62-602.250. Criteria for Determining Eligible Experience

(1) Experience necessary for treatment plant operators to meet the requirements of Rule 62-602.300, F.A.C., shall include performance of process control as described in paragraph (a) below while working at a domestic wastewater or water treatment plant or electronic control system as an employee, volunteer, or contractor. Experience listed in paragraph (b) below while working for a permittee or supplier of water as an employee, volunteer, or contractor also can be included for part of the documented experience if the experience described in paragraph (a) predominates.

(a) Performance of process control shall include the performance of operational control tests and evaluation and interpretation of the test results; preparation of plant process control reports, logs or records; analysis and disposal or distribution of the plant product and the residuals from the treatment process; and control of the hydraulic system and necessary chemical adjustments.

(b) Water distribution system operation and maintenance as described in subsection 62-602.250(7), F.A.C., sample collection and analysis, electronic surveillance system monitoring, and plant maintenance.

(2) For the Class A license, persons can use periods of employment as an on-site supervisor or superintendent of operators at a treatment plant or electronic control system.

(3) Persons employed in the daily on-site operational control of an industrial wastewater treatment plant can use this experience to meet the experience requirements of the Class A, B, or C wastewater operator license. Industrial wastewater treatment plant means the structures, equipment and processes required to treat wastewater, primarily organic in composition, in a plant using a biodegradation or physical-chemical treatment process, similar to the domestic wastewater secondary, tertiary or advanced treatment processes. A diagram and detailed process description must be submitted for the Department to determine if the experience is commensurate to the level applied for.

(4) Persons employed in the daily on-site operational control of an industrial production process water treatment plant can use this experience to meet the experience requirements of the Class A, B, or C drinking water operator license. Industrial production process water treatment plant means the structures, equipment, and processes required to treat water in a plant using a physical-chemical treatment process similar to drinking water treatment processes. A diagram and detailed process description must be submitted for the Department to determine if the experience is commensurate to the level applied for.

(5) Experience required for the treatment plant operator license shall be acquired in the type of treatment, in either wastewater or drinking water, for which a license is requested. Experience in treatment of wastewater for reuse shall be counted as wastewater experience.

(6) Experience for treatment plant operators excludes:

(a) Experience in wastewater systems where septic tanks, filter beds, or lagoons are the sole means of treatment;

(b) Experience in water systems used for swimming;

(c) Experience in construction or design of treatment plants, or well drilling;

(d) Experience in the installation or servicing of water softening or conditioning devices installed in residences or commercial establishments for the purpose of altering the aesthetic quality of the public water supply;

(e) Experience limited solely to driving a sludge truck, monitoring an electronic surveillance system, facility maintenance, or laboratory work; and

(f) Periods of employment as directors of public works, utility managers, regulatory inspectors, or in other occupations which do not include the experience as defined in this rule section.

(7) Experience necessary for water distribution system operators to meet the requirements in Rule 62-602.300, F.A.C., shall include performance of the duties listed in paragraph (a) below while working on or for a water distribution system as an employee, volunteer, or contractor. Experience listed in paragraph (b) below while working on or for a water distribution system as an employee, volunteer, or contractor also may be included for part of the documented experience if the experience listed in paragraph (a) predominates.

(a) Cleaning (swabbing, pigging, scraping, or air purging) water mains; installing, tapping, repairing/replacing, pressure testing, or disinfecting water mains and appurtenances (including fittings, valves, and hydrants); cleaning or disinfecting finished-water storage tanks; operating or adjusting pumps or control valves as necessary to regulate water distribution system flows or pressures; evaluating and interpreting water quality measurements in water distribution systems and troubleshooting to determine causes of water quality complaints; and estimating and justifying water distribution system operation and maintenance budgets.

(b) Flushing water mains; installing or repairing/replacing water services lines and appurtenances (including fittings, valves, and meters); establishing or implementing a cross-connection control program (including installing, repairing/replacing, or testing backflow preventers); testing and maintaining water meters; locating and marking water mains or service lines; operating or exercising isolation valves; testing and maintaining fire hydrants; repairing/overhauling water pumps, control valves or meters; performing water quality measurements in water distribution systems; collecting and analyzing water samples; reading or updating water distribution system maps; and preparing water distribution system operation and maintenance records.

(8) Water distribution system operator experience excludes work on or for a potable water system that is not a Department-regulated public water system and excludes work on fire protection systems; irrigation systems; or gas, oil, or steam piping systems.

Specific Authority 403.869, 403.872 FS. Law Implemented 403.1832, 403.8533, 403.865, 403.866, 403.867, 403.872 FS. History–New 12-30-99, Amended 2-6-02, 10-15-07.