Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-699 - TREATMENT PLANT CLASSIFICATION AND STAFFING › Section 62-699.310 - Classification and Staffing of Domestic Wastewater or Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
This section applies to all domestic wastewater treatment
				  plant permittees and to all suppliers of water except those who own or operate
				  a transient non-community water system (TWS) using only ground water as a
				  source of supply and serving only religious institutions, or businesses, other
				  than public food service establishments as defined and regulated under Chapter
				  381, 500, or 509, F.S., and other than religious institutions with school or
				  daycare services. Licensed operators are not required for TWSs using only
				  ground water as a source of supply and serving only religious institutions, or
				  businesses, other than public food service establishments and other than
				  religious institutions with school or daycare services.
(1) Domestic wastewater treatment plant
				permittees and suppliers of water shall employ only persons appropriately
				licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., to be in on-site charge of the
				operation, supervision, or maintenance of a domestic wastewater or water
				treatment plant during any part of any day. Suppliers of water shall employ
				only persons appropriately licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., to be in
				onsite charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance
				activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in
				Footnote 1 under the tables in subparagraphs
				 62-699.310(2)(f) 
				1. and 2., F.A.C.
(2) Permittees
				and suppliers of water shall employ licensed operators onsite at their domestic
				wastewater or water treatment plant(s) to fulfill the time and visit
				requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (e), below. Suppliers of water
				shall employ licensed operators to staff their water distribution system as
				specified in paragraph (f), below.
(a)
				Classification and Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment
				Plants Other than Those Discussed Separately in paragraphs (b) through (d),
				below. Refer to tables 1. through 4., below, and determine the classification
				and staffing requirements for each domestic wastewater treatment plant using
				the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the plant and
				then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing
				requirements for the plant. Determine the plant category by identifying the
				highest category in tables 1. through 4., listing one or more of the plant's
				treatment processes, with Category I being the highest category and Category IV
				being the lowest category. Determine the plant classification and staffing
				requirements within the determined plant category by using the permitted
				capacity of the plant. Class A is the highest possible plant classification,
				and Class D is the lowest possible plant classification.
1. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant
							 Category I
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Processes to meet permit limits for total nitrogen
							 with or without filtration; processes to meet permit limits for total
							 phosphorus with or without filtration; or membrane processes, including
							 microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and membrane
							 bioreactors.
3.0 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
0.5 MGD up to 3.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
0.1 MGD up to 0.5 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.05 MGD up to 0.1 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
Less than 0.05 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
Not Applicable
2. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant
							 Category II
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Activated sludge processes, except extended aeration,
							 with or without filtration.
5.0 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
1.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
0.25 MGD up to 1.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.1 MGD up to 0.25 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
Less than 0.1 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1/2 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
Not Applicable
3. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant
							 Category III
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Extended aeration, including oxidation ditches, with
							 or without filtration.
8.0 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
2.0 MGD up to 8.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
0.5 MGD up to 2.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.
________________
25, 000 GPD up to 0.25 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1/2 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
10, 000 GPD up to 25, 000 GPD
Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 3 visits/week
							 on nonconsecutive days for a total of 1 1/2 hours/week.
________________
2, 000 up to 10, 000 GPD
Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 2 visits/week
							 on nonconsecutive days for a total of 1 hour/week. There shall be no more than
							 5 days between the last visit in one week and the first visit in the next
							 week.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class D or higher.
4. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant
							 Category IV
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Either of the following processes with or without
							 filtration: trickling filters or rotating biological contactors.
10 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
3.0 MGD up to 10 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
2.0 MGD up to 3.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.75 MGD up to 2.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
25, 000 GPD up to 0.75 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1/2 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
2, 000 up to 25, 000 GPD
Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 2 visits/week
							 on nonconsecutive days for a total of 1 hour/week. There shall be no more than
							 5 days between the last visit in one week and the first visit in the next week.
							 The lead/chief operator must be Class D or higher.
(b)
				Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants that Provide
				Reclaimed Water to a Reuse System Permitted Under Part III of Chapter 62-610,
				F.A.C.
1. Plant staffing requirements shall be
				established in accordance with paragraph (a), above.
2. Additional minimum staffing requirements
				are provided in subsections
				 62-610.462(2) and
				(3), F.A.C., which shall be used in
				conjunction with the requirements in paragraph (a), above, with the most
				stringent requirements governing. Reductions in staffing requirements below the
				minimum established in subsections
				 62-610.462(2) and
				(3), F.A.C., shall not be
				allowed.
(c) Staffing
				Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants that Provide Reclaimed
				Water to a Reuse System Permitted Under Part V of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C.
1. Plant staffing requirements shall be
				established in accordance with paragraph (a), above.
2. Additional minimum staffing requirements
				are provided in subsections
				 62-610.567(3), (4), and
				(5), F.A.C., which shall be used in
				conjunction with the requirements in paragraph (a), above, with the most
				stringent requirements governing. Reductions in staffing requirements below the
				minimum established in subsections
				 62-610.567(3), (4), and
				(5), F.A.C., shall not be
				allowed.
(d) Staffing
				Requirements for Biosolids Treatment Facilities. Staffing requirements are
				provided in paragraph
				 62-640.880(2)(j),
				F.A.C.
(e) Classification and
				Staffing Requirements for Water Treatment Plants. Refer to tables 1. through
				5., below, and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each
				water treatment plant using the following two-step procedure: first determine
				the category of the plant and then, within that category, determine the
				classification and staffing requirements for the plant. Determine the plant
				category by identifying the highest category in tables 1. through 5., listing
				one or more of the plant's category-determining treatment processes, with
				Category I being the highest category and Category V being the lowest category.
				In no case shall a treatment process that is installed and maintained by the
				Department under the Water Supply Restoration Program be considered in
				determining the plant category. Otherwise, for any plant that is part of a
				community water system (CWS), all of the plant's treatment processes shall be
				considered in determining the plant category, while for any plant that is part
				of a non-community water system (NCWS), only the plant's treatment processes
				that are necessary to meet primary drinking water standards, or disinfection
				requirements, applicable to the NCWS shall be considered in determining the
				plant category. Determine the plant classification and staffing requirements
				within the determined plant category by using the permitted maximum-day
				operating capacity of the plant. Class A is the highest possible plant
				classification, and Class D is the lowest possible plant classification.
1. Water Treatment Plant Category
							 I
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Conventional filtration (coagulation, flocculation,
							 sedimentation, and rapid-rate granular-media filtration), including lime
							 softening; direct filtration, (coagulation and rapid-rate granular-media
							 filtration) of surface water or ground water determined by the Department to be
							 under the direct influence of surface water; or direct filtration of ground
							 water for removal of viruses.
5.0 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
1.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
0.3 MGD up to 1.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.1 MGD up to 0.3 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
Less than 0.1 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
Not Applicable
2. Water Treatment Plant Category
							 II
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, or
							 reverse osmosis.
6.5 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
MGD up to 6.5 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
0.5 MGD up to 1.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.1 MGD
up to 0.25 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
Less than 0.1 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits per
							 week and one visit each weekend for a total of 2.4 hours/week.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
Not Applicable
3. Water Treatment Plant Category
							 III
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Activated alumina or carbon adsorption, with
							 backwashing or on-site media regeneration or reactivation, for removal of any
							 primary contaminant or disinfection byproduct precursors; diatomaceous earth
							 filtration; electrodialysis or electrodialysis reversal; ion exchange for
							 removal of any primary contaminant or disinfection byproduct precursors;
							 oxidation and rapid-rate granular-media filtration, or direct filtration, of
							 ground water for removal of any primary contaminant other than viruses or for
							 removal of disinfection byproduct precursors; or slow sand filtration.
8.0 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.
2.0 MGD up to 8.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
1.0 MGD up to 2.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.5 MGD up to 1.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
Less than 0.25 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits/week
							 and one visit each weekend for a total of 1.8 hours/week.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
Not Applicable
4. Water Treatment Plant Category
							 IV
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Activated alumina or carbon adsorption with
							 backwashing or on-site media regeneration or reactivation, for removal of only
							 secondary contaminants; chloramination; chlorine dioxide treatment; ion
							 exchange for removal of any secondary contaminant, sulfide, or hardness from a
							 CWS; oxidation and rapid-rate granular-media filtration, or direct filtration,
							 of ground water for removal of any secondary contaminant or sulfide from a CWS;
							 or ozonation.
Not Applicable
10 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day
							 for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.
5.0 MGD up to 10 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
3.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
1.0 MGD up to 3.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.1 MGD up to 1.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits/week
							 and one visit each weekend for a total of 1.2 hours/week.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
Less than 0.1 MGD
Staffing by a Class D or higher operator: 3
							 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 0.6 hour/week. The lead/chief
							 operator must be Class D or higher.
5. Water Treatment Plant Category
							 V
Treatment Process
Class A
Class B
Class C
Class D
Activated alumina or carbon adsorption without
							 backwashing and without on-site media regeneration or reactivation; aeration;
							 alkalinity or pH adjustment; chlorination or hypochlorination; corrosion
							 control inhibitor addition; fluoridation; iron or manganese sequestration; or
							 ultraviolet radiation.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
5.0 MGD and above
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
3.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day
							 for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.
________________
0.25 MGD up to 3.0 MGD
Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits/week
							 and one visit each weekend for a total of 0.6 hour/week.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class C or higher.
50, 000 GPD up to 0.25 MGD
Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 3 visits/week
							 on nonconsecutive days for a total of 0.3 hour/week.
________________
Less than 50, 000 GPD
Staffing by a Class D or higher operator: 2
							 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 0.2 hour/week. There shall be
							 no more than 5 days between the last visit in one week and the first visit in
							 the next week.
________________
For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator
							 must be Class D or higher.
(f)
				Classification and Staffing Requirements for Water Distribution Systems. Refer
				to tables 1. and 2., below, and determine the classification and staffing
				requirements for each water distribution system using the following two-step
				procedure: first determine the category of the distribution system and then,
				within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements
				for the distribution system. Determine the distribution system category by
				using the highest classification of water treatment plant to which the
				distribution system is connected, with Class A being the highest plant
				classification and Class D being the lowest plant classification. Determine the
				distribution system classification and staffing requirements within the
				determined distribution system category by using the number of persons served
				directly by the distribution system, which excludes any persons served by any
				separately owned and operated wholesale or regulated consecutive system
				connected to the distribution system. Level 1 is the highest possible
				distribution system classification, and Level 4 is the lowest possible
				distribution system classification.
1. Water Distribution System Category
							 I
Distribution System
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Distribution system connected to a Class A, B, or C
							 water treatment plant.
Serving 100, 000 or more persons.
The lead/chief operator must be a Level 1 water
							 distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant
							 operator. Additionally, a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator
							 or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site
							 charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that
							 may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below
							 unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within
							 the scope of his or her license.2
Serving at least 10, 000 persons and less than 100,
							 000 persons.
The lead/chief operator must be a Level 2 or higher
							 water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant
							 operator. Additionally, a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator
							 or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site
							 charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that
							 may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below
							 unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within
							 the scope of his or her license.2
Serving at least 1, 000 persons and less than 10, 000
							 persons.
The lead/chief operator must be a Level 3 or higher
							 water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant
							 operator. Additionally, a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator
							 or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site
							 charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that
							 may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below
							 unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within
							 the scope of his or her license.2
Serving less than 1, 000
							 persons3.
The lead/chief operator must be a Level 4 or higher
							 water distribution system operator or a Class D or higher water treatment plant
							 operator. Additionally, a Level 4 or higher water distribution system operator
							 or a Class D or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site
							 charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that
							 may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below
							 unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within
							 the scope of his or her license.2
1. The following water
							 distribution system operation or maintenance activities may affect water
							 quality or quantity: cleaning (swabbing, pigging, scraping, or air-purging)
							 existing or repaired water mains; tapping, depressurizing/dewatering, or
							 disinfecting existing or repaired water mains; dewatering, cleaning, or
							 disinfecting existing or repaired finished-water storage tanks; and manually
							 operating pumps, or adjusting automatic pump controls or automatic control
							 valves, as necessary to regulate water distribution system flows or
							 pressures.
2. Part I of Chapter 489,
							 F.S., and rules adopted thereunder and administered by the Department of
							 Business and Professional Regulation and the Construction Industry Licensing
							 Board regulate the construction industry and establish whether construction
							 work, including the repair or replacement of water distribution system
							 facilities, must be performed by a licensed contractor.
3. For wholesale systems,
							 a Category I water distribution system serving less than 1, 000 persons shall
							 be classified as a Level 3 water distribution system.
2. Water Distribution System Category
							 II
Distribution System
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Distribution system connected to a Class D water
							 treatment plant.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The lead/chief operator must be a Level 4 or higher
							 water distribution system operator or a Class D or higher water treatment plant
							 operator. Additionally, a Level 4 or higher water distribution system operator
							 or a Class D or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site
							 charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that
							 may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below
							 unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within
							 the scope of his or her license2.
1. Water distribution
							 system operation and maintenance activities that may affect water quality or
							 quantity include the following: cleaning (swabbing, pigging, scraping, or
							 air-purging) existing or repaired water mains; tapping,
							 depressurizing/dewatering, or disinfecting existing or repaired water mains;
							 dewatering, cleaning, or disinfecting existing or repaired finished-water
							 storage tanks; and manually operating pumps, or adjusting automatic pump
							 controls or automatic control valves, as necessary to regulate water
							 distribution system flows or pressures.
2. Part I of Chapter 489,
							 F.S., and rules adopted thereunder and administered by the Department of
							 Business and Professional Regulation and the Construction Industry Licensing
							 Board regulate the construction industry and establish whether construction
							 work, including the repair or replacement of water distribution system
							 facilities, must be performed by a licensed contractor.