Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-65-6. Certification of public water supply transmission and distribution system operators

It is unlawful for any community or non-community non-transient public water supply transmission and distribution system to distribute water for human consumption unless the operation of the system is under the supervision of a superintendent or assistant superintendent who is assigned direct responsibility for the management, operation, and maintenance of the transmission and distribution system during all working shifts of the system and who shall hold a certificate, equal to the grade or classification of the transmission and distribution system, as established by the rules and regulations of the board. In addition, each person in responsible charge of any field operations of a public community or non-community non-transient water supply transmission and distribution system must hold a certificate one grade lower than the grade of the transmission and distribution system, as established by this chapter. All persons employed to work as an operator at a transmission and distribution system must be certified to at least the lowest grade of transmission and distribution certification granted by the board within a year of hire. Violation of this section shall be 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.