Idaho Water and Wastewater

 System Licensure and

 Classification

 

         

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Drinking Water System Classification Requirements.

Classification of public drinking water and distribution systems is based on potential health risks. Classifications range from "Very Small" to "Class IV," depending on such factors as the system's complexity, size, and source water.

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Background
Types of System Classifications
Determining a System's Classification
Current System Classification Ratings
Questions?
 
Background

DEQ's drinking water rules require all community and nontransient noncommunity public drinking water systems and distribution facilities to be classified based on indicators of potential health risk. Criteria used to determine the potential health risks include the system's complexity, size, and source water for treatment facilities; complexity and size of distribution systems; and other criteria deemed appropriate.

 
Types of System Classifications

Public drinking water systems are classified by type and class. There are nine (9) different types and classes of drinking water systems and eleven (11) different types and classes of individual drinking water operator classes for which licenses are issued as shown in the table below.

 

Drinking Water System Classifications and

Correlating Operator Classes++

SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION

Type of System

 

OPERATOR

LICENSURE CLASSES++

Type of System

Treatment

Distribution

Treatment

Distribution

*See Note

Below

     

Operator in Training*

x

x

Very Small System

 

x

 

Very Small System

 
x

Class I

x

x

 

Class I

x

x

Class II

x

x

 

Class II

x

x

Class III

x

x

 

Class III

x

x

Class IV

x

x

 

Class IV

x

x

*  An individual may obtain an operator-in-training permit with no prior experience or when beginning to work at any type and class of wastewater system. There is no one system classification that matches this operator class. The purpose for obtaining an operator-in-training permit is to gain supervised on-the-job experience.  

++ Link to http://www.ibol.idaho.gov/wwp.htm for operator license applications and rule requirements for qualifications for each operator class.

 
For drinking water, individual operator licenses mirror the type and class structure seen above for the drinking water systems. The only exception is that an individual may obtain an operator-in-training permit for which there is no matching system classification.
 
Determining a System's Classification

The owner of each system must determine its classification to ensure its operators, and in particular, the responsible and substitute responsible charge operators, have the appropriate level of certification. A worksheet has been developed for both treatment and distribution systems to assist in
determining system classification. The worksheet must be filled out and submitted to DEQ for verification of the official system classification. Classification worksheets must be submitted every five (5) years or anytime a substantive change or upgrade is made to the treatment or distribution system.

> Link to Drinking Water Treatment System Classification Worksheet.

> Link to Drinking Water Distribution System Classification Worksheet.

 
Current Drinking Water System Classification Ratings

A current listing of drinking water treatment systems and drinking water distribution systems that have submitted classification worksheets and received verification of the official system classification from DEQ is available on this Web site. Click here to link to list (PDF format: updated 7/7/08).

Note: This list is a snapshot in time according to the date shown on the list.

   
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