Is the Small Treated Course right for you?

Operators of all small treated water systems must be certified. Regulations define small treated systems as those that:

•  Are community or non-transient non-community public water systems; and
•  Serve less than 500 people per day; and
•  Serve less than 100 service connections per day; and
•  Add one chemical to the water; and
•  May perform some form of passive treatment such as cartridge filtration or softening (not including reverse osmosis filters).

Transient non-community public water systems that use surface water as a source are also considered small treated systems as long as they serve less than 500 people and less than 100 service connections.

Systems that add more than one chemical or that practice some form of complicated treatment, such as reverse osmosis or chemically aided filtration, are not small treated systems.

Passing the course does not mean that you're certified. You must pass a certification exam to become certified. The education prerequisite for the small treated exam is completion of high school or GED. The experience prerequisite for the small treated exam is six months of experience operating a small treated system OR completion of an approved course. The online Small Treated Course is an approved course.

You should take the Small treated Course if:

•  You wish to prepare for the small treated certification exam.
•  You wish to take the small treated certification exam but don't have experience running a small treated system.
•  You wish to gain understanding of what it takes to run a small treated system.
•  You wish to earn continuing education (CEUs) to renew your certificate.

We recommend that you Contact DEC to find out if you are required to be a certified small treated operator.

Taking the certification exam

You must Contact DEC to sign up for the certification exam. The certification exam is separate from the online Small Treated Course.