250-RICR-150-10-5
250-RICR-150-10-5. Rules and Regulations for Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators (version Periodic Refile, 12/31/2001 to 09/26/2002)
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
BOARD OF CERTIFICATION OF OPERATORS
OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATORS
Regulation 12 190 007, September 1998
Authority: These regulations are adopted in accordance with § 42-35 pursuant to
§ 42-17.4 of the Rhode Island General Laws of 1956, as amended.
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATORS
Table of Contents
SECTION 1. PURPOSE..........................................................................................................................1
SECTION 2. LEGAL AUTHORITY .......................................................................................................1
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY................................................................................................................1
SECTION 4. SUPERSEDED REGULATIONS.......................................................................................1
SECTION 5. PROHIBITIONS ................................................................................................................1
SECTION 6. DEFINITIONS ...................................................................................................................2
SECTION 7. CLASSIFICATION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES.............................3
SECTION 8. OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS FOR WWTF's ...................4
SECTION 9. ISSUANCE OF OPERATOR-IN-TRAINING CERTIFICATE...........................................7
SECTION 10. ISSUANCE OF A PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE.........................................................7
SECTION 11. APPLICATIONS..............................................................................................................8
SECTION 12. EXAMINATIONS............................................................................................................8
SECTION 13. CERTIFICATION............................................................................................................8
SECTION 14. REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATES.............................................................................11
TABLE I. CLASSIFICATION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES – POINT
VALUES .......................................................................................................................13
TABLE II. WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CLASSIFICATION - VARIABLE POINT
GUIDE .........................................................................................................................15
Page 1
BOARD OF CERTIFICATION OF OPERATORS
OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR WASTEWATER
TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATORS
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of these regulations is to establish a system to classify all wastewater treatment
facilities (WWTF's) as to size and type, and to establish specifications, including examinations,
education, and work experience, for issuing certificates for operators of each class of WWTF to
ensure the proper management, operation, and maintenance of Rhode Island WWTF's.
SECTION 2. LEGAL AUTHORITY
These regulations are adopted pursuant to the powers and duties of the Board of Certification of
Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities as required and authorized by Chapter 42-17.4 of
the Rhode Island General Laws of 1956, as amended (RIGL).
These regulations are promulgated pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures
Act, RIGL, Chapter 42-35, and are effective twenty (20) days following the date of filing with the
Secretary of State.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these rules and regulations or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the rules and
regulations shall not be affected thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any
section or sections shall not affect the validity of the remainder of these rules and regulations.
SECTION 4. SUPERSEDED REGULATIONS
These regulations supersede "Rules and Regulations for Wastewater Treatment Facility
Operators" dated September 17, 1991.
SECTION 5. PROHIBITIONS
(a)
It shall be unlawful after June 30, 1979, for any person to operate or to cause to be
operated a wastewater treatment facility unless the superintendent and assistant
Page 2
superintendent of such facilities hold a certificate issued by the Board. The board may
waive the requirement of a certified assistant superintendent at a wastewater treatment
facility designed for a flow of less than 100,000 gallons per day.
(b)
It shall be unlawful after June 30, 1979 for any person to hire an individual as an operator
unless he holds a certificate as required under regulations adopted pursuant to this
chapter; except that the operator may be hired without such certificate provided that he
obtains such certificate within one (1) year of the date of employment.
SECTION 6. DEFINITIONS
"Assistant Superintendent" means the individual who is an operator who is assigned the direct
responsibility for the management, operation and maintenance of an entire wastewater treatment
facility in the absence of the superintendent and who shall have a certificate equal to the grade or
classification of the wastewater treatment facility. This person is the next person in line of
authority in the absence of the superintendent and, therefore, there can be only one assistant
superintendent for each facility.
"Board" means the Board of Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities
established by RIGL section 42-17.4-1 to ensure the proper management, operation and
maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities by certifying an individual to be qualified to be an
operator.
"Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Board to an individual to operate one or more
specified grades of wastewater treatment facilities.
"Direct Responsible Charge" is defined as the authority exercised by a superintendent, assistant
superintendent, operations supervisor or shift supervisor.
"In Good Standing" refers to the status of any employee of a wastewater treatment facility who
has exhibited continued reasonable care, judgement and the application of his/her knowledge and
ability. Any certified employee of a wastewater treatment facility will not be considered to be in
good standing if he/she has been found, after such an individual has been granted a hearing, to
have performed his/her duties in a negligent manner or that he/she has practiced fraud or
deception.
"Laboratory Technician" means any employee of and at a wastewater treatment facility who is
not an operator but whose employment is directly involved with the day-to-day process control of
the facility due to their full-time duties performing, analyzing and ensuring quality control for the
testing of chemical, physical and biological parameters.
"Licensee" means any operator, maintenance technician or laboratory technician who has
rightfully obtained an operator's certificate.
Page 3
"Maintenance Technician" means any employee of and at a wastewater treatment facility who is
not an operator but whose employment is directly involved in the day-to-day maintenance of
major process equipment. This individual's full-time duties must be such that he/she is required to
obtain a working knowledge of wastewater treatment process control, necessary to ensure the
safety of the individual as well as the efficiency of the treatment process.
"Operations Supervisor" means an individual who is an operator who works under the
superintendent, or assistant superintendent and is in direct responsible charge. This person must
be responsible for two (2) or more shift supervisors.
"Operator" means an individual who is assigned the responsibility on one or more mechanical
treatment units, processes, or other process functions at a wastewater treatment facility.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private
corporation, trust estate, commission, board, public or private institution, utility, cooperative,
municipality or any other political subdivision of this state, any interstate body, or any other legal
entity.
"Shift Supervisor" means an individual who is an operator who works under the superintendent,
assistant superintendent, or operations supervisor who is assigned full time direct responsibility of
a shift operation of a specific process or collection of processes, such as sludge dewatering, etc.
This person must be in responsible charge for two (2) or more operators.
"Superintendent" means the individual who is an operator who is assigned the direct
responsibility for the management, operation and maintenance of an entire wastewater treatment
facility during all work shifts at the facility and who shall hold a certificate equal to the grade or
classification of the wastewater treatment facility. It does not apply to any official who does not
work at the wastewater treatment facility as an operator.
"Wastewater" means used water delivered to a wastewater treatment facility. From the
standpoint of source, it may be a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from
residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and institutions, together with any
groundwater, surface water, and/or storm water that may be present.
"Wastewater Treatment Facility" means an arrangement of devices and structures, excluding
septic tanks, constructed and installed for the purpose of treatment of wastewater from domestic,
commercial or industrial sources or combinations thereof. Privately-owned wastewater treatment
facilities which treat predominantly industrial wastes shall be excluded from the provisions of
these regulations.
SECTION 7. CLASSIFICATION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
(a)
Each wastewater treatment facility in the state of Rhode Island subject to these regulations
shall be classified by the Board as Grade 1, 2, 3, or 4 based on the complexity of the
Page 4
wastewater treatment facility, and the equivalent population served. See Table I: POINT
VALUES FOR CLASSIFICATION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES.
(b)
Classification of any treatment plant may be changed at the discretion of the Board by
reason of changes in any condition or circumstance on which the original classification
was predicated. Due notice of any such change shall be given to the owner,
superintendent, and assistant superintendent of the treatment plant.
SECTION 8. OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS FOR WWTF's
(a)
Approved applicants shall be examined by the Board as to education, experience, and
knowledge as related to the classification of plants. Applicants must pass the required
written examination.
(b)
In evaluating qualifications of applicants, the Board will be guided by the following:
(1)
Experience requiring technical knowledge and whether direct responsible charge of
work was included. In larger plants where direct responsibility is divided, shift
supervisors of important sections or their equivalent may be credited with having
direct responsible charge in accordance with the definitions.
(2)
Experience, to be acceptable, must be the result of satisfactory accomplishment of
work. Evaluation may be based on reports of the Department of Environmental
Management, or other agencies having appropriate responsibilities for regulating
systems or facilities.
(3)
Where applicable, education may be substituted for a portion of experience
requirements as specified below:
(i)
Two (2) years of college studies in science, engineering, or related fields
may be considered as equivalent to a maximum of one (1) year of
experience.
(ii)
Where education is substituted for experience, it shall not exceed an
amount which would reduce the requirement of actual experience to less
than one (1) year for Grade 1 or less than two (2) years actual experience
for Grades 2 and 3 and three (3) years for Grade 4.
(iii)
Education applied to the experience requirement cannot also be applied to
the education requirement.
(4)
Where applicable, experience may be substituted for a portion of educational
requirements as specified below:
Page 5
(i)
One (1) year of experience may be considered as equivalent to a maximum
of two (2) years of college.
(ii)
Experience applied to educational requirement may not also be applied to
the experience requirement.
(5)
Substitutions of formal education may be made as follows:
(i)
Satisfactory completion of applicable courses of study approved by the
Board such as correspondence courses or short courses, will be equivalent
to a maximum of six (6) months of college or one (1) year of high school;
(ii)
An acceptable high school equivalency certificate may be used to substitute
for a high school diploma.
(c)
Four (4) grades of licensees are hereby established. Licensees qualifications are intended
to relate to the corresponding classifications for wastewater treatment facilities.
(1)
GRADE 1
All applicants for this grade must submit satisfactory evidence of a high school or
high school equivalency certificate, the completion of one (1) year employment in
good standing at a wastewater treatment facility and:
(i)
a passing grade on the Grade 1 examination offered by the Board; or
(ii)
successful completion of a Board-approved training course within two (2)
years prior to application.
(2)
GRADE 2
All applicants for this grade must pass a Grade 2 examination and must submit
satisfactory evidence of:
(i)
Graduation from high school and one (1) year of experience in operation of
treatment facilities of Grade 1 or higher; or
(ii)
A holder of a Grade 1 license and two (2) years of high school and
successful completion of two (2) or more specialized courses, approved by
the Board, related to wastewater treatment operation, and the completion
of two (2) years of employment, in good standing, at a wastewater
treatment facility of Grade 1 or higher; or
(iii)
A holder of a Grade 1 license and successful completion of two (2) or more
specialized courses, approved by the Board, related to wastewater
treatment operation, and the completion of three (3) years of employment,
in good standing, at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade 1 or higher.
Page 6
(3)
GRADE 3
All applicants for this grade must pass a Grade 3 examination and must submit
satisfactory evidence of:
(i)
Bachelor's or Master's degree in science, engineering, or related fields and
two (2) years of employment in good standing in direct responsible charge
at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade 2 or higher; or
(ii)
Successful completion of a two (2) year college curriculum, with the
equivalent of one (1) full year consisting of courses with a passing grade in
science, engineering, or related fields; and four (4) years of employment as
an operator in good standing, two (2) of which are to be in direct
responsible charge at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade 2 or higher;
or
(iii)
Graduation from high school or holder of Grade 2 certificate and five (5)
years of employment as an operator in good standing, of which three (3)
are in direct responsible charge at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade
2 or higher.
(4)
GRADE 4
All applicants for this grade must pass a Grade 4 examination and must submit
satisfactory evidence of:
(i)
Bachelor's or Master's degree in science, engineering, or related fields and
three (3) years of employment in good standing in direct responsible charge
at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade 3 or higher; or
(ii)
Successful completion of at least two (2) years of college, the equivalent of
one (1) full year consisting of courses with a passing grade in science,
engineering, or related fields; and five (5) years of employment as an
operator in good standing, three (3) of which are direct responsible charge
at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade 3 or higher; or
(iii)
Graduation from high school and holder of a Grade 3 certificate and six (6)
years of employment as an operator in good standing, of which three (3)
are in direct responsible charge at a wastewater treatment facility of Grade
3 or higher.
(d)
Any individual employed full-time as either a maintenance technician or a laboratory
technician, while not required to become certified, may be allowed to become certified up
to Grade 2 only. However, any individual's experience while employed as a maintenance
Page 7
technician or laboratory technician cannot be considered for the experience requirements
of the Grade 3 or Grade 4 license.
(e)
The following positions are required to be certified as follows:
Position
Minimum Grade
Superintendent
Grade of the Facility
Assistant Superintendent
Grade of the Facility
Operations Supervisor
One grade less than facility or Grade 2
whichever is higher
Shift Supervisor
Grade 2
All operators not otherwise specified shall be required to have at least a Grade 1
certificate.
(f)
All persons holding the positions of Operations Supervisor or Shift Supervisor as of
September 17, 1991, shall be exempt from Section 8(e); however such exemption shall be
valid only at the facility where such person was employed as of such date.
SECTION 9. ISSUANCE OF OPERATOR-IN-TRAINING CERTIFICATE
(a)
The Board may permit an applicant for any grade to take an examination in a given grade,
if the individual has submitted evidence of education and experience satisfactory to the
Board for the purpose of becoming an "operator-in-training." OIT Certificates may be
valid for up to two (2) years, therefore any applicant for examination must at the time of
examination require only a maximum of two (2) years additional experience.
(b)
Upon successfully passing the examination the applicant shall be issued an
"operator-in-training certificate" for the grade applied for.
(c)
A holder of an operator-in-training certificate may, with the consent of the Board, be
allowed in certain circumstances to operate a treatment facility of his examined grade on a
temporary basis until his/her experience requirements are met.
SECTION 10. ISSUANCE OF A PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE
A non-renewable six (6) month provisional certificate may be issued to a superintendent or
assistant superintendent, operations supervisor, or shift supervisor only in specific instances:
(a)
Where the Board deems necessary, and;
Page 8
(b)
Where the Board is satisfied that such individual is able to meet all requirements of a
particular grade including, but not limited, to experience and education.
SECTION 11. APPLICATIONS
(a)
Any individual desiring to be certified shall file an application with the Board not less than
thirty (30) days before the date of the examination, on an application form provided by the
Board.
(b)
The application shall be accompanied by a fee of ten dollars ($10.00). The bi-annual
renewal fee will be ten dollars ($10.00).
(c)
The Board shall review applications and supporting documents, determine the eligibility of
the applicant for examination and notify the applicant of the same.
(d)
The application fee will not be returned upon failure to pass the examination.
SECTION 12. EXAMINATIONS
(a)
The Board shall prepare written examinations to be used in determining knowledge, ability
and judgment of the operators.
(b)
Examinations shall be held at least twice annually at a place and time set by the Board.
Notification of examination shall be posted at least sixty (60) days in advance of the
examination date.
(c)
Except in such cases as the Board may decide, all examinations shall be written. All
examinations shall be graded by the Board or by its designees, and the applicant shall be
notified of the outcome in writing. Papers used in the examination will not be returned to
the applicant, but the results may be reviewed with a member of the Board, or its
designee, upon request by the applicant up to thirty (30) days after notification of the
results.
(d)
The Board will grade all exams with a minimum passing grade of 70 percent (70%). No
examination will be scaled.
(e)
Applicants who fail to pass an examination may apply to be re-examined at a regularly
scheduled examination.
(f)
A Grade 2 operator meeting all of the requirements of the Grade 3 examination except
being in direct responsible charge may apply to take the Grade 3 examination. If passed,
that person would receive a notice of passing valid for a period of two (2) years from the
examination date. If within the two (2) years that individual secures a position of direct
responsible charge at a Grade 2 or higher wastewater treatment facility, he/she would not
be required to take the examination to be eligible for an OIT certificate.
Page 9
SECTION 13. CERTIFICATION
(a)
Upon satisfactory fulfillment by an applicant of the provisions of the Rules and
Regulations adopted by the Board, the Board shall issue a suitable certificate designating
competency. This two (2) year certificate shall expire at the end of every other calendar
year and may be renewed thereafter for additional two (2) year periods. The certificate
shall indicate the grade of treatment facility for which the operator is qualified. The
certificates for superintendent and assistant superintendents shall be prominently displayed
in the office of the wastewater treatment facility.
(b)
A newly issued certificate shall expire at the end of the calendar year and may be renewed
for additional two (2) year periods thereafter.
(1)
Licensees who are no longer employed at a Rhode Island wastewater treatment
facility may continue to renew their certificate.
(2)
Licensees will be notified as to the expiration of their certificate, and the necessity
to renew. All renewals must be received by December 31 of the year of expiration.
Any individual who does not apply for renewal upon receipt of the first (1st) notice
will be sent a second (2nd) notice by certified mail stating the individual has until
February 15th to apply for renewal and pay a late fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) in
addition to the renewal fee. A copy of the second (2nd) notice will be sent to the
superintendent. If an application for renewal is not received by February 15, a third
(3rd) notice will be sent to the wastewater treatment facility owner,
superintendent, and the licensee by certified mail. This will be the final notice.
Payment of a late fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) plus the renewal fee of ten dollars
($10.00) will be required. The licensee license will be revoked if the renewal is not
received within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of the third (3rd) notice, and
as such said individual will no longer be able to work at a wastewater treatment
facility in the State of Rhode Island. Re-certification will be through examination
only.
(3)
Should the Board determine that a substantial number of acceptable training
courses are available to all grades of Rhode Island licensees, then the Board may
institute a Mandatory Retraining for Renewal (MRR) requirement which will
operate with the following guidelines:
(i)
The Board must notify licensees, within ninety (90) days of the close of a
two year licensure period, that the MRR is presently in effect. Hence, in
order to renew an operator license for the next renewal date (i.e., in
approximately two (2) years) a minimum amount of training will be
required.
(ii)
All licensees must satisfactorily attain twenty (20) hours of acceptable
training within the two year period.
Page 10
(iii)
Training hours, to be considered acceptable and to be applied to an
licensee's training hours, must be achieved from a course, seminar, or other
curriculum which has been approved by the Board. Any course, seminar or
curriculum will be reviewed by the Board or its designees for purposes of
granting prior approval.
(iv)
The licensee is responsible for ensuring that a course, seminar or other
curriculum is approved by the Board, and that those hours with that course
can be accredited to the operator's training requirements.
(v)
The burden of proof lies with the licensee to satisfy the Board that any
course, seminar, or other curriculum not previously approved by the Board
meets Board criteria and should be approved for credit.
(vi)
The Board is not responsible for notifying licensees of their individual
status and/or the number of credited hours which they have attained.
Additionally, it is ultimately the individual licensee's responsibility to inform
the Board of any training hours to be applied to their training hours.
(vii)
At the close of the two year renewal period, the Board will determine if
each licensee has been credited with the required hours of acceptable
training.
(viii)
If a licensee has not acquired the required hours, as specified above, then
the license will not be renewed and the license will then be invalid. With an
invalid license, the licensee will not be able to work as an operator at a
wastewater treatment facility in the State of Rhode Island. Recertification
will be by examination only.
(c)
As a condition of certification, licensees are responsible for informing the Board in writing
as to a change of address or a change in employment status. Said notification must be
within thirty (30) calendar days of said change.
(d)
Superintendents of a facility are responsible for notifying the Board when their facility
hires a new operator. Said notification must be within thirty (30) calendar days of the
hiring and must include the operator's full name, address, social security number and
starting date.
(e)
Should a facility be upgraded or reclassified, the superintendent and assistant
superintendent must become certified through examination equal to the new grade of the
treatment facility prior to the initiation of operations or start-up procedures for the facility.
Operations and shift supervisor reclassification, if necessary, must also occur prior to the
start-up of the facility.
(f)
Page 11
(i) Certificates may be issued, upon application, without examination, in a comparable
classification to an individual who holds a certificate issued by any state that is
recognized by the Association of Boards of Certification, if in the judgment of the
Board, the requirements for certification of operators under which such individual's
certificate was issued are equivalent to the requirements of these regulations. A
certificate issued under the provisions of this subsection is valid at any wastewater
treatment facility.
(ii)
In order for an applicant to obtain a Rhode Island Grade 4 wastewater treatment
facility (“WWTF”) operator’s license on the basis of the applicant’s possession of
an operator’s license issued by another state which is deemed by the Board to have
requirements for licensure equivalent to that of a Rhode Island Grade 4 WWTF
operator’s license, the applicant must also demonstrate the following to the
satisfaction of the Board:
(aa) that he/she is employed or has been accepted for employment as an assistant
superintendent or a superintendent at a grade 4 WWTF in the state of Rhode
Island;
(bb) that his/her employment as an equivalent Grade 4 WWTF operators at a
WWTF located in the state which issued the equivalent Grade 4 WWTF
operator’s license must have terminated no earlier than one (1) year prior to
the filing of his/her application with the Board; and
(cc) that his/her employment as an equivalent grade 4 WWTF operator in the state
which issued the equivalent grade 4 WWTF operator’s license should be
considered to have been accomplished with an overall favorable rating and
that he/she should have been terminated his/her service in the other state in
good standing.
(g)
Certificates issued without examination to those operators so employed as of June 30,
1979 shall be valid only in that facility at which the operator was employed at the time of
certification.
SECTION 14. REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATES
(a)
The Board may revoke the certificate of a superintendent, assistant superintendent,
operator, laboratory technician or maintenance technician when it finds that he/she
performed his/her duties in a negligent manner that produced an effluent below the
standards normal for the particular facility operated; or that he/she has practiced fraud or
deception; or that reasonable care, judgment or the application of his/her knowledge or
ability was not used in the performance of his/her duties; or that an individual is
incompetent or unable to perform his/her duties properly.
Page 12
(1)
The Board will provide the individual whose certificate is being considered for
revocation with a written request to submit a response whether in writing or orally
at a Board Meeting to allegation received.
(2)
If, after due consideration, the Board determines that an individual's certificate
should be revoked, the Board will issue a certified Letter of Intent to revoke the
subject certificate.
(3)
The individual shall be afforded ten (10) calendar days to request an adjudicatory
hearing considering the proposed revocation of his/her certificate.
(4)
If no request for a hearing is received within the ten (10) calendar days provided,
the Board shall then issue a Letter of Revocation.
(5)
Request for an adjudicatory hearing can be made to:
Office of Administrative Adjudication
Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street – Room 310
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
Page 13
TABLE I. CLASSIFICATION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES - POINT VALUES
Assign points for every item that applies:
Item
Points
Size
Maximum population equivalent (P.E.) served
1 pt. per 10,000 P.E. or part.
(peak days)
_______ (Max. 10 Points)
Design flow (avg. day) or peak month's
flow (avg. day), whichever is larger............................
1 pt. per MGD or part.
_______ (Max. 10 Points)
Effluent Discharge
Receiving stream (sensitivity)............................................
1-6*__________
Land disposal-evaporation.................................................
2
__________
Subsurface disposal...........................................................
4
__________
Variation in Raw Wastes (slight to extreme)....................
0-6*__________
Preliminary Treatment
Flow equalization................................................................
3
__________
Screening comminution......................................................
3
__________
Grit removal.........................................................................
3
__________
Plant pumping of main flow...............................................
3
__________
Primary Treatment
Primary clarifiers.................................................................
5
__________
Combined sedimentation/digestion..................................
5
__________
Chemical addition (except chlorine, enzymes).................
4
__________
Secondary Treatment
Trickling filter w/sec. clarifiers...........................................
10 __________
Activated sludge w/sec. clarifiers......................................
15 __________
(including ext. aeration and oxidation
ditches with or without sand filters)
Rotating Biological Contactors.........................................
10 __________
Stabilization ponds without aeration.................................
5
__________
Aerated lagoon....................................................................
8
__________
Advanced Waste Treatment
Polishing pond....................................................................
2
__________
Chemical/physical-without secondary..............................
15
__________
Chemical/physical - following secondary.........................
10
__________
Biological or Chemical/biological......................................
12
__________
Ion exchange.......................................................................
10
__________
Reverse osmosis, electrodialysis.......................................
15
__________
Chemical recovery carbon regeneration...........................
4
__________
Microstrainers......................................................................
4
__________
Solids Handling
Thickening...........................................................................
5
__________
Anaerobic digestion............................................................
10
__________
Aerobic digestion................................................................
6
__________
Mechanical dewatering.......................................................
8 __________
Evaporative sludge drying..................................................
2
___________
Solids reduction (incineration, wet oxidation)..................
12 ___________
Sludge composting.............................................................
5
__________
Disinfection
Chlorination or comparable...............................................
5
__________
On-site generation of disinfectant......................................
5
__________
Dechlorination.....................................................................
5 __________
Ultra-violet............................................................................
5 __________
Laboratory Control by plant personnel
Bacteriological (complexity)...............................................
0-10* __________
Chemical/physical (complexity)........................................
0-10* __________
FINAL TOTAL ................................................................................................................... ___________
Page 14
* See attached Variable Point Guide, Table II
** If unique treatment plant conditions distort the point total, the certification board will adjust the facility classification.
Page 15
TABLE II. WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CLASSIFICATION - VARIABLE POINT GUIDE
EFFLUENT DISCHARGE
Receiving stream sensitivity (1-6)
The key concept is the degree of dilution provided under low flow conditions. Suggested point values are:
"Effluent limited segment" in EPA terminology; secondary
treatment is adequate:
1
More than secondary treatment is required
2
"Water quality limited segment" in EPA terminology: stream condi-
tions are very critical (dry run, for example) and a very high
degree of treatment is required
3
Effluent used in a direct recycle and reuse system
6
Variation in Raw Wastes, slight to extreme ( 0-6 )
The key concept is frequency and/or intensity of deviation or typical fluctuations; such deviation can be in terms of strength,
toxicity, shock loads, I/I, etc. Suggested point values are:
Variations do not exceed those normally or typically expected
0
Recurring deviations or excessive variations of 100 to 200
percent in strength and/or flow
2
Recurring deviations or excessive variations of more than 200
percent in strength and/or flow
4
Raw wastes subject to toxic waste discharges
6
LABORATORY CONTROL BY PLANT PERSONNEL
Bacteriological/biological, complexity 0-10
The key concept is to credit bacteriological/biological lab work done on-site by plant personnel.
Suggested point values are:
Lab work done outside the plant
0
Membrane filter procedure
3
Use of Fermentation tubes or any dilution method: fecal coliform determination
5
Biological identification
7
Virus studies or similarly complex work conduct on-site
10
Chemical/physical, complexity (0-10)
The key concept is to credit chemical/physical lab work done on-site by plant personnel.
Suggested point values are:
Lab work done outside the plant
0
Push-button or visual methods for simple tests such as pH, Settleable solids
up to 5
More advanced determinations such as specific constituents:
nutrients, total oils, phenols, etc.
up to 7
Highly sophisticated instrumentation such as atomic absorption
and gas chromatography
10
Range of Points
30 and less.
31 - 55
56 - 75
76 and greater.
Resulting Facility
Grade
1
2
3
4
Page 16
The foregoing "Rules and Regulations for Wastewater Treatment Facility Operators", after due public
notice and hearing, are hereby adopted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 42-17.4 and Chapter
42-35 of the General Laws of Rhode Island of 1956, as amended.
____________________________________________________
Edward S. Szymanski, Chairman
BOARD OF CERTIFICATION OF OPERATORS
OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
Public Notice given on:
June 26, 1998
Public Hearing held on:
July 23, 1998
Filed with Secretary of State on:
September 24, 1998
Effective on:
October 14, 1998