Ohio Admin. Code 3745-7-02 - [Effective 7/3/2025] Certified professional operators of record
(A) Responsibilities.
(1) Each person owning or operating a public
water system, classified in accordance with rule
3745-7-03 of the Administrative
Code, shall designate one or more professional operators of record to oversee
the technical operation of the public water system or each water treatment
plant and distribution system within the public water system. Each professional
operator of record shall have a valid certification of a class equal to or
greater than the classification of the public water system, distribution system
or water treatment plant except as provided for in paragraphs (D) to (F) of
this rule.
(a) The owner, professional
operator of record, or contract operating company of a public water system
shall notify the director of the identity of a professional operator of record
upon initiation or termination of service or upon request by the
director.
(b) Notification shall be
made on a form acceptable to the director within three days of initiation or
termination of service or a request by the director.
(2) Each person owning or operating a
treatment works or public sewerage system classified in
accordance with rule
3745-7-04 of the Administrative
Code shall designate one or more professional operator of record to
oversee the technical operation of the treatment works, sewerage system, or
each wastewater treatment facility. Except as provided for in paragraphs (D) to
(F) of this rule, each professional operator of record shall have a valid
certification of a class equal to or greater than the classification of the
treatment works, sewerage system, or wastewater treatment facility.
(a) The owner,
and professional operator of record
and contract operating company of a treatment
works or sewerage system shall notify the director of the identity of a
professional operator of record upon initiation or termination of service or
upon request by the director.
(b)
Notification shall be made on a form acceptable to the director within three
days of initiation or termination of service or a request by the
director.
(3) Each
person owning or operating a private sewerage system that has been classified
by the director in accordance paragraph (B)(1)(f) of rule
3745-7-04 of the Administrative
Code, shall designate one or more professional operator of record to oversee
the technical operation of the private sewerage system. Except as provided for
in paragraphs (D) to (F) of this rule, each professional operator of record
shall have a valid certification of a class equal to or greater than the
classification of the private sewerage system.
(a) The owner and professional operator of
record of a private sewerage system shall notify the director of the identity
of a professional operator of record upon initiation or termination of service
or upon request by the director.
(b) Notification shall be made on a form
acceptable to the director within three days of initiation or termination of
service or a request by the director.
(B) The certified professional operator of
record required by paragraph (A) of this rule shall be an employee of the
person owning or operating the public water system, treatment works, or
sewerage system, except as provided in paragraph (C) of this rule.
(C) Owners of public water systems, sewerage
systems, or treatment works may enter into a contract with an approved
contracted professional operator or contract operations company for the
services of one or more appropriately certified professional operators to serve
as the professional operator of record provided the following:
(1) The contract requires that the certified
professional operator of record be available to respond to emergencies and
provide the services necessary to maintain the reliable operation of the
system.
(2) The contract clearly
defines the responsibilities of the owner and the professional operator of
record.
(3) The contract complies
with the staffing requirements of paragraphs (C) to (E) of rule
3745-7-03 of the Administrative
Code and paragraphs (C) to (D) of rule
3745-7-04 of the Administrative
Code.
(4) The contracted
professional operator of record shall perform duties as identified in rule
3745-7-09 of the Administrative
Code.
(D) The director
may approve a professional operator with a valid class III certificate to be
the professional operator of record for a class IV public water system or class
IV treatment works for a period no longer than two years, if the class III
professional operator has applied for and received approval to take a class IV
examination in accordance with rule
3745-7-06 of the Administrative
Code and maintains a valid class III certificate for the duration of time for
which the director grants approval in accordance with this paragraph. A public
water system or wastewater treatment works may only use this exemption for a
total of thirty months within a five-year period.
(E) Upon request, the director may approve an
individual who passes the class I water supply examination, but does not have
the necessary experience, to be the professional operator of record for a class
I public water system with a population of less than two hundred fifty,
provided the following conditions are met:
(1)
The professional operator holds a valid class A certificate.
(2) The professional operator is a full time
(forty hours per week) employee of the facility where the public water system
is located and has provided assistance in the operation of the treatment system
to the class I professional operator of record for at least one year.
(3) The professional operator completes at
least three hours of training specific to the type of treatment being used by
the public water system and submits verification with the request.
(4) The public water system does not have an
active enforcement action or violations related to maximum contaminant levels,
treatment techniques, and monitoring or reporting within the last five
years.
(5) The professional
operator is prohibited from operating any other public water system.
(6) The professional operator remains a full
time employee of the facility during the time of the exemption.
(7) The professional operator complies with
the class I minimum staffing requirements.
(8) The professional operator obtains twelve
contact hours every two years. At least six of those contact hours shall be
related to operation and maintenance, and at least three of those six hours
shall be related to the specific treatment in operation at the public water
system.
The director shall withdraw the exemption if the public water system or professional operator does not comply with requirements in paragraphs (E)(1) to (E)(8) of this rule.
Notes
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 6109.04, 6111.46
Rule Amplifies: 6109.04, 6111.46
Prior Effective Dates: 02/01/1964, 04/17/1986, 09/13/1993, 01/01/1999, 02/12/2001, 12/21/2006, 02/23/2012, 10/30/2014, 08/15/2018, 11/07/2024
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