Section 173-230-020. Definitions.

(1) "Activated sludge process" means a biological wastewater treatment process in which a mixture of wastewater and activated sludge is agitated and aerated. The activated sludge is subsequently separated from the treated wastewater by sedimentation and wasted or returned to the process as needed.

(2) "Biofiltration" means the process of passing a liquid through a biological filter that contains fixed media on surfaces which develop zoogleal films that absorb and adsorb fine suspended, colloidal, and dissolved solids and release end products of biochemical action.

(3) "Certificate" means the certificate of competency issued by the director stating that an individual has met the requirements for a specific classification in the wastewater treatment plant operator's certification program.

(4) "Certificate holder" means the individual to whom a certificate is issued.

(5) "CEU" means continuing education unit that is a nationally recognized unit of measurement similar to college credit. One CEU is awarded for every ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.

(6) "College credits" means credits earned toward a college degree or in course work that is relevant to the operation of a wastewater treatment plant. College credit also means CEUs. Forty-five CEUs equals forty-five quarter credits equals thirty semester credits.

(7) "Department" means the Washington state department of ecology.

(8) "Director" means the director of the department of ecology or the director's designee.

(9) "Extended aeration" means a modification of the activated sludge process that uses long aeration periods and long mean cell residence times for aerobic digestion of the biological mass by endogenous respiration and promotes the growth of nitrifying organisms.

(10) "GED" means a General Education Development certificate issued by a recognized education institution. A GED is equivalent to a high school diploma.

(11) "Group" and "class" for the purpose of operator certification and wastewater treatment plant classification are the same.

(12) "Lagoon" means any large holding or detention pond, usually with earthen dikes that is used to contain wastewater while sedimentation and biological stabilization occurs.

(13) "OIT" means operator-in-training. This is the entry level certification classification offered by the department.

(14) "Operating experience" means the routine performance of duties, on-site in a wastewater treatment plant, that affect plant performance or effluent quality.

(15) "Operator" means an individual who performs routine duties, on-site at a wastewater treatment plant, that affect plant performance or effluent quality.

(16) "Operator in charge of each shift" means the individual on-site at a wastewater treatment plant whose primary responsibility is to operate the wastewater treatment plant on a regularly run shift. The operator in charge of each shift is subordinate to the operator in responsible charge.

(17) "Operator in responsible charge" means the individual who is routinely on-site and in direct charge of the overall operation of a wastewater treatment plant.

(18) "Owner" means in the case of:

• A town or city, the city or town acting through its chief executive officer or the lessee if operated under a lease or contract;

• A county, the chairman of the county legislative authority or the chairman's designee;

• A sewer district, board of public utilities, association, municipality or other public body, the president or chairman of the body or the president's or chairman's designee;

• A privately owned wastewater treatment plant, the legal owner.

(19) "Primary wastewater treatment" means unit processes consisting of one or more of the following: Screening, comminution and grinding, flotation, precipitation, sludge pumping, and disinfection. Treatment consists of clarification followed by removal, treatment, and disposal of sludge.

(20) "Reciprocity" means the exchange of a valid out-of-state wastewater treatment plant operator's certificate achieved by passing a written examination for an equivalent level of certification without further examination.

(21) "Tertiary" means advanced physical/chemical or biological treatment of wastewater significantly beyond the conventional secondary stage to remove additional suspended and dissolved substances. These substances may include phosphorus and nitrogen, a high percentage of suspended solids, dissolved inorganic solids, toxic compounds, microorganisms, and complex organic compounds.

(22) "Wastewater certification program coordinator" means an employee of the department who is appointed by the director and who administers the wastewater treatment plant operator certification program.

(23) "Wastewater collection system" means any system of lines, pipes, manholes, pumps, liftstations, or other facilities used to collect and transport wastewater.

(24) "Wastewater treatment plant" means a facility used to treat any liquid or waterborne waste of domestic origin or a combination of domestic, commercial or industrial origin, and that, by its design, requires the presence of an operator for its operation. It does not include any facility used exclusively by a single family residence, septic tanks with subsoil absorption, industrial wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems.

(25) "Wetlands treatment" means those wetlands intentionally constructed and managed for the primary purpose of wastewater treatment.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95B RCW. WSR 99-24-117 (Order 98-18), § 173-230-020, filed 12/1/99, effective 1/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.95B.040. WSR 87-22-006 (Order 87-36), § 173-230-020, filed 10/23/87. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95B RCW. WSR 82-09-056 (Order DE 82-07), § 173-230-020, filed 4/16/82. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.95B.040. WSR 78-11-016 (Order DE 78-16), § 173-230-020, filed 10/11/78; Order 73-30, § 173-230-020, filed 11/9/73.]

Chapter 70.95B RCW. WSR 99-24-117 (Order 98-18), § 173-230-020, filed 12/1/99, effective 1/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.95B.040. WSR 87-22-006 (Order 87-36), § 173-230-020, filed 10/23/87. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95B RCW. WSR 82-09-056 (Order DE 82-07), § 173-230-020, filed 4/16/82. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.95B.040. WSR 78-11-016 (Order DE 78-16), § 173-230-020, filed 10/11/78; Order 73-30, § 173-230-020, filed 11/9/73.