23.1-07-07. Unlawful operation

23.1-07-07. Unlawful operation Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to operate a water treatment plant or water distribution system serving twenty-five or more individuals or a wastewater treatment plant or wastewater collection system serving a population equivalent of twenty-five or more individuals unless the competency of the operator to operate such a plant or system is certified by the department in a grade corresponding to the classification of that portion of the system to be supervised. Operators of wastewater collection systems and wastewater stabilization ponds or other nonmechanical wastewater treatment plants that serve a population equivalent of less than five hundred individuals are excluded from this chapter. Operators of water supply systems that serve other than year-round residents are excluded from this chapter if all of the following conditions are met: 1. The water supply is obtained solely from ground water sources not under the direct influence of surface water. 2. Treatment, if provided, consists strictly of disinfection, fluoridation, sequestration, corrosion control, or other processes that involve simple chemical addition and minor operational control. 3. The water supply system is not required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act or its implementing regulations to be operated by qualified personnel.