Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-10-1-.04 - Staffing Requirements

(1) All water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water distribution systems, and public wastewater collection systems are required to be operated by an operator certified in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter as competent to operate the classification of plants or systems to which the plant or system is classified.

(2) All Grade IV surface water treatment plants must have a certified operator of the same grade present at the plant during all hours of operation. A permanent record of daily operator staffing shall be maintained at all Grade IV facilities. This record must contain the operator's name, time of arrival and departure, and the operator's signature. Effective April 1, 2008, any Grade IV facility with a filtration rate in excess of two gallons per minute per square foot of filter area must have an unrestricted Grade IV operator present at the plant during all hours of operation.

(3) All Grade III advanced groundwater plants must have a certified operator of the same grade or higher present as directed by the Department. A permanent record of daily operator staffing shall be maintained at all Grade III and IV facilities. This record must contain the operator's name, time of arrival and departure, and the operator's signature.

(4) All Grade III wastewater treatment plants must have a certified operator of the same grade or higher present at the plant for a minimum of one 8-hour work shift during the daytime hours of plant operation, five days a week. For all other days of plant operation, at a minimum, a certified operator Grade II or higher must operate the facility one 8-hour work shift during the daytime hours. A permanent record of daily operator staffing shall be maintained at all Grade III facilities. This record must contain the operator's name, time of arrival and departure, and the operator's signature. Upon demonstration and approval of a facility's ability to be remotely monitored, the Department may waive all or part of the staffing requirements in excess of the five 8-hour shifts by a Grade III or higher.

(5) All Grade IV wastewater treatment plants must have a certified operator of the same grade present at the plant for a minimum of one 8-hour work shift during the daytime hours of plant operation. For all other times of operation, as a minimum, a certified operator Grade II or higher may operate the facility if the Grade IV operator is available on call within 30 minutes of the plant site. A permanent record of daily operator staffing shall be maintained at all Grade IV facilities. This record must contain the operator's name, time of arrival and departure, and the operator's signature.

(6) All Grade I water distribution systems, Grade I wastewater treatment plants, public wastewater or collection systems, and Grade II water or wastewater treatment plants must have a certified operator of the same grade or higher present at the plant or system at all times necessary to ensure its safe, efficient, and proper operation. A permanent record of daily operator staffing shall be maintained at all Grade I & II wastewater treatment plants and at all Grade II water treatment plants or well sites. This record must contain the operator's name, time of arrival and departure, and the operator's signature. All Grade I wastewater treatment plants and Grade II water and wastewater treatment plants must be visited, as a minimum, once every seven days by a certified operator of the same grade or higher unless the facility's operating permit calls for more frequent site visits.

(7) A certified operator may operate more than one plant or system only if he provides written assurance to the Department, in such form as the Department may provide, that he can ensure the safe, efficient and proper operation of all plants and systems he operates. Operation must be limited to plants or systems classified at or lower than the grade of the operator. All staffing requirements applicable to the systems or plants to be operated must be followed.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-10-1-.04

September 18, 1986. Amended: Filed May 25, 1994; Effective: July 1, 1994. Amended: Filed May 2, 2000; effective June 6, 2000. Amended: Filed December 19, 2002; effective January 23, 2003. Amended: Filed October 21, 2004; effective November 25, 2004. Amended: Filed February 27, 2007; effective April 3, 2007.

Authors: Joe Alan Power, Aubrey White

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-22A-5, 22-22A-6, 22-22A-8, 22-25-11, 22-25-13.