Safe Drinking Water Branch
Water Systems Operator Certification

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Each public water system* in Hawaii shall be under the responsible charge of an operator(s) holding a valid certification equal to or greater than the classification of the water treatment plant (WTP) or distribution system (DS). WTPOs and DSOs in Hawaii must be certified by the Board of Certification of Public Water System Operators.

Chlorination and fluoridation facilities can be operated by either certified WTPOs or DSOs. Every WTPO (for treatment such as filtration and corrosion control) and fluoridation system operator must be certified.

* except for transient, non-community public water systems

Minimum Qualification Requirements for Certification

The minimum educational requirement for certified WTPOs and DSOs for all grades is a high school degree, a general equivalency diploma (GED), or the equivalent of a GED. For DSOs only, an eighth grade education plus four years of work experience can be considered to be the equivalent of a GED. Work experience is defined as experience in operating a water treatment plant (for WTPOs) or a distribution system (for DSOs). Work experience that is used to meet the GED requirement shall not also be used to meet the work experience requirement beyond the GED. The minimum education and work experience requirements in years are summarized as follows:

	Grade
	Total Years of Work Experience
Degree	OIT	1	2	3a	4b
High School or GED	0	1	2	3	4
Qualifying Associate Degree	0	1	2	2	3
Qualifying Bachelor's Degree	0	1	1	1	2

1. For the WTPO Grade 3 certification, the years of experience must include at least one year of full-time experience at a membrane filtration, Class 3, or 4 WTP (of which at least one month of work experience is at a Class 3 or 4 WTP).
   
   
2. For the WTPO Grade 4 certification, the years of experience must include at least one year of full-time experience at a membrane filtration, Class 3, or 4 WTP, and at least one year of full-time experience at a Class 3 or 4 WTP.
   
   

Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System Classification

1. Water Treatment Plant Classification:

   Class 1 - Slow sand filtration; chemical addition, such as for chlorination, fluoridation, pH control, or corrosion control; granular activated carbon filtration; or packed aeration towers or air stripping towers

   Class 2 - Membrane filtration; cartridge filtration; or desalting (including distillation, electrodialysis, and reverse osmosis

   Class 3 - Diatomaceous earth filtration, or package plants with diatomaceous earth filtration

   Class 4 - Conventional treatment; direct filtration; or package treatment plants with conventional treatment or direct filtration.

2. Distribution System Classification:

   Class 1 - Serves water systems with a population of 1,500 or less persons

   Class 2 - Serves water systems with a population of 1,501 to 15,000 persons

   Class 3 - Serves water systems with a population of 15,001 to 50,000 persons

   Class 4 - Serves water systems with a population of over 50,000 persons

Certification Fees

1. Regular certification. The application, application fee ($20) and exam fee ($30) are due at least three months prior to the exam date. If the examinee passes the exam, he or she will be certified through the expiration date at least two full years from the issuance date (a period not to exceed 36 months).
   
   
2. Operator-in-training (OIT), temporary, or provisional certificate - $40. The applicant shall submit the application fee with the application. The OIT or temporary certification is valid for 24 months.
   
   
3. Reciprocity certification - $50. The applicant shall submit the application fee with the application. The certification is valid through the expiration date at least two full years from the issuance date (a period not to exceed 36 months).
   
   
4. Renewal - $20. The certification shall be renewed every two years and the renewal fee is due by the date two weeks before the expiration date.

Renewal of Certificates

The certification period is no more than three years; the expiration date is stated on the identification card. The operator shall apply for renewal at least two weeks before the expiration date. One month after the expiration date, the operator with expired certification shall no longer perform the duties of an operator until he or she has applied for renewal, and the renewal has been approved. For the second through twelfth months following the expiration date, the renewal fee is doubled, ($40 for two-year renewal).

If the certificate is not renewed within one year from the expiration date, the certification is not renewable; the operator must re-take the certification exam to again become certified.

Certified WTPOs or DSOs must obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order to maintain their certification. Grades 1 or 2 operators must earn 0.8 CEU-10s or 8 contact hours in the two years prior to renewal. Grades 3 or 4 operators must earn 1.6 CEU-10s or 16 contact hours in the two years prior to renewal.

Note: The applicable administrative rules are Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-25, "Rules Relating to Certification of Public Water System Operators", effective 5/24/02.

Contact Us

Phone:	(808) 586-4258
From Hawaii (toll free):	974-4000, ext. 64258
From Kauai (toll free):	274-3141, ext. 64258
From Maui (toll free):	984-2400, ext. 64258
From Molokai and Lanai (toll free):	(800) 468-4644, ext. 64258
Fax:	(808) 586-4351
E-mail:	sdwb@doh.hawaii.gov
Oahu Safe Drinking Water Branch Environmental Management Division Hawaii State Department of Health 919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 308 Honolulu, HI 96814-4920

Kauai Safe Drinking Water Branch - Kauai    Kauai District Health Office 3040 Umi Street Lihue, Hawaii 96766 Phone: (808) 241-3323 Fax: (808) 241-3566

Maui Safe Drinking Water Branch - Maui Maui District Health Office 54 High Street Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 Phone: (808) 984-8234 Fax: (808) 984-8237

East Hawaii Safe Drinking Water Branch - Hilo      Hawaii District Health Office - Hilo 1582 Kamehameha Avenue Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Phone: (808) 933-0401 Fax: (808) 933-0400

West Hawaii Safe Drinking Water Branch - Kona West Hawaii Environmental Health Office Keakealani Building 79-1020 Haukapila Street, Room 110 Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750 Phone: (808) 322-1961 Fax: (808) 322-1511

Last Update: 14 April 2008