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-50-05-5.6 - Mandatory Certification of Public Water Supply Transmission and Distribution System Operators

Current through June 14, 2024
A. It shall be
				  unlawful for any community or non-community non-transient public water supply
				  transmission and distribution system to distribute water for human consumption
				  unless the operation of the system is under the supervision of a superintendent
				  or assistant superintendent who is assigned direct responsibility for the
				  management, operation, and maintenance of the transmission and distribution
				  water system during all working shifts and who shall hold a full certificate
				  equal to the grade or classification of the transmission and distribution
				  facility, as established by this Part.
B. Each person in responsible charge of any
				  field operations of a community or non-community non-transient public water
				  supply transmission and distribution facility must hold a certificate no less
				  than one (1) grade lower than the grade of the transmission and distribution
				  facility, as established by this Part.
C. In addition to §§
										5.6(A) and
				  (B)   of this Part, all persons employed to
				  work as operators at a community or non-community non-transient public water
				  supply transmission and distribution facility must be certified to at least the
				  lowest grade of distribution 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
				  transmission and distribution facilities must be under the supervision of a
				  fully certified operator employed at that water supply transmission and
				  distribution system.
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 their 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
				  decisions.
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 §
											5.6(G)   of
				  this Part are implemented, the PWS must notify the Board and the Director in
				  writing within twenty-four (24) hours.