Definitions

In addition to the definitions contained in the Environmental Quality Code (27A O.S. § 2-1- 101 et seq.), and the Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operator Certification Act (59 O.S. § 1101 et seq.), the following words and terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Act" means the Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operator Certification Act, 59 O.S.§ 1101 et seq. "Associated laboratory" means any laboratory, not directly owned by or located on the premises of a waterworks or wastewater works facility, that performs required laboratory tests for the facility. "Available" means on-site or able to be contacted as needed to initiate the appropriate action in a timely manner. "Certificate year" means July 1 through June 30. "Certification of competencyCertification" means a certification issued by the DEQ pursuant to this Chapter. "Class associated examination" means an operator certification examination which is given at the end of a classroom instruction for the level of certification taught. Only class participants may take a class associated exam. In addition, the applicant shall have submitted an approved examination application. "Classroom training" means DEQ approved professional development training taking place in a classroom or practical learning environment and attended in person by class participants, and also referred to as “in-person training.” "Code" means the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Code, 27A O.S. § 2-1-101 et seq. "Collection system" means pipes or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, and all other facilities used to collect, or conduct wastewater to a treatment works. "Treatment facility complexityComplexity” means difficulty in controlling water quality, potential effect to the consumer, and/or safety of the operator. "DEQ" means the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. 3 "DEQ approved training" means training that has been evaluated and approved by DEQ in advance of the scheduled training date with DEQ assigning a class identification number upon approval. "Direct supervision" means the on-site supervision or direction provided by a certified operator of a registerednon-certified helper during which the certified operator is present at all times. A registerednon-certified helper mustshall work under direct supervision. "Distribution and Collection Technician" means a person who works solely on distribution and collection lines and is not in responsible charge. "Distribution system" means any combination of pipes, tanks, pumps, or other equipment which delivers water from the source(s), and/or treatment facility(ies) to the consumer. "Distribution system complexity" means pressure zones, booster stations, storage tanks, fire protection, chlorination, nonresidential consumers, cross connection potential, and/or demand variations. "Environmental professional" means an individual with an undergraduate degree related to and practicing in the fields of biological sciences, biology, engineering, physical science, hydrology, geology, mathematics, environmental science, chemistry, microbiology, toxicology, or civil, chemical, sanitary, or environmental engineering. "General course" means a DEQ approved training class or classes that directly relate to waterworks, wastewater works, waterworks laboratories, or wastewater works laboratories and that meet the requirements of OAC 252:710-3-36 for content and clock hours, to be utilized solely for the purpose of professional development and certification renewal. "General supervision" means supervision or direction provided by a certified operator to a temporary certified personoperator and requires that the certified operator be available to help or advise but during which the certified operator need not be present at all times. While under general supervision, a certified persontemporary operator may work alone. "Groundwater system" means a waterworks where all water is obtained from dug, drilled, bored, or driven wells or infiltration lines not under the influence of surface water contamination, but not springs which are a surface water supply. "Laboratory operator" means an individual who is in general supervision of a laboratory which performs laboratory analyses for waterworks and wastewater works and who is responsible for the accuracy of the laboratory tests and reports for the facility, but who does not operate the waterworks or wastewater works unless appropriately certified as an operator for that type facilityfacility type. "Lagoon" means a soil or lined basin, either below or above ground level, which is designed, maintained, and/or operated to store, recycle, and/or treat municipal/domestic wastewater or stormwater. "Licensed experience" means the time spent at a plant or system in performance of operational duties with the appropriate level of certification by certification holder. "Minor public water supply system" means a water system that does not meet the definition of a Public Water Supply System. Minor public water supply systems are regulated by OAC 252:624. "RegisteredNon-certified helper" means a person under direct supervision who assists in the performance of work that may affect the quality and/or quantity of either water or wastewater and is properly registered as provided in 252:710-5-55. 4 "OAC" means Oklahoma Administrative Code. "Open examination" means an operator certification examination which may be taken by an individual whose experience, training, and education exempts the individual from in-class participation for the level of certification being tested. Applications mustshall be submitted and approved by DEQ prior to examination. "Operator" means any certified person who is at any time responsible for the operation of a wastewater works or waterworks facility or associated laboratories. "Operator" shall not ordinarily apply to an official exercising official general administrative supervision, but shall apply to any properly certified person who can, through a direct act or command, affect the quality and/or quantity of the water or wastewater. "Operating experience" means the time spent at a plant or system in performance of operational duties with the appropriate level of certification. "Operating shift" means that period of time during which operator decisions that affect public health and environment are necessary for proper operation of the system. "Operational assistance" means providing regulatory or consulting technical assistance to water/wastewater works systems. "O.S." means Oklahoma Statutes. "Owner" means any business entity, homeowners' association, or government entity, including the State of Oklahoma, municipalities, counties, districts, and all subdivisions thereof.: (A) a sole proprietor; (B) a homeowners' association; (C) the controlling or managing partner of a partnership; (D) the major stockholders of a corporation; or (E) a government entity including the State of Oklahoma, municipalities, counties, or districts, and all sub-divisions thereof. "Professional development hours (PDH)" means hours of DEQ approved training that may be used to meet the requirements of OAC 252:710-1-7 for certification or renewal. "Public Water Supply (PWS) system" means any system providing water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen (15) service connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five (25) individuals daily at least sixty (60) days per year, whether receiving payment for same or not. Multi-family dwellings, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, recreational vehicle (RV) parks, and correctional facilities, which are constructed, inspected and maintained under a State or locally approved plumbing code, purchase water from a permitted water system, do not provide treatment, and do not resell water, are not classified as a Public Water Supply system. The following are the categories of Public Water Supply systems: (A) "Community water system" means any PWS system that serves at least fifteen (15) service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) year-round residents. (B) "Non-community water system" means any PWS system that serves an average of at least twenty-five (25) individuals at least sixty (60) days per year but is neither a community water system nor a non-transient non-community water system. (C) "Non-transient non-community (NTNC) water system" means any PWS system that is not a community water system and that regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) of 5 the same persons over six (6) months per year. "Purchased water system" means a water supply system which buys its water from a waterworks and has a mastermeter. "Reciprocity" means a recognition by DEQ of the validity of a certification granted by another state, so long as that state recognizes certifications issued by DEQ as well. "Responsible charge" means making decisions regarding the daily operational activities of (A) a public water system, water treatment facility, and/or distribution system that will directly impact the quality and/or quantity of drinking water; or (B) a wastewater system, wastewater treatment facility and/or collection system. "Shared operator" means a person contracted and/or hired by one or more municipalities, sewer improvement districts, water or sewer public trusts, rural water or sewer districts, consortium of small publicly owned water supply or wastewater systems, substate planning districts, or the Oklahoma Rural Water Association to operate two or more small system(s) pursuant to the requirements set forth in 252:710-7-2. "Small drinking water system" means a waterworks with a population of five hundred (500) or less that meets the definition of a PWS. "Small wastewater system" means a nonindustrial wastewater treatment system which has an average flow of five thousand (5,000) gallons per day or less. "Standard course" means a DEQ approved training class or classes that directly relate to waterworks, wastewater works, waterworks laboratories, or wastewater works laboratories. and that Classes shall meet the requirements of OAC 252:710-3-36 for content and clock hours, completed in preparation for an operator certification examination. "Superintendent" means an operator in direct responsible charge of day to day operations of an entire plant, distribution system, or collection system. "Supervisor" means an individual who directs and inspects the work of operators, helpers, or plumbers/contractors. "Temporary operator" means a person holding a temporary certification who may perform the duties of a certified operator under the general supervision of an appropriately certified operator. "Validated examination" means ana DEQ approved examination that is independently reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure that the examination is based on a job analysis and related to the classification of the system or facility. "Wastewater treatment works" means wastewater treatment systems and facilities used in the collection, transmission, storage, pumping, treatment, or disposal of liquid or waterborne wastes. "Water treatment facility" means any place(s) where a community water system or non- transient non-community water system alters the physical or chemical characteristics of the drinking water. Chlorination may be considered as a function of a distribution system.