§1281.9. Certified operator required; exceptions

A. On or after one year following the effective date of this Subpart, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, both municipal and private, operating a water supply system or sewerage system to operate same unless the competency of the operator is duly certified to by the state health officer under the provisions of this Subpart. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person to perform the duties of an operator, as defined herein, without being duly certified under the provisions of this Subpart.

B. Surface water systems shall have a certified operator present at all times while the treatment facility is in operation.

C. The requirements of Subsection B of this Section shall not apply to systems which serve less than ten thousand persons and which utilize automated operation systems which monitor system operation, record all required readings, notify the operator in the event of a system upset or failure, and allow the operator to remotely control or shut down the system.

D. The requirements of this Section shall not apply to municipal and public works contractors and other related classifications of contractor properly licensed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors who construct water, sewer, or drainage line work. Such contractor shall not be required by any public entity to apply for or maintain a Class IV Certified Water System Operator Certificate or Wastewater Collection Operator Certificate as a condition of bidding, obtaining permits, or constructing water, sewer, or drainage line work.

E. The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans shall be allowed to require their municipal and public works contractors and other related classifications of contractors properly licensed by the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors who construct, install or repair water, sewer or drainage line work to successfully complete a course provided and approved by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans or the Louisiana Department of Health, which includes, but is not limited to all of the following:

(1) The practices involved in the installation and the rehabilitation of the wastewater collection system including gravity sewers, sewer service lines, sewer force mains and manholes.

(2) Water distribution system including valves, a network of pipes, water service lines, meters and fire hydrants.

Acts 1972, No. 538, §9; Acts 2005, No. 236, §1; Acts 2008, No. 112, §1; Acts 2008, No. 421, §1, eff. June 21, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 551, §1, eff. June 30, 2008; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1149 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.