AWWA DSS54637 Water Distribution Operator Certification - The Great Transition in California

Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 09/01/2001

Burke, Darcy M.

Full Description

With the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act, the US Congress directed the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to initiate a partnership with States, water systems, and the public to develop information on recommended operator certification requirements and issue guidelines specifying minimum standards for certification and re-certification, of the operators of community and non-transient, non-community public water systems. Prior to the February 2001 deadline, the California Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association administered a voluntary water distribution operator certification program for over 26 years. This program served over 9,000 operators throughout the state. With the re-authorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the California Department of Health Services elected to expand their Water Treatment Operator certification program to include distribution operators. The primary objective of this paper is to review the regulatory process, input from the drinking water industry, and the challenges addressed during the transition from voluntary certification to mandatory certification. The second objective is to review the elements of a quality operator certification program and the challenges this brings. Some of the key areas of concern addressed include: meeting USEPA guidelines, and not backsliding in terms of eligibility requirements and proficiency examination.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 09/01/2001 Number of Pages: 7 File Size: 1 file , 140 KB