1. (1) A purveyor of a public water system shall designate at least one certified operator in responsible charge of a water treatment plant according to the minimum operator certification levels in Table 3.

   Table 3

   Water Treatment Plant Classification for the Minimum Level of Certified Operators in Responsible Charge

   Water Treatment Plant Classification	Minimum Operator Certification Level
   Class 1		WTPO 1
   Class 2		WTPO 2
   Class 3		WTPO 3
   Class 4		WTPO 4

2. (2) A purveyor of a public water system shall designate at least one certified operator in responsible charge of a distribution system according to the minimum operator certification levels in Table 4 for:

   1. (a) A community or nontransient noncommunity water system;
   2. (b) A transient noncommunity water system, if the system has a groundwater source that requires 4-log treatment as required in WAC 246-290-451 or 246-290-453; or

   3. (c) A transient noncommunity water system that is violating or has violated requirements in chapter 246-290 WAC, and the violations may create, or have created an imminent or significant risk to human health. Violations include, but are not limited to:

      1. (i) Repeated violations of monitoring or reporting requirements;
      2. (ii) Failure to address an exceedance of permissible levels of regulated contaminants;
      3. (iii) Failure to comply with treatment technique standards or requirements;
      4. (iv) Failure to comply with waterworks operator certification requirements;
      5. (v) Failure to submit to a sanitary survey; or

      6. (vi) Failure to comply with Tier 1 public notification requirements.

         Table 4

         Distribution System Classification for the Minimum Level of Certified Operators in Responsible Charge

         Distribution System Classification	Minimum Operator Certification Level
         Class S		WDS
         Class 1		WDM 1
         Class 2		WDM 2
         Class 3		WDM 3
         Class 4		WDM 4

3. (3) A purveyor of a public water system with designated operating shifts and major segments may:

   1. (a) Designate a certified operator in responsible charge at one level lower than the minimum certification requirements in subsections (1) and (2) of this section for each operating shift outside of regular operating hours, or each major segment of a water treatment plant or distribution system; and

   2. (b) Assign a major segment to an operator that is certified at less than the minimum certification level requirement in (a) of this subsection if the purveyor has written procedures that include:

      1. (i) Which operational decisions the assigned operator may make that are consistent with their experience, skills, or abilities;
      2. (ii) Identification of the conditions that require the assigned operator to consult with the certified operator in responsible charge in (a) of this subsection, and contact information; and
      3. (iii) The date and signatures of the certified operator in responsible charge in (a) of this subsection, and the assigned operator.
4. (4) A purveyor shall designate a CCS to be in responsible charge of a public water system's cross-connection control program.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119.050 and chapter 70.119 RCW. WSR 14-01-003, § 246-292-050, filed 12/4/13, effective 1/4/14. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.119 RCW and Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 104-182; 64 F.R. 5916 - 5921. WSR 01-02-070, § 246-292-050, filed 12/29/00, effective 1/29/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.119 RCW. WSR 94-04-004, § 246-292-050, filed 1/20/94, effective 2/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. WSR 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-292-050, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119.050. WSR 78-10-053 (Order 1343), § 248-55-060, filed 9/22/78.]