IDAPA 24.05.01
This rule applies to applicants, and license holders for:
This rule governs the practice of drinking water and wastewater management in Idaho to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. This rule establishes:
This rule implements the following statute passed by the Idaho Legislature:
Professions, Vocations, and Businesses -
State Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals
Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, except state holidays
11341 W Chinden Blvd, Bldg 4, Boise, ID 83714
Phone: (208) 334-3233
E-mail: DOPLboardsupport@dopl.idaho.gov
Website: https://dopl.idaho.gov/wwp/
This rule chapter will be reviewed in compliance with Section 67-5292, Idaho Code, and in accordance with the 8-year rule review schedule linked here.
24.05.01 – Rules of the Board of Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals
000. Legal Authority. ... 3
001. Scope. ... 3
002. Definitions. ... 3
003. -- 099.(Reserved) ... 3
100. Licensure. ... 3
101. -- 199.(Reserved) ... 5
200. Practice Standards. ... 5
201. -- 399.(Reserved) ... 6
400. Fees. ... 6
401. -- 999.(Reserved) ... 6
These rules are promulgated pursuant to Sections 54-2406, 54-2607, 67-2614, 67-9406, 67-9609, Idaho Code.
(7-1-24)
These rules govern the practice of drinking water operators, wastewater operators, and backflow assembly testers.
(7-1-24)
01. Very Small Public Drinking Water System. A community or non-transient non-community public drinking water system that serves five hundred (500) persons or fewer and has no treatment other than disinfection or has only treatment which does not require any chemical treatment, process adjustment, backwashing or media regeneration by an operator (e.g. calcium carbonate filters, granular activated carbon filters, cartridge filters, ion exchangers). (7-1-26)
02. Very Small Public Wastewater System. A public wastewater system that serves five hundred (500) connections or less and includes a collection system with a system size of six (6) points or fewer on the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) system classification rating form and is limited to only one (1) of the following wastewater treatment processes: aerated lagoons; non-aerated lagoon(s); primary treatment; or primary treatment discharging to a large soil absorption system (LSAS). (7-1-26)
03. System Classifications. All other system classifications used here are in accordance with DEQ classifications. (7-1-26)
003. -- 099. (RESERVED)
01. Classifications.
| License Discipline | License Type | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking Water | Drinking Water Distribution Operator | Operator-In-Training, Class I Restricted, Class I, II, III, or IV |
| Drinking Water Treatment Operator | Operator-In-Training, Class I Restricted, Class I, II, III, or IV | |
| Very Small Drinking Water Systems | ||
| Wastewater | Wastewater Treatment Operator | Operator-In-Training, Class I Restricted, Class I, II, III, IV, or Land Application |
| Wastewater Collections Operator | Operator-In-Training, Class I Restricted, Class I, II, III, or IV | |
| Wastewater Laboratory Analyst | Class I, II, III, or IV | |
| Very Small Wastewater Systems | ||
| Backflow Assembly Tester | Backflow Assembly Tester | BAT |
(7-1-26)
02. Examination Requirement. Applicants may apply and test for the classification level for which they have the requisite experience and education. Examination scores are valid for one (1) year from the examination date. (7-1-26)
03. Education and Experience Requirements. Applicants must present proof of the following: (7-1-24)
a. Operator-In-Training. Passage of the board-approved examination or enrollment in a board-
approved apprenticeship program. The Operator-In-Training license is valid for five (5) years. (7-1-24)
b. Very Small Drinking Water. Eighty-eight (88) hours of relevant on-site operating experience and twelve (12) hours of chlorination and drinking water distribution course(s). (7-1-26)
c. Very Small Wastewater. Eighty-eight (88) hours of relevant on-site operating experience; six (6) hours of pumps and motors or collection course(s); and six (6) hours of lagoon operation and maintenance, large soil absorption system, or wastewater treatment course(s). (7-1-26)
d. Class I Restricted. Two hundred sixty (260) hours of relevant on-site operating experience during twelve (12) consecutive months with a system and sixteen (16) hours of continuing education relevant to the license. A restricted license is limited to a specific system. (7-1-26)
e. Class I Operator. One thousand six hundred (1,600) hours of relevant on-site operating experience, or successful completion of a board approved Class I apprenticeship program. (7-1-26)
f. Class II Operator. Four thousand eight hundred (4,800) hours of relevant on-site operating experience or successful completion of a board approved Class II apprenticeship program. (7-1-26)
g. Class III Operator. Two (2) years of postsecondary education in environmental control, engineering or related science or successful completion of a board approved Class III apprenticeship program; and six thousand four hundred (6,400) hours of relevant on-site operating experience. (7-1-26)
h. Class IV Operator. Four (4) years of postsecondary education in environmental control, engineering or related science or successful completion of a board approved Class IV apprenticeship program; and six thousand four hundred (6,400) hours of relevant on-site operating experience. (7-1-26)
i. Wastewater Land Application. Operator must hold and maintain an active Wastewater Treatment Operator license. (7-1-26)
j. Backflow Assembly Tester. Successful completion of a board-approved training program and passage of a practical examination using the University of Southern California (USC) testing procedures or other testing procedures approved by the board. (7-1-26)
k. Class I Wastewater Laboratory Analyst. One thousand six hundred (1,600) hours of lab experience. (7-1-26)
l. Class II Wastewater Laboratory Analyst. Four thousand eight hundred (4,800) hours of lab experience at a drinking water or wastewater laboratory. (7-1-26)
m. Class III Wastewater Laboratory Analyst. Two (2) years of postsecondary education in environmental control, engineering or related science and six thousand four hundred (6,400) hours of lab experience at a drinking water or wastewater laboratory. (7-1-26)
n. Class IV Wastewater Laboratory Analyst. Four (4) years of postsecondary education in environmental control, engineering or related science and six thousand four hundred (6,400) hours of lab experience at a drinking water or wastewater laboratory. (7-1-26)
04. Substitutions. An applicant may substitute education and experience requirements as follows: (7-1-24)
a. Completion of an apprenticeship program will be accepted in lieu of education or experience requirements as identified in Rule 100.03 if the program provides experience and education related to the operation of Class I-IV systems; is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship; meets the Standards of Apprenticeship developed by the U.S. Department of Labor; and fulfills the requirements in Rules 100.03. (7-1-24)
b. Education for Experience. For Classes I, II, III and IV, postsecondary education in environmental
control, engineering or related science can be substituted for up to fifty percent (50%) of the required experience, at a rate of thirty (30) college credits or four hundred fifty (450) hours equivalent to forty-five (45) CEUs of germane continuing education for one thousand six hundred (1,600) hours of experience. Education substituted for experience must be in addition to the minimum education requirement. For non-environmental, engineering, or science related degrees only courses germane to these disciplines will be eligible for substitution as determined by the board.
(7-1-26)
c. Experience for Education. One thousand six hundred (1,600) hours of on-site operating experience may be substituted for each year of post secondary education. Experience substituted for education must be in addition to the minimum experience requirement.
(7-1-26)
d. Experience for Experience. Fifty percent (50%) of the required operating experience must be met by relevant, onsite operating experience in the license type being applied for. The following experience may be used to substitute up to fifty percent (50%) of the required operating experience:
(7-1-26)
i. Environmental or operations consultants, or environmental or engineering branch of federal, state, county, or local government;
(7-1-26)
ii. Construction of a distribution, collections, or drinking water or wastewater treatment system if such experience is documented in a declaration from a system owner or licensed operator, or;
(7-1-26)
iii. Experience in the license disciplines of Drinking Water and Wastewater.
(7-1-26)
e. Laboratory Analyst Experience for Experience. Experience as a laboratory analyst may count towards fifty percent (50%) of the required wastewater operating experience and experience as a wastewater operator may count towards fifty percent (50%) of the required laboratory analyst experience.
(7-1-26)
05. Board approved Backflow or Operator Examination Providers Monitored and Audited. The board or its representative may monitor and audit any board approved examination provider.
(7-1-26)
06. Continuing Education. To renew, a licensee must complete and retain proof of completion of six (6) classroom hours (0.6 CEUs) for each year of the licensing period of continuing education germane to the license discipline (Drinking Water or Wastewater), except that backflow assembly testers must complete an eight (8) hour refresher course every two (2) years. A remote or distant study course is acceptable if it is germane to the license type, except that backflow assembly testers must complete in-person and board-approved continuing education.
(7-1-26)
a. A licensee may carry forward up to six (6) classroom hours of unused continuing education (0.6 CEUs) per licensure discipline for up to one (1) renewal cycle.
(7-1-26)
b. A licensee who is an instructor for a drinking water or wastewater continuing education course may be credited the same number of classroom hours as the students of the germane course for one (1) presentation of the training per year of the licensing period.
(7-1-26)
101. -- 199. (RESERVED)
200. PRACTICE STANDARDS.
01. Operator-in-Training. Operators-in-training must practice under the direct supervision of an appropriately licensed operator.
(7-1-26)
02. Operators and Backflow Assembly Testers Code of Conduct. Operators and backflow assembly testers must:
(7-1-24)
a. Perform duties with due care and diligence to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
(7-1-24)
b. Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws relating to their respective profession(s).
(7-1-24)
c. Perform only those duties within their education, training, and experience and scope of licensure. (7-1-24)
d. Prepare reports which are accurate, objective, and include all relevant information. (7-1-24)
e. Use standard test procedures, operating procedures, methods, and equipment when conducting inspections, sampling, and field tests with calibrated equipment. (7-1-24)
f. Backflow assembly testers will observe or inspect existing installations of backflow prevention assemblies to identify whether the assembly is properly installed the assembly is adequate for the degree of hazard. (7-1-24)
g. When a backflow prevention assembly passes a field test, the tester must submit the report to the consumer and relevant public water system within fifteen (15) business days of the field test. (7-1-26)
h. When a backflow prevention assembly is defective or fails to pass the field test, the tester must submit the report to the consumer and relevant public water system within two (2) business days of the field test. (7-1-26)
201. -- 399. (RESERVED)
400. FEES.
| TYPE | AMOUNT (Not to Exceed) |
|---|---|
| Application | $25 |
| License or Certificate | $30 annually |
| Reinstatement | $35 |
(7-1-24)
401. -- 999. (RESERVED)