1. (a) Any collection system operator as defined in §325.1 of this title (relating to Definitions) who does not hold a wastewater treatment plant operator's certificate must hold a valid certificate of competency as a collection system operator issued pursuant to this chapter with the following exception. A person first entering the field of wastewater collection may be employed as an operator-in-training without certification under constant supervision of another certified operator for a maximum of one year after employment. This time period will allow the person to obtain the required designated training courses and take the appropriate examination. Any operator-in-training who is unable to acquire current certification within one year of his or her employment is prohibited from performing any operational functions in the collection system unless specifically authorized to do so by the commission. Upon suspension or revocation of a certificate under §325.11 of this title (relating to Revocation or Suspension of Certificate), the collection system operator shall no longer supervise a collection system maintenance crew if the operator determines remedial actions or makes operating decisions, unless specifically authorized to do so by the commission, or unless the certificate has been reinstated.
2. (b) The certificates of competency for collection system operators shall be Class I and Class II. The qualification requirements for each class of certificate shall include a minimum level of formal education, a minimum level of training, a period of experience as a collection system operator, a grade of 70% or higher on a written examination for that certificate class, and the payment of the applicable fee. If the applicant fails to pass an examination, the applicant must wait a minimum of three months before taking any examination. The executive director may require additional training after a failed examination.
3. (c) The qualification requirements for each class of certificate for collection system operators are as follows.
4. (d) Experience must be actual wastewater collection system experience and not experience which is nonoperational in nature. Credit for experience not directly connected with collection system operation will be approved if the experience involves tasks that are similar to that required for operation of collection systems. Each year of related experience will count as only one-half year of experience.

5. (e) The hours of training which are required in subsection (c) of this section must be in approved courses which include, but are not limited to, the following or their equivalents:

   1. (1) Class II--basic wastewater operations, wastewater collection, and either water utility safety or pump and motor maintenance;
   2. (2) Class I--wastewater collection (plus basic wastewater operation for 40-hour requirement).
6. (f) When applying at the Class II level, a collection system operator may substitute one year of college (32 semester hours approved by the executive director) or an additional 40 hours of wastewater training credits approved by the executive director for one year of the experience requirement.
7. (g) Terms of certificates for collection system operators. Subject to revocation or suspension under §325.11 of this title (relating to Revocation or Suspension of Certificate), Class I certificates shall be valid for a term of two years; and Class II certificates shall be valid for a term of three years.
8. (h) Ordinarily, collection systems are considered as a part of the treatment works and are under the operation and supervision of certified wastewater treatment plant personnel; however, in those instances where an entity does not own the treatment facility treating its wastewater and the wastewater is routed elsewhere for treatment or the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the collection system is distinctly separated from the wastewater treatment facility, the operators in the collection system may be certified solely as collection system operators and are not required to be certified as wastewater treatment plant operators. In those cases, the collection system shall be classified as Category I if it transports daily average flows of less than 100,000 gpd, and as Category II if it transports daily average flows of 100,000 gpd or greater.
9. (i) Each classified wastewater collection system shall have at least one operator who holds a certification commensurate with that category of system. Each Category I system shall have at least one operator with either a Class I or Class II certificate or treatment plant operator's certificate. Each Category II system shall have at least one operator with a Class II certificate or Class C treatment plant operator's certificate.
10. (j) A certified collection system operator may perform only those duties relating to the operation and maintenance of collection systems. Experience exclusively in collection system operation and maintenance is not applicable towards certification as a treatment plant operator.
11. (k) Training used to meet the requirements for obtaining or renewing collection system operator certificates may be granted in areas of training other than those stated in subsection (e) of this section upon executive director approval of the training material. If the specific course and subject are approved, the executive director will determine the number of hours of credit that will be recognized for the course. The executive director shall review and approve the qualifications for all instructors of the training courses. Two hours of training credit will be recognized for verified attendance at the monthly Texas Water Utilities Association district meetings when the meetings include a training session related to wastewater utilities.

Source Note:The provisions of this §325.3 adopted to be effective March 16, 1990, 15 TexReg 1174; amended to be effective June 6, 1994, 19 TexReg 3941.