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