Section 681.500  Standard of Issuance

A water supply operator becomes certified upon the Agency's issuance of a Certificate of Competency to the operator.  The Agency shall issue a Certificate of Competency when the applicant demonstrates all the following:

a)         The applicant is capable of performing his or her duties without endangering the health and well being of the populace and is capable of maintaining and properly operating the structures and equipment entrusted to his or her care.  [415 ILCS 45/14]

b)         The applicant is capable of conducting and maintaining the water treatment or distribution processes in a manner which will provide safe, potable water for human consumption. [415 ILCS 45/4]

c)         The applicant has graduated from high school or has the equivalent to a high school education, and the applicant is able to read and write English. [415 ILCS 45/14]

d)         The applicant has submitted evidence of his or her character. [415 ILCS 45/14]  The Agency shall consider the following as evidence of poor character:

1)         The applicant has been sanctioned pursuant to Subpart G of this Part or had his or her certificate of competency revoked or suspended; or

2)         The applicant has been convicted of violating any of the following statutes:

A)        Section 44 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act [415 ILCS 5/44] (Violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act);

B)        Section 29D-14.9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 [720 ILCS 5/29D-14.9] (Terrorism);

C)        Section 29D-15.1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 [720 ILCS 5/29D-15.1] (Causing a Catastrophe); or

D)        Section 29D-20 of the Criminal Code of 2012 [720 ILCS 5/29D-20] (Making a Terrorist Threat).

e)         The applicant has paid the fee or fees required by Section 681.110 of this Part.

f)         For Class A Certification:

1)         The applicant has the knowledge, skills, ability and judgment specified in Section 681.205(b)(1) of this Part;

2)         The applicant has a valid passing score on the Class A water supply operator examination; and

3)         The applicant has at least 5340 hours of study, training and hands-on experience in water supply operation or management of a Class A facility.

A)        A minimum of 2670 hours of experience, calculated pursuant to Section 681.510(c), must be hands-on in the following areas:  coagulation, lime softening, ultraviolet disinfection, membrane filtration, or sedimentation.

B)        The Agency will grant up to 1780 hours of credit for non-college educational endeavors pursuant to Section 681.510(d)(2).

C)        The Agency will grant up to 2670 hours of credit for college educational endeavors pursuant to Section 681.510(d)(1).

g)         For Class B Certification:

1)         The applicant has the knowledge, skills, ability and judgment specified in Section 681.205(b)(2) of this Part;

2)         The applicant has a valid passing score on the Class A or Class B water supply operator examination; and

3)         The applicant has at least 5340 hours of study, training and hands-on experience in water supply operation or management of a Class B facility.

A)        A minimum of 2670 hours of experience, calculated pursuant to Section 681.510(c), must be hands-on in the following areas:  filtration, aeration and filtration, or ion exchange.

B)        The Agency willgrant up to 1780 hours of credit for non-college educational endeavors pursuant to Section 681.510(d)(2).

C)        The Agency willgrant up to 2670 hours of credit for college educational endeavors pursuant to Section 681.510(d)(1).

h)         For Class C Certification:

1)         The applicant has the knowledge, skills, ability and judgment specified in Section 681.205(b)(3) of this Part;

2)         The applicant has a valid passing score on the Class A, Class B or Class C water supply operator examination; and

3)         The applicant has at least 1780 hours of study, training and hands-on experience in water supply operation or management of a Class C facility.

A)        A minimum of 890 hours of experience, calculated pursuant to Section 681.510(c), must be hands-on in the following areas:  chemical feeding and calculation of dosage.

B)        The Agency willgrant up to 890 hours of credit for college or non-college educational endeavors pursuant to Section 681.510(d).

i)          For Class D Certification:

1)         The applicant has the knowledge, skills, ability and judgment specified in Section 681.205(b)(4);

2)         The applicant has a valid passing score on any water supply operator examination; and

3)         The applicant has at least 890 hours of study, training and hands-on experience in water supply operation or management of a Class D facility.

A)        A minimum of 445 hours of experience, calculated pursuant to Section 681.510(c), must be hands-on in the following areas:  pumpage, storage and distribution.

B)        The Agency will grant up to 445 hours of credit for college or non-college educational endeavors.

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 14182, effective November 13, 2017)