Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 216 - Department of health › Chapter 50 - Environmental health › Subchapter 05 - Water Quality › Part 5 - Certification of Public Drinking Water Supply Treatment and Public Water Supply Transmission and Distribution Operators › Section 216-RICR-50-05-5.5 - Mandatory Certification of Public Water Supply Treatment Operators

Current through June 14, 2024
A. It shall be unlawful for any public water
				  supply system using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of
				  surface water as determined by the Director, or any community or noncommunity
				  non-transient water supply to supply water for human consumption unless the
				  treatment of such water is under the supervision of a superintendent or
				  assistant superintendent who is assigned direct responsibility for the
				  management, operation, and maintenance of the water supply treatment facility
				  during all working shifts and who shall hold a full certificate equal to the
				  grade or classification of the water supply treatment facility, as established
				  by this Part.
B. Each operator in
				  charge of a shift at a public water supply system using surface water or
				  groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, as determined by the
				  Director, or any community or non-community non-transient water supply must
				  hold a certificate no less than one (1) grade below the classification of the
				  treatment facility.
C. In addition
				  to §§
										5.5(A) and
				  (B)   of this Part, all persons employed to
				  work as operators at a public water supply system using surface water or
				  groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, as determined by the
				  Director, or any community or non-community non-transient water supply must be
				  certified to at least the lowest grade of treatment plant operation
				  certification within a year of hire into such position.
D. Individuals holding Operator-In-Training
				  certifications may not make decisions regarding the daily operational
				  activities of public water treatment and/or transmission and distribution
				  facilities, that may directly impact the quality and/or quantity of drinking
				  water unless said decision is made in consultation with an operator holding a
				  full certificate of the appropriate type and grade who must be on-site or able
				  to be contacted as needed.
E.
				  Individuals employed by private entities to repair, replace or install
				  components of operational water supply treatment facilities must be under the
				  supervision of a fully certified operator employed at that water supply
				  treatment facility.
F. Violation of
				  this section shall be considered a violation of the public drinking water
				  supply under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-13 and water systems shall be subject to
				  the enforcement and penalty provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws §
										46-13-16.
G. During a State of Emergency declared by
				  the governor pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §
										30-15-9,
				  an operator of a lower classification than that required in §§
										5.5(A) and
				  (B)   of this Part may take over the
				  responsibilities of the superintendent, assistant superintendent, or an
				  operator in charge of a shift.
1. The
				  decision as to who would take over any of these roles shall be made by the
				  superintendent unless the superintendent is unable to fulfill his or her
				  superintendent duties due to circumstances that arise from the State of
				  Emergency. In the event the superintendent is unable to fulfill his or her
				  duties, the most senior person with the highest-level operator classification
				  shall make the decision.
2. Public
				  water systems operated by licensed contract operators who are unable to fulfill
				  their duties due to circumstances that arise from the State of Emergency, must
				  make every attempt to find another contract operator of an appropriate level of
				  certification. If another contract operator is not available to provide its
				  services, the owner may engage other professionals, including but not limited
				  to town officials, professional engineers, licensed plumbers, and licensed
				  water filtration/treatment system installers, to serve as an operator.
				  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the owner maintains responsibility for the
				  system.
3. In the event any of the
				  provisions set forth in §
											5.5(G)   of
				  this Part are implemented, the PWS must notify the Board and the Director in
				  writing within twenty-four (24) hours.