What are the Responsibilities of the Certified Operator?

The quick answer is, "whatever it takes to assure safe drinking water is in adequate supply and/or to discharge wastewater effluent without endangering state waters". System users expect "whatever it takes" will be done to provide safe water and to protect our state waters.

Often they don't realize what's involved. Here is a list to show them:

  1. Sampling and/or monitoring to meet extensive legal requirements.
  2. Keeping records for #1 above.
  3. Being readily available to:
    • act on sampling, monitoring and reporting to regulatory agencies;
    • respond to system inspections, system users or DEQ personnel;
    • react to system malfunctions.
  4. Issuing notice to users when the systems are not in compliance and there is a health risk.
  5. Protecting, maintaining and/or operating equipment purchased at public or user expense to provide safe drinking water in adequate supply or process safe effluent.
  6. Keeping records on the system maintenance program for #5.
  7. Calculating and making chemical applications or removals in order to protect public health or state waters or parts of the system.
  8. Understanding and preventing what may endanger a safe drinking water supply or wastewater effluent or equipment used to do the same.
  9. Assuring that newly installed or repaired equipment or systems meet legal requirements adopted to protect the public health and environment.
  10. Notifying the DEQ of the termination of your responsibilities to a system and advising your replacement that he/she requires certification.

Boy, am I glad Montana's waters are protected by certified operators.