Background:
The Expert Panel providing recommendations to the State Board on the Surface Water Augmentation Regulations and the feasibility of direct potable reuse (DPR), the Advisory Group which advises the Expert Panel in DPR issues and the State Water Resources Control Board-Division of Drinking Water (DDW) have identified operator certification as a major issue for consideration in ensuring that potable reuse projects are reliably operated. At this time, DDW does not have adequate staffing with which to begin developing a new operator certification program for advanced treatment systems, and there remain some critical outstanding policy issues about the nature of a new or revised certification for potable reuse since this includes advanced technologies and crosses into treatment for both water supply and wastewater.
WateReuse California (WRCA) and the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) are developing a white paper that will identify key components for consideration for a revised or new operator certification program for advanced purified recycled water for potable reuse. Collaborative partners such as the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) will provide input as they will likely be involved in the implementation of a program as it moves forward. As part of this effort, WRCA is interviewing operators at existing potable reuse facilities to better assess what unique operational issues they face and what range of knowledge is needed for operation of indirect potable reuse (IPR) and DPR facilities.
Currently, operators of agencies producing advanced purified recycled water are mostly certified wastewater treatment operators (Grade V). As the state of California seeks to expand potable reuse for IPR for groundwater, surface water augmentation and eventually DPR, additional certification requirements may be needed to help ensure public safety and public confidence in the process.