Title 70A — Title 70A ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

The legislature declares that competent operation of a public water system is necessary for the protection of the consumers' health, and therefore it is of vital interest to the public. In order to protect the public health and conserve and protect the water resources of the stat…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Backflow assembly tester" means a person in charge of inspecting, testing, maintaining, and repairing backflow assemblies, devices, and air gaps that protect the publi…

(1) A public water system shall have a certified operator if:(a) It is a group A water system; or(b) It is a public water system using a surface water source or a groundwater source under the direct influence of surface water.(2) The certified operators shall be in charge of the …

Nothing in this chapter shall apply to:(1) Industrial water supply systems which do not supply water to residences for domestic use and are under the jurisdictional requirements of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act of 1973, chapter 49.17 RCW, as now or hereafter ame…

The secretary shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter and shall enforce such rules and regulations. The rules and regulations shall include provisions establishing minimum qualifications and procedures for the certificatio…

The secretary shall further categorize all public water systems with regard to the size, type, source of water, and other relevant physical conditions affecting purification plants and distribution systems to assist in identifying the skills, knowledge and experience required for…

The secretary is authorized, when taking action pursuant to RCW 70A.120.050 and 70A.120.060, to consider generally applicable criteria and guidelines developed by a nationally recognized association of certification authorities and commonly accepted national guidelines and standa…

The secretary, in cooperation with the director of ecology, may establish ad hoc advisory committees, as necessary, to obtain advice and technical assistance regarding the development of rules implementing this chapter and on the examination and certification of operators of wate…

Certificates shall be issued without examination under the following conditions:(1) Certificates shall be issued without application fee to operators who, on January 1, 1978, hold certificates of competency attained under the voluntary certification program sponsored jointly by t…

The issuance and renewal of a certificate shall be subject to the following conditions:(1) Except as provided in RCW 70A.120.090, a certificate shall be issued if the operator has satisfactorily passed a written examination, has paid the department an application fee as establish…

The secretary may revoke or suspend a certificate: (1) Found to have been obtained by fraud or deceit; (2) for fraud, deceit, or gross negligence involving the operation or maintenance of a public water system; (3) for fraud, deceit, or gross negligence in inspecting, testing, ma…

To carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter, the secretary is authorized and empowered to:(1) Receive financial and technical assistance from the federal government and other public or private agencies.(2) Participate in related programs of the federal government, ot…

Any person, including any operator or any firm, association, corporation, municipal corporation, or other governmental subdivision or agency who, after thirty days' written notice, operates a public water system which is not in compliance with RCW 70A.120.030(1), shall be guilty …

Operators certified by any state under provisions that, in the judgment of the secretary, are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, may be issued, upon application, a certificate without examination.In ma…

The waterworks operator certification account is created in the general fund of the state treasury. All fees paid pursuant to RCW 70A.120.100, 70A.120.120(3), and any other receipts realized in the administration of this chapter shall be deposited in the waterworks operator certi…

The department of health certifies public water system operators and monitors public water systems to ensure that such systems comply with the requirements of this chapter and rules implementing this chapter. The secretary shall establish a schedule of fees for operator applicant…

(1) Backflow assembly testers and cross-connection control specialists must hold a valid certificate and must be certified as provided by rule as adopted under the authority of RCW 70A.120.050.(2) Backflow assembly testers who maintain or repair backflow assemblies, devices, or a…

(1) Any examination required by the department as a prerequisite for the issuance of certificate under this chapter must be offered in both eastern and western Washington.(2) Operators not required to be certified by this chapter are encouraged to become certified on a voluntary …

This act shall take effect on January 1, 1978.[ 1977 ex.s. c 99 s 17. Formerly RCW 70.119.900.]