Rule 62-699.310. Classification and Staffing of Domestic Wastewater or Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems

This section applies to all domestic wastewater treatment plant permittees and to all suppliers of water except those who own or operate a transient non-community water system (TWS) using only ground water as a source of supply and serving only religious institutions, or businesses, other than public food service establishments as defined and regulated under Chapter 381, 500, or 509, F.S., and other than religious institutions with school or daycare services. Licensed operators are not required for TWSs using only ground water as a source of supply and serving only religious institutions, or businesses, other than public food service establishments and other than religious institutions with school or daycare services.

(1) Domestic wastewater treatment plant permittees and suppliers of water shall employ only persons appropriately licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., to be in on-site charge of the operation, supervision, or maintenance of a domestic wastewater or water treatment plant during any part of any day. Suppliers of water shall employ only persons appropriately licensed under Chapter 62-602, F.A.C., to be in onsite charge of any water distribution system operation or maintenance activity that may affect water quality or quantity and that is listed in Footnote 1 under the tables in subparagraphs 62-699.310(2)(f)1. and 2., F.A.C.

(2) Permittees and suppliers of water shall employ licensed operators onsite at their domestic wastewater or water treatment plant(s) to fulfill the time and visit requirements specified in paragraphs (a) through (e), below. Suppliers of water shall employ licensed operators to staff their water distribution system as specified in paragraph (f), below.

(a) Classification and Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants Other than Those Discussed Separately in paragraphs (b) through (d), below. Refer to tables 1. through 4., below, and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each domestic wastewater treatment plant using the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the plant and then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements for the plant. Determine the plant category by identifying the highest category in tables 1. through 4., listing one or more of the plant’s treatment processes, with Category I being the highest category and Category IV being the lowest category. Determine the plant classification and staffing requirements within the determined plant category by using the permitted capacity of the plant. Class A is the highest possible plant classification, and Class D is the lowest possible plant classification. |1. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category I | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Processes to meet permit limits for |3.0 MGD and above |0.5 MGD up to 3.0 MGD |0.1 MGD up to 0.5 MGD |Not Applicable | |total nitrogen with or without | | | | | |filtration; processes to meet permit |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher | | |limits for total phosphorus with or |operator: 24 hours/day for 7 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 | | |without filtration; or membrane |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week. The lead/chief operator|days/week and one visit on each | | |processes, including microfiltration,|operator must be Class A. |must be Class B or higher. |weekend day. | | |ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, | | |________________ | | |reverse osmosis, and membrane | | |0.05 MGD up to 0.1 MGD | | |bioreactors. | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |Less than 0.05 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit each | | | | | |weekend. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class C| | | | | |or higher. | | |2. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category II | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Activated sludge processes, except |5.0 MGD and above |1.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD |0.25 MGD up to 1.0 MGD |Not Applicable | |extended aeration, with or without | | | | | |filtration. |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | |operator: 24 hours/day for 7 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 | | | |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week. The lead/chief operator |days/week and one visit on each | | | |operator must be Class A. |must be Class B or higher. |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |0.1 MGD up to 0.25 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |Less than 0.1 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1/2 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit each | | | | | |weekend. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class C| | | | | |or higher. | | |3. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category III | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Extended aeration, |8.0 MGD and above |2.0 MGD up to 8.0 MGD |0.5 MGD up to 2.0 MGD |10,000 GPD up to 25,000 GPD | |including oxidation | | | | | |ditches, with or without |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class D or higher | |filtration. |operator: 24 hours/day for 7 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 days/week|operator: 3 visits/week on | | |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week. The lead/chief operator|and one visit on each weekend day. |nonconsecutive days for a total | | |operator must be Class A. |must be Class B or higher. |________________ |of 1 1/2 hours/week. | | | | |0.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD |________________ | | | | | |2,000 up to 10,000 GPD | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 days/week|Staffing by Class D or higher | | | | |and one visit each weekend. |operator: 2 visits/week on | | | | |________________ |nonconsecutive days for a total | | | | |25,000 GPD up to 0.25 MGD |of 1 hour/week. There shall be no| | | | | |more than 5 days between the last| | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher |visit in one week and the first | | | | |operator: 1/2 hour/day for 5 |visit in the next week. | | | | |days/week and one visit each weekend.|________________ | | | | |________________ |For all of the above plants, the | | | | |For all of the above plants, the |lead/chief operator must be Class| | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class C |D or higher. | | | | |or higher. | | |4. Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Category IV | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Either of the following processes with |10 MGD and above |3.0 MGD up to 10 MGD |2.0 MGD up to 3.0 MGD |2,000 up to 25,000 GPD | |or without filtration: trickling | | | | | |filters or rotating biological |Staffing by Class C or |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class D or | |contactors. |higher operator: 24 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 |higher operator: 2 | | |hours/day for 7 days/week. |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week and one visit on each |visits/week on | | |The lead/chief operator |operator must be Class B or |weekend day. |nonconsecutive days for a | | |must be Class A. |higher. |________________ |total of 1 hour/week. There| | | | |0.75 MGD up to 2.0 MGD |shall be no more than 5 | | | | | |days between the last visit| | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher |in one week and the first | | | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 |visit in the next week. The| | | | |days/week and one visit on each |lead/chief operator must be| | | | |weekend day. |Class D or higher. | | | | |________________ | | | | | |25,000 GPD up to 0.75 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1/2 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit each | | | | | |weekend. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class | | | | | |C or higher. | |

(b) Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants that Provide Reclaimed Water to a Reuse System Permitted Under Part III of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C.

1. Plant staffing requirements shall be established in accordance with paragraph (a), above.

2. Additional minimum staffing requirements are provided in subsections 62-610.462(2) and (3), F.A.C., which shall be used in conjunction with the requirements in paragraph (a), above, with the most stringent requirements governing. Reductions in staffing requirements below the minimum established in subsections 62-610.462(2) and (3), F.A.C., shall not be allowed.

(c) Staffing Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants that Provide Reclaimed Water to a Reuse System Permitted Under Part V of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C.

1. Plant staffing requirements shall be established in accordance with paragraph (a), above.

2. Additional minimum staffing requirements are provided in subsections 62-610.567(3), (4), and (5), F.A.C., which shall be used in conjunction with the requirements in paragraph (a), above, with the most stringent requirements governing. Reductions in staffing requirements below the minimum established in subsections 62-610.567(3), (4), and (5), F.A.C., shall not be allowed.

(d) Staffing Requirements for Biosolids Treatment Facilities. Staffing requirements are provided in paragraph 62-640.880(2)(j), F.A.C.

(e) Classification and Staffing Requirements for Water Treatment Plants. Refer to tables 1. through 5., below, and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each water treatment plant using the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the plant and then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements for the plant. Determine the plant category by identifying the highest category in tables 1. through 5., listing one or more of the plant’s category-determining treatment processes, with Category I being the highest category and Category V being the lowest category. In no case shall a treatment process that is installed and maintained by the Department under the Water Supply Restoration Program be considered in determining the plant category. Otherwise, for any plant that is part of a community water system (CWS), all of the plant’s treatment processes shall be considered in determining the plant category, while for any plant that is part of a non-community water system (NCWS), only the plant’s treatment processes that are necessary to meet primary drinking water standards, or disinfection requirements, applicable to the NCWS shall be considered in determining the plant category. Determine the plant classification and staffing requirements within the determined plant category by using the permitted maximum-day operating capacity of the plant. Class A is the highest possible plant classification, and Class D is the lowest possible plant classification. |1. Water Treatment Plant Category I | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Conventional filtration (coagulation, |5.0 MGD and above |1.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD |0.3 MGD up to 1.0 MGD |Not Applicable | |flocculation, sedimentation, and | | | | | |rapid-rate granular-media filtration),|Staffing by Class C or |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher | | |including lime softening; direct |higher operator: 24 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 | | |filtration, (coagulation and |hours/day for 7 days/week. |days/week. The lead/chief operator |days/week and one visit on each | | |rapid-rate granular-media filtration) |The lead/chief operator |must be Class B or higher. |weekend day. | | |of surface water or ground water |must be Class A. | |________________ | | |determined by the Department to be | | |0.1 MGD up to 0.3 MGD | | |under the direct influence of surface | | | | | |water; or direct filtration of ground | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | |water for removal of viruses. | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |Less than 0.1 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class C| | | | | |or higher. | | |2. Water Treatment Plant Category II | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Microfiltration, ultrafiltration, |6.5 MGD and above |MGD up to 6.5 MGD |0.5 MGD up to 1.0 MGD |Not Applicable | |nanofiltration, or reverse osmosis. | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | |operator: 24 hours/day for 7 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 | | | |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week and one visit on each | | | |operator must be Class A. |operator must be Class B or |weekend day. | | | | |higher. |________________ | | | | | |0.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |0.1 MGD | | | | | |up to 0.25 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |Less than 0.1 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 5 visits per week and | | | | | |one visit each weekend for a total| | | | | |of 2.4 hours/week. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class | | | | | |C or higher. | | |3. Water Treatment Plant Category III | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Activated alumina or carbon |8.0 MGD and above |2.0 MGD up to 8.0 MGD |1.0 MGD up to 2.0 MGD |Not Applicable | |adsorption, with backwashing or | | | | | |on-site media regeneration or |Staffing by Class C or |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher | | |reactivation, for removal of any |higher operator: 24 |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 | | |primary contaminant or disinfection |hours/day for 7 days/week. |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week and one visit on each | | |byproduct precursors; diatomaceous |The lead/chief operator |operator must be Class B or |weekend day. | | |earth filtration; electrodialysis or |must be Class A. |higher. |________________ | | |electrodialysis reversal; ion | | |0.5 MGD up to 1.0 MGD | | |exchange for removal of any primary | | | | | |contaminant or disinfection byproduct| | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | |precursors; oxidation and rapid-rate | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 | | |granular-media filtration, or direct | | |days/week and one visit on each | | |filtration, of ground water for | | |weekend day. | | |removal of any primary contaminant | | |________________ | | |other than viruses or for removal of | | |0.25 MGD up to 0.5 MGD | | |disinfection byproduct precursors; or| | | | | |slow sand filtration. | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |Less than 0.25 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 5 visits/week and one | | | | | |visit each weekend for a total of| | | | | |1.8 hours/week. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class| | | | | |C or higher. | | |4. Water Treatment Plant Category IV | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Activated alumina or carbon adsorption|Not Applicable |10 MGD and above |5.0 MGD up to 10 MGD |Less than 0.1 MGD | |with backwashing or on-site media | | | | | |regeneration or reactivation, for | |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by a Class D or | |removal of only secondary | |operator: 16 hours/day for 7 |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 |higher operator: 3 | |contaminants; chloramination; chlorine| |days/week. The lead/chief |days/week and one visit on each |visits/week on nonconsecutive| |dioxide treatment; ion exchange for | |operator must be Class B or |weekend day. |days for a total of 0.6 | |removal of any secondary contaminant, | |higher. |________________ |hour/week. The lead/chief | |sulfide, or hardness from a CWS; | | |3.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD |operator must be Class D or | |oxidation and rapid-rate | | | |higher. | |granular-media filtration, or direct | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | |filtration, of ground water for | | |operator: 3 hours/day for 5 | | |removal of any secondary contaminant | | |days/week and one visit on each | | |or sulfide from a CWS; or ozonation. | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |1.0 MGD up to 3.0 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 1 hour/day for 5 | | | | | |days/week and one visit on each | | | | | |weekend day. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |0.1 MGD up to 1.0 MGD | | | | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher | | | | | |operator: 5 visits/week and one | | | | | |visit each weekend for a total | | | | | |of 1.2 hours/week. | | | | | |________________ | | | | | |For all of the above plants, the| | | | | |lead/chief operator must be | | | | | |Class C or higher. | | |5. Water Treatment Plant Category V | |Treatment Process |Class A |Class B |Class C |Class D | |Activated alumina or carbon adsorption|Not Applicable |Not Applicable |5.0 MGD and above |50,000 GPD up to 0.25 MGD | |without backwashing and without | | | | | |on-site media regeneration or | | |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by Class D or higher | |reactivation; aeration; alkalinity or | | |operator: 6 hours/day for 5 |operator: 3 visits/week on | |pH adjustment; chlorination or | | |days/week and one visit on each |nonconsecutive days for a total| |hypochlorination; corrosion control | | |weekend day. |of 0.3 hour/week. | |inhibitor addition; fluoridation; iron| | |________________ |________________ | |or manganese sequestration; or | | |3.0 MGD up to 5.0 MGD |Less than 50,000 GPD | |ultraviolet radiation. | | | | | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher |Staffing by a Class D or higher| | | | |operator: 1 hour/day for 5 |operator: 2 visits/week on | | | | |days/week and one visit on each |nonconsecutive days for a total| | | | |weekend day. |of 0.2 hour/week. There shall | | | | |________________ |be no more than 5 days between | | | | |0.25 MGD up to 3.0 MGD |the last visit in one week and | | | | | |the first visit in the next | | | | |Staffing by Class C or higher |week. | | | | |operator: 5 visits/week and one |________________ | | | | |visit each weekend for a total of|For all of the above plants, | | | | |0.6 hour/week. |the lead/chief operator must be| | | | |________________ |Class D or higher. | | | | |For all of the above plants, the | | | | | |lead/chief operator must be Class| | | | | |C or higher. | |

(f) Classification and Staffing Requirements for Water Distribution Systems. Refer to tables 1. and 2., below, and determine the classification and staffing requirements for each water distribution system using the following two-step procedure: first determine the category of the distribution system and then, within that category, determine the classification and staffing requirements for the distribution system. Determine the distribution system category by using the highest classification of water treatment plant to which the distribution system is connected, with Class A being the highest plant classification and Class D being the lowest plant classification. Determine the distribution system classification and staffing requirements within the determined distribution system category by using the number of persons served directly by the distribution system, which excludes any persons served by any separately owned and operated wholesale or regulated consecutive system connected to the distribution system. Level 1 is the highest possible distribution system classification, and Level 4 is the lowest possible distribution system classification. |1. Water Distribution System Category I | |Distribution System |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 | |Distribution system connected to a |Serving 100,000 or more |Serving at least 10,000 |Serving at least 1,000 persons|Serving less than 1,000 persons3. | |Class A, B, or C water treatment |persons. |persons and less than 100,000 |and less than 10,000 persons. | | |plant. | |persons. | |The lead/chief operator must be a | | |The lead/chief operator | |The lead/chief operator must |Level 4 or higher water | | |must be a Level 1 water |The lead/chief operator must |be a Level 3 or higher water |distribution system operator or a | | |distribution system |be a Level 2 or higher water |distribution system operator |Class D or higher water treatment | | |operator or a Class C or |distribution system operator |or a Class C or higher water |plant operator. Additionally, a | | |higher water treatment |or a Class C or higher water |treatment plant operator. |Level 4 or higher water | | |plant operator. |treatment plant operator. |Additionally, a Level 3 or |distribution system operator or a | | |Additionally, a Level 3 or |Additionally, a Level 3 or |higher water distribution |Class D or higher water treatment | | |higher water distribution |higher water distribution |system operator or a Class C |plant operator shall be in on-site | | |system operator or a Class |system operator or a Class C |or higher water treatment |charge of any water distribution | | |C or higher water treatment|or higher water treatment |plant operator shall be in |system operation or maintenance | | |plant operator shall be in |plant operator shall be in |on-site charge of any water |activity that may affect water | | |on-site charge of any water|on-site charge of any water |distribution system operation |quality or quantity and that is | | |distribution system |distribution system operation |or maintenance activity that |listed in Footnote 1 below unless | | |operation or maintenance |or maintenance activity that |may affect water quality or |the activity is being performed by | | |activity that may affect |may affect water quality or |quantity and that is listed in|a licensed contractor working | | |water quality or quantity |quantity and that is listed in|Footnote 1 below unless the |within the scope of his or her | | |and that is listed in |Footnote 1 below unless the |activity is being performed by|license.2 | | |Footnote 1 below unless the|activity is being performed by|a licensed contractor working | | | |activity is being performed|a licensed contractor working |within the scope of his or her| | | |by a licensed contractor |within the scope of his or her|license.2 | | | |working within the scope of|license.2 | | | | |his or her license.2 | | | | | | |1. The following water distribution system operation or maintenance activities may affect water quality or quantity: cleaning (swabbing, pigging, scraping, or | |air-purging) existing or repaired water mains; tapping, depressurizing/dewatering, or disinfecting existing or repaired water mains; dewatering, cleaning, or | |disinfecting existing or repaired finished-water storage tanks; and manually operating pumps, or adjusting automatic pump controls or automatic control valves, as| |necessary to regulate water distribution system flows or pressures. | |2. Part I of Chapter 489, F.S., and rules adopted thereunder and administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Construction | |Industry Licensing Board regulate the construction industry and establish whether construction work, including the repair or replacement of water distribution | |system facilities, must be performed by a licensed contractor. | |3. For wholesale systems, a Category I water distribution system serving less than 1,000 persons shall be classified as a Level 3 water distribution system. | |2. Water Distribution System Category II | |Distribution System |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 | |Distribution system connected to a |Not Applicable |Not Applicable |Not Applicable |The lead/chief operator must be a | |Class D water treatment plant. | | | |Level 4 or higher water | | | | | |distribution system operator or a | | | | | |Class D or higher water treatment | | | | | |plant operator. Additionally, a | | | | | |Level 4 or higher water | | | | | |distribution system operator or a | | | | | |Class D or higher water treatment | | | | | |plant operator shall be in on-site | | | | | |charge of any water distribution | | | | | |system operation or maintenance | | | | | |activity that may affect water | | | | | |quality or quantity and that is | | | | | |listed in Footnote 1 below unless | | | | | |the activity is being performed by | | | | | |a licensed contractor working | | | | | |within the scope of his or her | | | | | |license2. | |1. Water distribution system operation and maintenance activities that may affect water quality or quantity include the following: cleaning (swabbing, pigging, | |scraping, or air-purging) existing or repaired water mains; tapping, depressurizing/dewatering, or disinfecting existing or repaired water mains; dewatering, | |cleaning, or disinfecting existing or repaired finished-water storage tanks; and manually operating pumps, or adjusting automatic pump controls or automatic | |control valves, as necessary to regulate water distribution system flows or pressures. | |2. Part I of Chapter 489, F.S., and rules adopted thereunder and administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Construction | |Industry Licensing Board regulate the construction industry and establish whether construction work, including the repair or replacement of water distribution | |system facilities, must be performed by a licensed contractor. | Rulemaking Authority 403.869, 403.88(4) FS. Law Implemented 403.853(6), 403.867, 403.875(1)(f), 403.88(1), (2), (3) FS. History–New 11-17-70, Revised 10-24-74, Amended 12-25-75, 6-10-76, 1-12-81, Formerly 17-16.12, 17-16.13, Amended 5-8-85, Formerly 17-16.370, 17-602.370, 17-699.310, Amended 10-15-07, 3-6-13.