Water Operators are Critical in Protecting the Quality of Our Drinking Water

Posted on May 7, 2019

Have you ever wondered who’s held responsible for the drinking water in your community? The simple answer is, a water operator!

Safe Drinking Water Act, PA 399, declares that a water works system shall be under the supervision of an operator. An operator is a public servant recognized by the State, whom is academically qualified with experience, and has proved his qualifications by passing at least one State Examination. In some instances, multiple operators are even required.

For most communities in Southeast Michigan, receiving treated water from Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), an S Water Operator is in charge of your community’s water supply.

S Water Operators range in title from
S-1 to S-4, and the distinction of the operator needed is the population served in your community.

S Water Operators have passed a state examination and are proficient in the following disciplines:

Chlorination, Contingences & Emergencies, Corrosion Control, Cross Connection Control, Customer Relations, Hydrants, Hydraulics, Instrumentation, Management, Meters, Microbiology, Operation & Maintenance, Pipes & Joints, Pumps & Motors, Record Keeping, Safety, Sampling, Laws & Regulations, Storage, Valves, Water Quality and Water Main Installation.

Here at AEW, we have one S-1 Water Operator and two S-3 Water Operators.

If your community provides limited water treatment, a D Water Operator is needed in addition to an S Water Operator.

D Water Operators also range in title, varying from D-1 to D-4 with the distinction being population served and treatment capacity.

D Water Operators have also passed a state examination and are proficient in the following disciplines:

Corrosion, Cross Connections, Disinfection, Emergencies & Securities, Fluoridation, Hardness/Softening, Hydraulics, Instrumentation, Iron Removal, Laboratory, Management, Membrane Technology, Microbiology, Operation & Maintenance, Phosphate, Public Relations, Pumps & Motors, Record Keeping, Safety, Sampling, Laws & Regulations, Taste & Odor and Wells.

At AEW, we have one D-3 water operator.

Lastly, if your community operates a Water Treatment Plant (complete treatment) a F Water Operator is needed in addition to an S Water Operator.

F Water Operators, like D Water Operators, are categorized by population served and treatment capacity.

AEW doesn’t have an F Water Operator, but we do have experience working with several Water Treatment Plant Facilities and have even assisted in completing an asset management plan for the Mount Clemens Water Treatment Plant, serving over 18,000 people.

We have also assisted many communities in planning and completing Reliability Studies, which are required at least once every five years, by the Safe Drinking Water Act, PA 399. By utilizing a computer program, we provide mapping, evaluating and planning for a community’s needs and modeling of worst case scenarios. You can contact your local Water or Utilities Department if you are interested in viewing a copy of this study for your community.