Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 020 - Environmental Quality, Dept. of
Sub-Agency 0011 - Water Quality
Chapter 5 - CERTIFICATION OF OPERATORS OF PUBLIC WATER AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND PUBLICLY OWNED WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND COLLECTION SYSTEMS
Section 5-3 - Definitions

(a) "Administrator" means, for the purposes of this rule, the administrator of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Water Quality Division (WQD) or their authorized agents.

(b) "Certificate" means the document showing the level and area of competency of an operator, the operator's identification number, issue date, certificate number, and expiration date.

(c) "Certification" means the level and area of competency of an operator.

(d) "Certified operator" means an individual who has met the requirements of this rule and has been certified by DEQ to hold at least one certificate as defined by this rule and who is directly involved in the on-site operational and technical actions of a publicly owned wastewater treatment or collection system and/or public water supply. "Certified operator" shall not include an individual whose duties are limited to laboratory testing, general facility maintenance, or who exercises general or indirect supervision only.

(e) "Contract operator" means a certified water, distribution, collection, or wastewater operator who is offering to provide services to a facility on a contractual basis.

(f) "Distribution system" means all parts of a public water supply system except collection, treatment, or wells.

(g) "Equivalent" means experience and education determined in written policy, by the Administrator, to be comparable to a high school diploma.

(h) "Facility" means the components of any public water supply, publicly owned sewerage, or publicly owned wastewater treatment works, including all infrastructure associated with the water/wastewater system.

(i) "Facility classification" means the level of operational complexity of a water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection, or wastewater treatment system based on a nationally recognized point rating system.

(j) "Lagoon system" means a publicly owned wastewater collection and treatment system where the primary method of treatment is a lagoon.

(k) "Letter of good standing" means a letter from the regulatory agency that issued a certificate to an applicant applying for reciprocity, stating the certification is current and has no violations against it.

(l) "Operating shift" means the period of time during which certified operator decisions that affect public health are necessary for proper operation of the facility.

(m) "Operator Certification Program" means the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Operator Certification Program.

(n) "Owner" means the entity who owns the real estate, easement, or facility.

(o) "Pertinent continuing education" means training that pertains to, or is consistent with, what an operator needs to understand in order to successfully perform a water or wastewater job.

(p) "Pertinent experience" means employment as an operator or employment in other Administrator-recognized professions closely related to the operation of a public water supply, sewerage, or treatment works.

(q) " Publicly owned wastewater treatment or collection system" means any federal, state, or local government system collecting or treating greater than 2,000 gallons a day average flow of wastewaters containing human waste. This definition includes improvement and service districts and homeowner associations. Underground Injection Control (UIC) facilities permitted in accordance with DEQ Water Quality Rules and Regulations Chapter 27 and utilizing septic tanks as primary treatment are excluded.

(r) "Responsible charge operator" means the person(s) designated by the facility owner to be the certified operator who makes decisions regarding the daily operational and technical actions of a water treatment facility, distribution system, wastewater treatment facility, or collection system that will directly impact the quality or quantity of drinking water or wastewater treatment.

(s) "Well system" means a public water system consisting of a well or wells, disinfection equipment, and a distribution system.

(t) "Water treatment" means all parts of a water supply that collect or treat water. All disinfection equipment and wells are considered part of water treatment.