Certification
About Water Operator Certification in the N. Marianas Islands
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administers the CNMI Drinking Water Regulations. These regulations require that all Public Water Systems have a certified water treatment and water distribution operator.
There are three qualifications to become a certified water operator in the CNMI:
An operator that is already certified in another State may apply for certification in the CNMI by comity. If the operator meets the experience and education requirements, DEQ may issue a certificate based on the type of exam the operator passed. Each State's operator certification program is slightly different, so each application for certification based on comity has to be evaluated individually.
There are three qualifications to become a certified water operator in the CNMI:
- Experience working as a water operator (minimum of 1 year to be certified as Class 1, more experience for higher levels)
- Education (at least a high school diploma)
- Exam : achieve a passing score (at least 70% correct answers) on the water operator exam
An operator that is already certified in another State may apply for certification in the CNMI by comity. If the operator meets the experience and education requirements, DEQ may issue a certificate based on the type of exam the operator passed. Each State's operator certification program is slightly different, so each application for certification based on comity has to be evaluated individually.
Maintaining and renewing certification
Typically, a water or wastewater operator certification is valid for three years. During the period of certification, the operator should take some form of continuing education. To renew certification, the operator needs to show that they completed 10 hours of continuing certification for each year of their certificate (i.e. 30 hours for a three year certificate).
See the FAQs below for more detailed information about water operator certification requirements:
See the FAQs below for more detailed information about water operator certification requirements:
Frequently asked questions
Disclaimer: This is not the official website of the CNMI DEQ. Any opinions or policies cited here are for informational purposes only, are paraphrased from the official regulations, and do not take the place of the current official version of the CNMI Drinking Water Regulations, which can be downloaded from the CNMI DEQ website.
What counts as continuing education, and/or where can an operator get continuing education?
The CNMI DEQ is not very strict on what counts as continuing education - as long as the continuing education has something to do with water or wastewater operation, safety, management, or is somehow related to the operator's position. Typical training that would count as continuing education includes:
The following are examples of what does NOT count as continuing education:
What is a Public Water System?
The direct supervision of all Public Water Systems in the CNMI must be under the responsible charge of an operator holding a valid certification. There is an official definition of a "Public Water System" in the CNMI-DEQ Drinking Water Regulations, which is very similar to the definition used by U.S. EPA. Here is the official definition:
"Public Water System" means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such a system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily for at least 60 days of the year. Such term includes: any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; or any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system."
Examples of Public Water Systems in the CNMI include: the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, hotels that have their own wells that treat, store and distribute the water; restaurants that have their own wells and treat, store and distribute water; bottled water companies that treat, store and distribute drinking water; water delivery trucks that deliver water that is used by 25 or more people; etc.
Examples of water systems that are not Public Water Systems: individual homes with rain water catchment tanks (serving fewer than 25 people); wakes, rosaries, art festivals and sporting events that last less than 60 days.
What is a certified operator?
The CNMI-DEQ Drinking Water Regulations state that: "Certified Operator" means an individual who has passed an examination that tests their knowledge, skills, ability, and judgment as a water operator for a particular classification level of water treatment facility or water distribution system, and has been issued a certificate pursuant to the regulations.
How many certified operators does a public water system need to have?
The short answer - at least one.
The longer answer - it depends on how many "operating shifts" there are, and who is making decisions regarding the quality or the quantity of water being treated, stored or distributed.
Every public water system has to be directly supervised under the responsible charge of an operator holding a valid certification equal to or greater than the classification of the treatment facility and/or distribution system. So every Public Water System has to have at least one operator in direct responsible charge.
The operator in "responsible charge" is defined as the person(s) designated by the owner to be the certified operator(s) who makes decisions regarding the daily operational activities of a public water system, water treatment facility and/or distribution system that will directly impact the quality and/or quantity of drinking water.
All operating personnel making process control/system integrity decisions about water quality of quantity that affect public health must be certified. [At any level]
A designated certified operator must be available for each operating shift. "Available" means that based on system size, complexity, and source water quality, a certified operator must be on site or able to be contacted as needed to initiate the appropriate action in a timely manner. "Operating shift" means that period of time during which operator decisions that affect public health are necessary for proper operation of the system.
In summary, every public water system needs at least one operator certified at the level of the treatment system and distribution system to serve as the operator in responsible charge. All personnel making quality or quantity decisions must be certified [at any level]. The public water system owner should designate which certified operator is "available" for each operating shift.
What counts as continuing education, and/or where can an operator get continuing education?
The CNMI DEQ is not very strict on what counts as continuing education - as long as the continuing education has something to do with water or wastewater operation, safety, management, or is somehow related to the operator's position. Typical training that would count as continuing education includes:
- Continuing Education Classes conducted periodically by the Mariana Islands Water Operator Association
- Professional training provided by your employer (safety, pump maintenance, lab procedures, etc.)
- College classes (water or wastewater, environmental, administrative, engineering, etc.)
- Conferences or workshops provided by professional organizations or agencies
- Correspondence courses
- On-line opportunities
The following are examples of what does NOT count as continuing education:
- Meetings with DEQ or USEPA
- Surveys or inspections by DEQ or USEPA
- Reading journal articles or textbooks by yourself
- "Googling" water operator stuff on the internet
What is a Public Water System?
The direct supervision of all Public Water Systems in the CNMI must be under the responsible charge of an operator holding a valid certification. There is an official definition of a "Public Water System" in the CNMI-DEQ Drinking Water Regulations, which is very similar to the definition used by U.S. EPA. Here is the official definition:
"Public Water System" means a system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such a system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily for at least 60 days of the year. Such term includes: any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; or any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system."
Examples of Public Water Systems in the CNMI include: the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, hotels that have their own wells that treat, store and distribute the water; restaurants that have their own wells and treat, store and distribute water; bottled water companies that treat, store and distribute drinking water; water delivery trucks that deliver water that is used by 25 or more people; etc.
Examples of water systems that are not Public Water Systems: individual homes with rain water catchment tanks (serving fewer than 25 people); wakes, rosaries, art festivals and sporting events that last less than 60 days.
What is a certified operator?
The CNMI-DEQ Drinking Water Regulations state that: "Certified Operator" means an individual who has passed an examination that tests their knowledge, skills, ability, and judgment as a water operator for a particular classification level of water treatment facility or water distribution system, and has been issued a certificate pursuant to the regulations.
How many certified operators does a public water system need to have?
The short answer - at least one.
The longer answer - it depends on how many "operating shifts" there are, and who is making decisions regarding the quality or the quantity of water being treated, stored or distributed.
Every public water system has to be directly supervised under the responsible charge of an operator holding a valid certification equal to or greater than the classification of the treatment facility and/or distribution system. So every Public Water System has to have at least one operator in direct responsible charge.
The operator in "responsible charge" is defined as the person(s) designated by the owner to be the certified operator(s) who makes decisions regarding the daily operational activities of a public water system, water treatment facility and/or distribution system that will directly impact the quality and/or quantity of drinking water.
All operating personnel making process control/system integrity decisions about water quality of quantity that affect public health must be certified. [At any level]
A designated certified operator must be available for each operating shift. "Available" means that based on system size, complexity, and source water quality, a certified operator must be on site or able to be contacted as needed to initiate the appropriate action in a timely manner. "Operating shift" means that period of time during which operator decisions that affect public health are necessary for proper operation of the system.
In summary, every public water system needs at least one operator certified at the level of the treatment system and distribution system to serve as the operator in responsible charge. All personnel making quality or quantity decisions must be certified [at any level]. The public water system owner should designate which certified operator is "available" for each operating shift.
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Copyright © 2009 - 2014 Mariana Islands Water Operator Assocaition
Last modified: 1/27/2014
Copyright © 2009 - 2014 Mariana Islands Water Operator Assocaition
Last modified: 1/27/2014