Section 216-RICR-50-05-2.5 - Classifications and Qualifications for Private Water System ProfessionalsA. General Information 1. These regulations recognize three classifications of private-drinking water system professionals. They are: b. Analytical Laboratories; and2. Each classification of professional shall possess the training, education, and experience as needed to either properly collect representative samples, analyze samples using accepted and appropriate methodologies, or to interpret results, form opinions, and to report conclusions using professional judgment based on existing standards. Specific qualifications and requirements are as follows.B. Water Samplers 1. Individuals responsible for acquiring samples for analysis need to properly prepare sampling ports, determine appropriate containers and preservatives, and draw and assure proper sample handling based on analyses requested.2. Samplers shall at a minimum, have or obtained the following qualifications: a. Be eighteen (18) years of age or older;b. Be of good moral character; and (1) A high school diploma/GED, successful completion of a technical sampling course and six (6) months' work experience performing water quality fieldwork; or(2) An associate's (or higher) degree in physical science or technical field, successful completion of a technical sampling course; or(3) State certification as a Public Water Supply Treatment or Transmission and Distribution Operator under the "Rules and Regulations for Certification of Public Drinking Water Supply Treatment and Public Water Supply Transmission and Distribution Operators"; or(4) Be employed, trained, and experienced in potable water sampling by an analytical lab certified by the Department to perform potability analysis in accordance with the "Rules and Regulations for Certifying Analytical Laboratories"; or (5) Federal or State regulatory agencies will self-certify employees who perform sampling as a requirement of their job.C. Analytical Laboratories 1. Only laboratories certified by the Department, in accordance with the "Rules and Regulations for Certifying Analytical Laboratories" shall be qualified to test private well samples for potability. a. Laboratories shall possess analyte and method specific certificates for each category for which the laboratory is certified, as stated in R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-16.2-4.1. b. In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-16.2-13, it shall be unlawful for any analytical laboratory to perform testing or analyses of samples originating in this state, for which the Department requires certification, without having a certificate issued by the Department.D. Interpreters 1. Interpreters shall possess sufficient training, education and experience needed to form opinions and draw conclusions using professional judgment. These opinions and conclusions shall be used to assist the property owner/buyer or building official to ensure that there is a feasible source of potable water available. In addition, the working knowledge of the interpreter will provide guidance on what actions, if any, are needed to treat or modify the water's chemical composition through the installation of either a Point-of-Entry or Point-of-Use treatment system. An interpreter shall have a combination of education and related experience as indicated below: a. Be a Registered professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of Rhode Island; orb. Be an environmental scientist/hydrogeologist holding a "Professional" category membership in the American Institute of Hydrology and/or the American Institute of Professional Geologists; orc. Have a Bachelor's degree (or higher) in physical/earth science, or related field, with three (3) years' experience performing interpretation of water quality data as they apply to set standards or similar activities; ord. Associate's degree in physical/earth science or engineering field and five (5) years related experience.216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-2.5