The Board of Operator Certification has passed regulations that will allow for water and wastewater systems to achieve compliance with the Certification Law by contracting with an operator that is not a direct employee of the system. The Board must approve all contracts that are intended to achieve compliance for certification. The Board must have an actual copy of your contract for the approval. The contract must address seven areas as described on the attached sheet.

The premise of a contract operator is that he must be in direct charge of your water/wastewater system; however, he can have other people work under his supervision.  He does not necessarily have to perform every day-to-day operating task including sampling.  One of the key areas to be examined by the Board for its approval is the number of on-site visits per week to the water/wastewater system and the duration of these. Please note that this is NOT a contract to sample a water/wastewater system—It is a contract to run and be in direct responsible charge of all matters pertaining to the system.

 The Board usually meets twice per year during September and March. Contracts must be submitted to the Board's Secretary at least 30 days before a Board meeting. The Secretary will put your contract approval on the agenda and send a confirmation notice to the contracting parties. You are entitled to appear before the Board if you so desire.

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF OPERATOR CERTIFICATION

Your contract for the operation of your water/wastewater system must contain information covering seven different areas as described below:

Section 1-Parties Involved  The following are required:

1. Name and address of contract operator

2. Certificates held by contract operator

3. Water/wastewater system name and address

Section 2-Description of the System A brief description of your water and/or wastewater system is needed. Indicate the number of service connections, the type of treatment present, your water source, etc.

Section 3-Purpose of the Contract  The reason why the contract is needed such as to fulfill a lacking certification.

Section 4-Duties of the Contract Operator 

A list of possible duties for a water operator is as follows:

1. Collect and submit all water system samples

2. Exercise all hydrants and valves on a regular basis

3. Maintain and test all customer meters on a regular basis

4. Answer customer complaints on water quality/quantity issues

5. Take chlorine residual measurements and maintain a chlorine level of at least 0.3 mg/l in all areas of the distribution system

6. Take fluoride level measurements and maintain a fluoride level of at least 1.2 mg/l in all areas of the distribution system

7. Be on-site for all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) inspections

8. Keep operational, maintenance, and administrative records of all water system activities

9. Maintain efficient system operation and maintenance (on-going and preventative)

10. Develop budget for water system

11. Provide good safe working environment

12. Analyze operational data to determine changes and improvements for more efficient operation

13. Establish operator training program

14. Be available at all times for emergency situations

15. Supervise contractee's system personnel and their work activities

16. Shall be on-site at least _____ days per week and at least ____ hours per week

17. Shall maintain a valid operator certificate while this contract is in effect

 A list of possible of duties for a wastewater operator is as follows:

1. Operate and maintain wastewater system

2. Exercise all hydrants and valves on regular schedule

3. Discharge in accordance with NPDES Permit on regular basis 

4. Sample all discharges including by-passes

5. Keep operational, maintenance, and administrative records of all wastewater system activities

6. Be available at all times for emergency situations

7. Supervise system personnel and their work activities

8. Maintain efficient system operation and maintenance (on-going and preventative)

9. Develop budget for wastewater system

10. Provide good safe working environment

11. Analyze operational data to determine changes and improvements for more efficient operation

12. Establish operator training program

13. Shall be on-site at least ___ days per week and at least ___ hours per week

14. Shall maintain a valid operator certificate while this contract is in effect

15. Be on-site for all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) inspections

The job duties section should also include a statement such as “Contractor will be in direct responsible charge of all operations and maintenance of the water/wastewater system”.

Section 5-Payment Amount

Section 6-Dates  The start and end date for the contract are needed.  The Board will not approve any contracts lasting more than five years.

Section 7-Signatures of all Parties Involved