Arkansas Department of Health
Center for Local Public Health - Environmental Health Branch - Engineering Section


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Drinking Water Information for Arkansans

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OPERATOR CERTIFICATION


The Water Operator Certification Program has been in operation, as a mandatory requirement for operators of public water systems, since 1957. Prior to 1957, a voluntary certification program existed. The purpose of certification of water operators is to help ensure that the citizens of Arkansas receive ample supplies of safe, potable water from any public water system. A person desiring to work as a water operator must pass a series of exams, and have a specified amount of experience. The amount of experience and the difficulty of the exams are based upon the size of the community being served by the water system, and the type of treatment being provided. These categories are used to reflect the difficulty of operation as well as the potential consequences of improper action on the part of the operator.

A seven person Drinking Water Advisory & Operator Licensing Committee oversees the operation of the program. The committee members are made up of one engineer from the Department of Health, one consulting engineer who designs water system projects, one engineer who is active in teaching at a state university, and four Class A operators. Except for the Department of Health representative, each member serves a single term of seven years. Candidates for the committee are nominated by any of the various industry groups active in drinking water. All candidates are presented to the Board of Health, who determines which candidate is selected.  Click here to see the current committee members.

 

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Page maintained by Engineering Section
Phone (501) 661-2623    Fax (501) 661-2032
Last modified: 09/19/2006 04:22 PM

 

 

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