Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Amendments of 1996, the State primacy agency (Maryland Department of the Environment) is required to implement an Operator Certification Program, and to provide annual reports in order to receive the full federal allocation under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). In response to federal guidelines, the Code of Maryland Regulations for the Operator Certification Program was revised in January, 2001. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Maryland’s Operator Certification Program on July 13, 2001. There are now more than 2,000 water-treatment plant operators in the State of Maryland that are responsible for delivering safe, high-quality drinking water to millions of residents. The sources of the water that they treat include both surface water (rivers, streams, reservoirs) and ground water (wells and springs). The characteristics of source waters are critical to the daily decisions that water-treatment plant operators must make.
This page is specifically tailored to prospective or current water-treatment plant operators. The links listed below breakdown everything you need to know about being an operator and getting certified to run a water treatment plant in the State of Maryland.
Why Become a Water System Operator?Why Become a Water System Operator?- Water system operators help to maintain safe drinking water. This page explains the different classifications of water treatment systems, basic information about the roles of an operator, and laws and regulations that govern water utilities.
The Application/Certifcation ProcessApplication/Certification Process- This page explains the step-by-step application and approval process, fees, contacts, board meeting schedule, and certification information.
Training and ExaminationsTraining and Examinations - This page includes an examination schedule, an overview of computer based testing, a list of training programs, and online resources.
For More Information
Please contact the Water Supply Program at water.supply@maryland.gov or 410-537-3702
