Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-65-5. Certification of public water supply treatment operators

It is unlawful for any public water supply system using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water as determined by the director, or any community or non-community non-transient water supply to supply water for human consumption unless the treatment of the water is under the supervision of a superintendent or assistant superintendent who is assigned direct responsibility for the management, operation, and maintenance of the water supply treatment facility during all working shifts at the facility and who shall hold a certificate equal to the grade or classification of the water supply treatment facility, as established by this chapter. In addition, each operator in charge of a shift at a public water supply system using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water as determined by the director, or any community or non-community non-transient water supply must hold a certificate no less than one grade below the classification of the treatment facility. All persons employed to work as an operator at a water treatment facility must be certified to at least the lowest grade of treatment plant operation certification within a year of hire. Violation of this section is considered a violation of the public drinking water supply under chapter 13 of title 46 and water systems shall be subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions of § 46-13-16.