Section 460. Personnel

The operation of waterworks, both small and large, must rest in the hands of qualified persons. The number of such employees in a waterworks system depends principally upon the size, the quality of the raw water, and the type of treatment processes used.

A. Waterworks operators designated by the waterworks owner to be in responsible charge must possess a valid waterworks operator license issued by the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage Professionals, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, in accordance with that board's regulations (18VAC160-20-10 et seq.) and Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 23 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. The license must be of a classification equal to or higher than that of the waterworks. Additional operating personnel at the waterworks must also be licensed as specified below.

B. The number and class of operators in attendance and additional operating personnel are a minimum to meet the requirements of protection of the public health of the consumer and safety of the operating personnel. The classification of operators and additional operating personnel in attendance must conform with Table 2.9.

1. The owner shall designate one or more properly licensed operators to be in responsible charge of the waterworks at all times. When no designated operator is on duty or in communication with the operating personnel in attendance at the waterworks, a substitute operator shall be designated by the owner. The substitute operator shall possess a valid operator license of a classification equal to or greater than that of the waterworks.

2. All waterworks having design capacity of 2.0 mgd or higher and employing filtration must have a minimum of two operating personnel on duty whenever the plant is in operation. All other waterworks employing filtration must have a minimum of one operating person on duty whenever the plant is in operation.

3. Waterworks designed for softening only and utilizing chemical precipitation:

a. Waterworks having a design capacity of 2.0 mgd or higher must have a minimum of two operating personnel in attendance at all times the plant is in operation; and

b. All other waterworks must have a minimum of one operator operating person in attendance at all times the treatment plant is in operation.

4. Waterworks utilizing iron and manganese removal by precipitation and having a design capacity of 0.5 mgd or higher must have a minimum of one operating person on duty at all times the treatment plant is in operation.

5. Waterworks providing treatment or no treatment and serving 400 or more persons and not previously covered will require daily attendance at each treatment facility by an operating person for sufficient time to insure proper operation of the facility and protection of the public health, as determined by the division.

TABLE 2.9 MINIMUM CLASSIFICATION FOR WATERWORKS OPERATIONS ADDITIONAL OPERATING PERSONNEL
PLANT CLASSI-FICATION	PLANT CAPACITY (MGC)	EQUIVALENT POPULATION SERVED	TREATMENT	OPERATOR IN RESPONSIBLE CHARGE (CLASS)	SHIFT SUPERVISOR (CLASS)	OTHERS
CLASS I	15.0 or more	150,000	Conventional filtration or filter rate more than 2 gpm/ft2	I	I	II,III,IV Trainee*
CLASS I	5.0 but less than 15.0	50,000 but less than 150,000	Conventional filtration filter rate more than 2 gpm/ft2	I	II	II,III,IV Trainee*
CLASS II	Less than 5.0	Less than 50,000	Filtering rater greater than 2 gpm/ft2	II	II	III, IV Trainee*
CLASS II	0.5 but less than 5.0	5,000 but less than 50,000	Conventional filtration	II	III	III, IV Trainee*
CLASS III	Less than 0.5	Less than 5,000	Conventional filtration	III	III	IV or Trainee*
CLASS III	5,000 or more		Approved treatment other than conventional filtration and fluoridation	III	IV	IV or Trainee*
CLASS III	Sufficient persons or connections to be classified as a Public Water supply		Not under higher classifications but using fluoridation	III	IV	Trainee*
CLASS IV	Less than 5,000		Approved treatment other than conventional filtration and fluoridation or no treatment serving 400 or more persons	IV	IV	Trainee*
* Trainees should meet basic prerequisites for operators with the exception of experience and have potential for licensing wherever listed in these guidelines. Owner must provide a qualified substitute operator when only one operator is normally employed. The substitute must have the same class license as the operator.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR355-18-005.02 § 2.13, eff. August 1, 1991; amended, Volume 09, Issue 17, eff. June 23, 1993; Volume 28, Issue 05, eff. December 7, 2011.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-170 of the Code of Virginia.