62-699.310. Classification and Staffing of Domestic Wastewater or Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems  


Effective on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
  • 1This section applies to all domestic wastewater treatment plant permittees and to all suppliers of water except those who own or operate a transient non-community water system (TWS) using only ground water as a source of supply and serving only religious institutions, or businesses, other than public food service establishments as defined and regulated under Chapter 381, 500, or 509, F.S., and other than religious institutions with school or daycare services. Licensed operators are not required for TWSs using only ground water as a source of supply and serving only religious institutions, or businesses, other than public food service establishments and other than religious institutions with school or daycare services.

    111(1) Domestic wastewater treatment plant permittees and suppliers of water shall employ only persons appropriately licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., to be in on-site charge of the operation, supervision, or maintenance of a domestic wastewater or water treatment plant during any part of any day. Suppliers of water shall employ only persons appropriately licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., to be in on-site charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 under the tables in subparagraphs 20262-699.310(2)(f)1. 203and 2., F.A.C.

    206(2) Permittees and suppliers of water shall employ licensed operators on-site at their domestic wastewater or water treatment plant(s) to fulfill the time and visit requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (e) below. Suppliers of water shall employ licensed operators to staff their water distribution system as specified in paragraph (f) below.

    258(a) Classification and Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants Other than Those Discussed Separately in Paragraphs (b) Through (d) Below. Refer to tables 1. through 4. below and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each domestic wastewater treatment plant using the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the plant and then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements for the plant. Determine the plant category by identifying the highest category in tables 1. through 4. listing one or more of the plant’s treatment processes, with Category I being the highest category and Category IV being the lowest category. Determine the plant classification and staffing requirements within the determined plant category by using the permitted capacity of the plant. Class A is the highest possible plant classification, and Class D is the lowest possible plant classification.


           3991. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category I

    406Treatment Process

    408Class A

    410Class B

    412Class C

    414Class D

    416Processes to meet permit limits for total nitrogen with or without filtration; processes to meet permit limits for total phosphorus with or without filtration; or membrane processes, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and membrane bioreactors.

    4523.0 MGD and above

     

    456Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for

    4667 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    4750.5 MGD up to 3.0 MGD

     

    481Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    5020.1 MGD up to 0.5 MGD

     

    508Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    527________________

    5280.05 MGD up to 0.1 MGD

     

    534Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    553________________

    554Less than 0.05 MGD

     

    558Staffing by Class C or 563higher operator565: 1 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.

    576________________

    577For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    592Not Applicable

     


          5942. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category II

    601Treatment Process

    603Class A

    605Class B

    607Class C

    609Class D

    611Activated sludge processes, except extended aeration, with or without filtration.

    6215.0 MGD and above

     

    625Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    6441.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD

     

    650Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    6710.25 MGD up to 1.0 MGD

     

    677Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    696________________

    6970.1 MGD up to 0.25 MGD

     

    703Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    722________________

    723Less than 0.1 MGD

     

    727Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1/2 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.

    744________________

    745For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    760Not Applicable


          7623. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category III

    769Treatment Process

    771Class A

    773Class B

    775Class C

    777Class D

    779Extended aeration, including oxidation ditches, with or without filtration.

    7888.0 MGD and above

     

    792Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    8112.0 MGD up to 8.0 MGD

     

    817Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    8380.5 MGD up to 2.0 MGD

     

    844Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    863________________

    8640.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD

     

    870Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.

    887________________

    88825,000 GPD up to 0.25 MGD

     

    895Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1/2 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.

    912________________

    913For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    92810,000 GPD up to 25,000 GPD

     

    936Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 3 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 1 1/2 hours/week.

    955________________

    9562,000 up to 10,000 GPD

     

    963Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 2 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 1 hour/week. There shall be no more than 5 days between the last visit in one week and the first visit in the next week.

    1004________________

    1005For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class D or higher.

     


          10204. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category IV

    1027Treatment Process

    1029Class A

    1031Class B

    1033Class C

    1035Class D

    1037Either of the following processes with or without filtration: trickling filters or rotating biological contactors.

    105210 MGD and above

     

    1056Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    10753.0 MGD up to 10 MGD

     

    1081Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    11022.0 MGD up to 3.0 MGD

     

    1108Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1127________________

    11280.75 MGD up to 2.0 MGD

     

    1134Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1153________________

    115425,000 GPD up to 0.75 MGD

     

    1161Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1/2 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit each weekend.

    1178________________

    1179For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    11942,000 up to 25,000 GPD

     

    1201Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 2 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 1 hour/week. There shall be no more than 5 days between the last visit in one week and the first visit in the next week. The lead/chief operator must be Class D or higher.

     


    1251(b) Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants that Provide Reclaimed Water to a Reuse System Permitted Under Part III of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C.

    12751. Plant staffing requirements shall be established in accordance with paragraph (a) above.

    12882. Additional minimum staffing requirements are provided in subsections 129762-610.462(2) 1298and (3), F.A.C., which shall be used in conjunction with the requirements in paragraph (a) above, with the most stringent requirements governing. Reductions in staffing requirements below the minimum established in subsections 133062-610.462(2) 1331and (3), F.A.C., shall not be allowed.

    1338(c) Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants that Provide Reclaimed Water to a Reuse System Permitted Under Part V of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C.

    13621. Plant staffing requirements shall be established in accordance with paragraph (a) above.

    13752. Additional minimum staffing requirements are provided in subsections 138462-610.567(3), 1385(4), and (5), F.A.C., which shall be used in conjunction with the requirements in paragraph (a) above, with the most stringent requirements governing. Reductions in staffing requirements below the minimum established in subsections 141862-610.567(3), 1419(4), and (5), F.A.C., shall not be allowed.

    1427(d) Staffing Requirements for Biosolids Treatment Facilities. Staffing requirements are provided in paragraph 144062-640.880(2)(j), 1441F.A.C.

    1442(e) Classification and Staffing Requirements for Water Treatment Plants. Refer to tables 1. through 5. below and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each water treatment plant using the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the plant and then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements for the plant. Determine the plant category by identifying the highest category in tables 1. through 5. listing one or more of the plant’s category-determining treatment processes, with Category I being the highest category and Category V being the lowest category. In no case shall a treatment process that is installed and maintained by the Department under the Water Supply Restoration Program be considered in determining the plant category. Otherwise, for any plant that is part of a community water system (CWS), all of the plant’s treatment processes shall be considered in determining the plant category, while for any plant that is part of a non-community water system (NCWS), only the plant’s treatment processes that are necessary to meet primary drinking water standards, or disinfection requirements, applicable to the NCWS shall be considered in determining the plant category. Determine the plant classification and staffing requirements within the determined plant category by using the permitted maximum-day operating capacity of the plant. Class A is the highest possible plant classification, and Class D is the lowest possible plant classification.


              16701. Water Treatment Plant Category I

    1676Treatment Process

    1678Class A

    1680Class B

    1682Class C

    1684Class D

    1686Conventional filtration (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and rapid-rate granular-media filtration), including lime softening; direct filtration, (coagulation and rapid-rate granular-media filtration) of surface water or ground water determined by the Department to be under the direct influence of surface water; or direct filtration of ground water for removal of viruses.

    17345.0 MGD and above

     

    1738Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    17571.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD

     

    1763Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    17840.3 MGD up to 1.0 MGD

     

    1790Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1809________________

    18100.1 MGD up to 0.3 MGD

     

    1816Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1835________________

    1836Less than 0.1 MGD

     

    1840Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1859________________

    1860For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    1875Not Applicable

     


       18772. Water Treatment Plant Category II

    1883Treatment Process

    1885Class A

    1887Class B

    1889Class C

    1891Class D

    1893Microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, or reverse osmosis.

    18996.5 MGD and above

     

    1903Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    1922MGD up to 6.5 MGD

     

    1927Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    19480.5 MGD up to 1.0 MGD

     

    1954Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1973________________

    19740.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD

     

    1980Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    1999________________

    20000.1 MGD

    2002up to 0.25 MGD

     

    2006Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2025________________

    2026Less than 0.1 MGD

     

    2030Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits per week and one visit each weekend for a total of 2.4 hours/week.

    2052________________

    2053For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    2068Not Applicable


         20703. Water Treatment Plant Category III

    2076Treatment Process

    2078Class A

    2080Class B

    2082Class C

    2084Class D

    2086Activated alumina or carbon adsorption, with backwashing or on-site media regeneration or reactivation, for removal of any primary contaminant or disinfection byproduct precursors; diatomaceous earth filtration; 2112electrodialysis or electrodialysis reversal; ion exchange for removal of any primary contaminant or disinfection byproduct precursors; oxidation and rapid-rate granular-media filtration, or direct filtration, of ground water for removal of any primary contaminant other than viruses or for removal of disinfection byproduct precursors; or slow sand filtration.

    21598.0 MGD and above

     

    2163Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 24 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class A.

    21822.0 MGD up to 8.0 MGD

     

    2188Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    22091.0 MGD up to 2.0 MGD

     

    2215Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2234________________

    22350.5 MGD up to 1.0 MGD

     

    2241Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2260________________

    22610.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD

     

    2267Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2286________________

    2287Less than 0.25 MGD

     

    2291Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits/week and one visit each weekend for a total of 1.8 hours/week.

    2311________________

    2312For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    2327Not Applicable


          23294. Water Treatment Plant Category IV

    2335Treatment Process

    2337Class A

    2339Class B

    2341Class C

    2343Class D

    2345Activated alumina or carbon adsorption with backwashing or on-site media regeneration or reactivation, for removal of only secondary contaminants; chloramination; chlorine dioxide treatment; ion exchange for removal of any secondary contaminant, sulfide, or hardness from a CWS; oxidation and rapid-rate granular-media filtration, or direct filtration, of ground water for removal of any secondary contaminant or sulfide from a CWS; or ozonation.

    2406Not Applicable

    240810 MGD and above

     

    2412Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 16 hours/day for 7 days/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class B or higher.

    24335.0 MGD up to 10 MGD

     

    2439Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2458________________

    24593.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD

     

    2465Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2484________________

    24851.0 MGD up to 3.0 MGD

     

    2491Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2510________________

    25110.1 MGD up to 1.0 MGD

     

    2517Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits/week and one visit each weekend for a total of 1.2 hours/week.

    2537________________

    2538For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    2553Less than 0.1 MGD

     

    2557Staffing by a Class D or higher operator: 3 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 0.6 hour/week. The lead/chief operator must be Class D or higher.


          25855. Water Treatment Plant Category V

    2591Treatment Process

    2593Class A

    2595Class B

    2597Class C

    2599Class D

    2601Activated alumina or carbon adsorption without backwashing and without on-site media regeneration or reactivation; aeration; alkalinity or pH adjustment; chlorination or hypochlorination; corrosion control inhibitor addition; fluoridation; iron or manganese sequestration; or ultraviolet radiation.

    2635Not Applicable

    2637Not Applicable

    26395.0 MGD and above

     

    2643Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2662________________

    26633.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD

     

    2669Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 1 hour/day for 5 days/week and one visit on each weekend day.

    2688________________

    26890.25 MGD up to 3.0 MGD

     

    2695Staffing by Class C or higher operator: 5 visits/week and one visit each weekend for a total of 0.6 hour/week.

    2715________________

    2716For all of the above plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class C or higher.

    273150,000 GPD up to 0.25 MGD

     

    2738Staffing by Class D or higher operator: 3 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 0.3 hour/week.

    2756________________

    2757Less than 50,000 GPD

     

    2762Staffing by a Class D or higher operator: 2 visits/week on nonconsecutive days for a total of 0.2 hour/week. There shall be no more than 5 days between the last visit in one week and the first visit in the next week.

    2804________________

    2805For all of the above 2810plants, the lead/chief operator must be Class D or higher.

    2820(f) Classification and Staffing Requirements for Water Distribution Systems. Refer to tables 1. and 2. below and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each water distribution system using the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the distribution system and then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements for the distribution system. Determine the distribution system category by using the highest classification of water treatment plant to which the distribution system is connected, with Class A being the highest plant classification and Class D being the lowest plant classification. Determine the distribution system classification and staffing requirements within the determined distribution system category by using the number of persons served directly by the distribution system, which excludes any persons served by any separately owned and operated wholesale or regulated consecutive system connected to the distribution system. Level 1 is the highest possible distribution system classification, and Level 4 is the lowest possible distribution system classification.


      29791. Water Distribution System Category I

    2985Distribution System

    2987Level 1

    2989Level 2

    2991Level 3

    2993Level 4

    2995Distribution system connected to a Class A, B, or C water treatment plant.

    3008Serving 100,000 or more persons.

     

    3014The lead/chief operator must be a Level 1 water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator. Additionally, a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within the scope of his or her license.31042

    3105Serving at least 10,000 persons and less than 100,000 persons.

     

    3117The lead/chief operator must be a Level 2 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator. Additionally, a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within the scope of his or her license.32092

    3210Serving at least 1,000 persons and less than 10,000 persons.

     

    3222The lead/chief operator must be a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator. Additionally, a Level 3 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class C or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within the scope of his or her license.33142

    3315Serving less than 1,000 persons33213.

     

    3322The lead/chief operator must be a Level 4 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class D or higher water treatment plant operator. Additionally, a Level 4 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class D or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within the scope of his or her license.34142

     

    341513416The following water distribution system operation or maintenance activities may affect water quality or quantity: cleaning (swabbing, pigging, scraping, or air-purging) existing or repaired water mains; tapping, depressurizing/dewatering, or disinfecting existing or repaired water mains; dewatering, cleaning, or disinfecting existing or repaired finished-water storage tanks; and manually operating pumps, or adjusting automatic pump controls or automatic control valves, as necessary to regulate water distribution system flows or pressures.

    348423485Part I of Chapter 489, F.S., and rules adopted thereunder and administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Construction Industry Licensing Board regulate the construction industry and establish whether construction work, including the repair or replacement of water distribution system facilities, must be performed by a licensed contractor.

    353733538For wholesale systems, a Category I water distribution system serving less than 1,000 persons shall be classified as a Level 3 water distribution system.

           35632. Water Distribution System Category II

    3569Distribution System

    3571Level 1

    3573Level 2

    3575Level 3

    3577Level 4

    3579Distribution system connected to a Class D water treatment plant.

    3589Not Applicable

    3591Not Applicable

    3593Not Applicable

    3595The lead/chief operator must be a Level 4 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class D or higher water treatment plant operator. Additionally, a Level 4 or higher water distribution system operator or a Class D or higher water treatment plant operator shall be in on-site charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 below unless the activity is being performed by a licensed contractor working within the scope of his or her license368723688.

     

    368913690Water distribution system operation and maintenance activities that may affect water quality or quantity include the following: cleaning (swabbing, pigging, scraping, or air-purging) existing or repaired water mains; tapping, depressurizing/dewatering, or disinfecting existing or repaired water mains; dewatering, cleaning, or disinfecting existing or repaired finished-water storage tanks; and manually operating pumps, or adjusting automatic pump controls or automatic control valves, as necessary to regulate water distribution system flows or pressures.

    376023761Part I of Chapter 489, F.S., and rules adopted thereunder and administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Construction Industry Licensing Board regulate the construction industry and establish whether construction work, including the repair or replacement of water distribution system facilities, must be performed by a licensed contractor.

    3813Rulemaking Authority 3815403.869, 3816403.88(4) FS. 3818Law Implemented 3820403.853(6), 3821403.867, 3822403.875(1)(f), 3823403.88(1), 3824(2), (3) FS. History–New 11-17-70, Revised 10-24-74, Amended 12-25-75, 6-10-76, 1-12-81, Formerly 17-16.12, 17-16.13, Amended 5-8-85, Formerly 17-16.370, 17-602.370, 17-699.310, Amended 10-15-07, 3-6-13.

     

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