(A) A person employed as an operator of a public water distribution system facility must hold a water distribution system operator license issued by the board in the certification class as required by this section. The required certification class must be determined based upon the distribution group of the public water distribution system facility where the operator is employed, as established by the Department of Health and Environmental Control pursuant to § 44-55-40(L). The certification class required for each distribution group is as follows:

(1) Group I distribution facilities do not require a certified operator.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-23-310

  • Board: means the South Carolina Environmental Certification Board. See South Carolina Code 40-23-20
  • Department: means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation;

    (5) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation or the director's official designee;

    (6) "Licensee" means a person granted an authorization to practice pursuant to this article and refers to a person holding a license, permit, certification, or registration granted pursuant to this article;

    (7) "Licensing act" means the individual statute or regulations, or both, of each regulated profession or occupation which include, but are not limited to, board governance, the qualifications and requirements for authorization to practice, prohibitions, and disciplinary procedures;

    (8) "Person" means an individual, partnership, or corporation;

    (9) "Profession" or "occupation" means a profession or occupation regulated or administered, or both, by the department pursuant to this article. See South Carolina Code 40-1-20
  • License: means a serially numbered document issued by the board, containing the name of the person registered, certified, or licensed and the date of registration, certification, or licensing and certifying that the person named is authorized to practice a profession regulated by the board as specified on said document. See South Carolina Code 40-23-20
  • operator: means a person employed in a public water distribution system whose duties include making process control and system integrity decisions about water quality or quantity that affect public health. See South Carolina Code 40-23-20
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, copartnership, cooperative, firm, company, public or private corporation, political subdivision, government agency, trust, estate, joint structure company, or any other legal entity or its legal representative, agent, or assigns. See South Carolina Code 40-23-20
  • Public water distribution system: means that portion of a public water system that is utilized for the delivery of water for human consumption, whether bottled, piped, or delivered through some other constructed conveyance, up to the point of consumer or owner connection. See South Carolina Code 40-23-20

(2) Group II distribution facilities require operators with at least a Class "D" certification.

(3) Group III distribution facilities require operators with at least a Class "C" certification.

(4) Group IV distribution facilities require operators with at least a Class "B" certification.

(5) Group V distribution facilities require operators with at least a Class "A" certification.

(B)(1) To be licensed by the board as a Trainee Water Distribution System Operator, an applicant must submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

(2) To be licensed by the board as a Class "D" Water Distribution System Operator, an applicant must:

(a) hold a valid Trainee Operator license;

(b) have completed high school or the equivalent;

(c) pass an examination approved by the board;

(d) have completed at least one year of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water distribution system facility; and

(e) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

(3) To be licensed by the board as a Class "C" Water Distribution System Operator, an applicant must:

(a) hold a valid Class "D" operator certification;

(b) pass an examination approved by the board;

(c) have completed at least two years of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water distribution system facility or the equivalent; and

(d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

(4) To be licensed by the board as a Class "B" Water Distribution System Operator, an applicant must:

(a) hold a valid Class "C" operator certification;

(b) pass an examination approved by the board;

(c) have completed at least three years of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water distribution system facility or the equivalent; and

(d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

(5) To be licensed by the board as a Class "A" Water Distribution System Operator, an applicant must:

(a) hold a valid Class "B" operator certification;

(b) pass an examination approved by the board;

(c) have completed at least four years of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water distribution system facility or the equivalent; and

(d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.