Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 231 - RULES RELATING TO DRINKING WATER › Section 144-231-1 - ADMINISTRATION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Application and Scope
The provisions of these rules apply to all public water
				  systems, unless specifically noted.
B.
Constitutionality Clause
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase
				  of these regulations be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason,
				  the remainder of said regulations will not be affected thereby.
C.
Licensed Water
				Operators
1. Owners of all Community
				and Non-Transient Non-Community water systems shallplace the direct supervision
				of their water system, including each treatment facility and/or distribution
				system, under the responsible charge of an operator holding a valid license
				with classification equal to or greater than the classification of the
				treatment facility and/or distribution system.
2. Owners of all public water systems that
				use surface water as a source shall place the direct supervision of their water
				system, including each treatment facility and/or distribution system, under the
				responsible charge of an operator holding a valid license equal to, or greater
				than, the classification of the treatment facility and/or distribution
				system.
3. The operator in
				responsible charge shall hold a valid license equal to, or greater than, the
				classification of their water system, including each treatment facility and
				distribution system as determined by the Department.
4. The operator in responsible charge shall
				ensure that adequate operational and emergency response procedures are in place
				to enable licensed operating personnel to make appropriate process control
				system integrity decisions about water quality and quantity.
5. All operating personnel making process
				control system integrity decisions about water quality or quantity that affect
				public health shall be licensed.
6.
				A designated licensed operator shall be available for each operating
				shift.
7. Transient Non-Community
				water systems serving ground water are generally not required to employ
				licensed operators; however, these water systems shall employ or designate
				individuals responsible for their operation, who are responsible for proper
				record-keeping, treatment maintenance and sample collection, as stated in these
				rules. If the Department finds that such transient water systems demonstrate a
				lack of capacity (as described in Section
				3(E) of these rules)
				or pose an imminent hazard to public health (as described in Section
				1(F) of these rules),
				then the Department may require that the water system engage a licensed water
				operator holding an appropriate license for the system classification.
8. Whenever a licensed water
				operator is required, that operator shall maintain their licensure and shall
				comply with these rules. If the Department finds that a water operator is not
				complying with these rules, then the Department may require that the water
				system obtain a different licensed operator.