Definitions

Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) means an international organization of environmental certification boards which is a not-for-profit corporation incorporated in the State of Iowa. Board means the Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities as defined by M.G.L. c. 13, § 66B. Certificate means the certificate of competency issued by the Board stating that the operator has met the requirements for the specified operator classification of the certification program. Certification of Competency means a certificate issued by an organization, institute or school which is recognized by the Board as being appropriate for the training of a public water system operator. Chlorination means the addition of a chlorine compound or chlorine gas to water. Class means the classification of a public water system according to the Department of Environmental Protection's Drinking Water Regulations at 310 CMR 22.11B in consultation with the Board. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) refers to a specified number of training contact hours (TCH). One CEU equals ten TCH's. Contract Operations means the operation, and/or management and/or maintenance of a public water system by someone other than the official purveyor of water. Disinfection means the altering of the water with a chlorine compound, chlorine gas or other agents or methods designed to inactivate the microbiological contaminants in the drinking water. Distribution System means a system of conduits (laterals, distributors, pipes, mains and their appurtenances) which distributes potable water to consumers. For the purpose of 236 CMR 2.00 through 5.00, the distribution system may be deemed to include the source, booster pumping stations and storage reservoirs. Fluoridation means the treatment by the adjustment of the fluoride ion concentration to produce the optimum fluoride concentration in the water. 2.03: continued Full Operator Certificate Status means an operator who has passed a certification examination and meets all requirements set forth in 236 CMR 4.01 for a specified water system. Grade C Operator 1, 2, 3, or 4 means an operator certificate issued by the Board before December 31, 1989. Inactive Operator means a retired operator who holds a current certificate, but who is not engaged directly or indirectly in the onsite operation of a public water system as an employee of said system. In-line Treatment means a treatment process that consists of the addition of a chemical to a water supply system in such a way that it alters the physical, chemical, radiological or microbiological quality of the water exclusive of collection or distribution of the water. Operator means a person who is engaged in the onsite management, operations, or maintenance of a public water system or routinely performs water works related duties. "Operator" does not ordinarily apply to an official exercising only general administrative supervision or engineering design duties such as the city engineer or an elected water commissioner, or to clerical or administrative workers involved only in activities such as customer relations, billing, payroll, timekeeping, etc. Operator-in-training means an applicant who has passed a certification examination, but who does not meet the education and/or experience requirements specified in 236 CMR 4.01 for the grade of examination passed. Operator Status means the status of licenses as issued by the Board, namely "Full Operator" or "Operator-in-training". Public Water System means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, as defined in 310 CMR 22.00: Drinking Water. Reciprocity means certification of a person who has passed a Board approved examination or a person who has a certification accepted by the Board and who meets the experience and education requirements of the Board. Softening means the treatment process of softening water by passing it through a substance such as, but not limited to, zeolite, or the addition of chemicals that are exchanged for the hardness- causing elements. Stabilization or Corrosion Correction means the treatment by the addition of chemical compounds to water to maintain an ionic equilibrium whereby the water is not in a depository or corrosive state. Taste and Odor Control means the removal, masking or dispersion of unwanted tastes and/or odors in the water by chemical, mechanical or other means. Training Contact Hours (TCH's) means the hours of training an operator has acquired in the last certificate renewal cycle. Each seminar, workshop, training course or college course will have a specific training hours value as rated by the Board. One CEU equals ten TCH's. Treatment Process means the portion of a drinking water system containing various chemical additions and/or filtration processes exclusive of collection or distribution, which alters the physical, chemical, radiological or microbiological quality of the drinking water. 2.03: continued Very Small System (VSS) means a public water system which serves a population of less than 500 people. Water Vending Machine (VND) means a self-service public water system which, upon payment, dispenses drinking water in bulk without the necessity of replenishing the device between each vending function.