Section 64669.35 - Operator Certification(a) Any facility that provides treatment pursuant to section 64669.45, 64669.50, or 64669.110 is a water treatment plant pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 116275(w) and is subject to operator certification requirements contained in Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 13, in addition to any other operator certification requirements required by law.(b) A DiPRRA shall designate at least one chief operator who holds a valid grade T5 water treatment operator certification pursuant to Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 13 to oversee the operations of the entire treatment train used to comply with the requirements in this Article. The DiPRRA shall designate at least one shift operator who holds at least a valid grade T3 water treatment operator certification pursuant to Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 13 to oversee the operations of the entire treatment train used to comply with the requirements in this Article for each operating shift.(c) A DiPRRA shall require that the chief operator(s) for each water treatment plant that provides treatment pursuant to section 64669.50 each holds a valid Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTOT) grade AWT5T certificate issued by the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association and the California Water Environment Association. A DiPRRA shall require that the shift operator(s) for each water treatment plant that provides treatment pursuant to section 64669.50 each holds at least a valid grade AWT3T certificate. If the AWTOT program is not available, a certificate issued by an equivalent training and certification program approved by the State Board that assures the same operator knowledge, skills, and abilities may be used to meet the requirement of this subsection.(d) A designated chief operator or shift operator shall be on-site at all times when a water treatment plant that provides treatment pursuant to section 64669.45 and/or section 64669.50 is operating.(e) After 12 months of operation pursuant to subsection (d), a DiPRRA may apply to the State Board to waive the requirement in subsection (d) if an operations plan or amended operations plan, submitted to the State Board pursuant to section 64669.80, demonstrates an equivalent degree of operational oversight and treatment reliability with either unmanned operation or operation under reduced operator oversight. If the State Board issues such a waiver, the chief operator or shift operator is not required to be on-site at all times but shall be able to monitor operations and exert physical control over the water treatment plant within the period specified in the operations plan, or one hour, whichever is shorter.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 64669.35
Note: Authority cited: Sections 13521 and 13561.2, Water Code; and Sections 116271, 116350 and 116375, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 13561, 13561.2 and 13567, Water Code; and Sections 106875, 106876, 106885, 116275, 116375, 116555 and 116735, Health and Safety Code.
1. New section filed 8-6-2024; operative 10/1/2024 (Register 2024, No. 32).