Wastewater operator certification program.

Existing law requires the State Water Resources Control Board to examine and certify persons as to their qualifications to operate water treatment plants and water distribution systems. Existing law requires the certification to indicate the classification of water treatment plant or water distribution system that the person is qualified to operate. Existing law requires the board to issue a water treatment operator certificate and water distribution operator certificate by reciprocity to any person holding a valid, unexpired, comparable certification issued by another state, the United States, prescribed territories or tribal governments, or a unit of any of these. Existing law requires the board to classify types of wastewater treatment plants for the purpose of determining the levels of competence necessary to operate them. Existing law requires a person who operates a nonexempt wastewater treatment plant to possess a valid, unexpired wastewater certificate, as defined. Existing law requires the board to develop and specify in its regulations the training necessary to qualify a person for a wastewater certificate for each type and class of plant. Existing law authorizes the board to accept experience in lieu of qualification training. This bill would make a nonsubstantive change in the provision regarding accepting experience in lieu of qualification training.