through a license to operate one category and class of treatment plant and/or system or a part of a drinking water and/or used water system under the direct supervision of a certified operator; tends to the daily operation of the treatment facility, upkeeps and drafts the reports required; and applies the chemical products and/or conducts the physical, chemical, and biological assays.
(g) Certified operator. — Means any person who has approved the corresponding theoretical examination and has been authorized by the Board through a license to operate one class and category of treatment plant and/or system or a part of a drinking water and/or used water system.
(h) Person. — Means any natural person subject to the provisions of this chapter and the applicable regulations thereunder.
(i) Direct supervision. — Direct supervision shall be construed to mean the act of inspecting, overseeing, and making decisions concerning the processes and integrity of the treatment plants and/or systems, as well as the daily operating activities of these plants and/or systems which could have a direct impact on the quality and/or quantity of drinking water, source or body of water, and the public health. Said direct supervision shall be exercised by the certified operators available, be it that they are physically present on the grounds of the plant and/or system, or available from a geographical distance near the grounds of the plant and/or system where he/she can be reached or notified through any reliable and fast technological means of communication so that, within a reasonable timeframe, he/she initiate the responsive action pertinent in the case of an emergency or make the corresponding decisions concerning process controls or the integrity of the treatment plants and/or systems, as well as the daily operating activities of these plants and/or systems which could have a direct impact on the quality and/or quantity of the drinking water, source or body of water, and the public health.
(j) Treatment plants and/or systems for used water. — Means any facility, equipment or part used and necessary for the treatment to eliminate, reduce or control the direct or indirect discharge of any pollutant into a receiving body of water.
(k) Treatment plants and/or systems for drinking water. — Means any facility, equipment or part used and necessary for the treatment to make the water from lakes, rivers, or any other superficial or underground supply source undergo a treatment process from the plant to make it drinkable when it reaches the consumer. The distribution system of the treatment plant for drinkable water is included as part of the treatment plant.
(l) Distribution system. — Means any arrangement of pipes, tanks, pumps, and any other equipment or part, which take water from the sources and/or facilities for treatment to the consumer and is a part of the treatment system for drinking water.
History —July 13, 1978, No. 53, p. 528, § 2; Jan. 16, 2002, No. 29, § 2.