Collection System RegulationsIntermediate 25 min read

Collection System Regulations: Process Control Basics

How Colorado classifies wastewater collection systems into Class 1–4, what the exam and certificate process actually involves, and the specific continuing education requirements collection operators must meet to stay certified.

A collection system doesn't get to pick its own operator classification — the system is classified first, using a specific set of criteria in Regulation 100, and that classification then dictates the minimum certificate any operator in responsible charge must hold. Understanding exactly how that classification works — and exactly what it takes to earn, keep, and renew your own certificate — is core Class 2 exam material, and it's the subject of this guide.

How a Collection System Gets Classified

Regulation 100 (5 CCR 1003-2, Section 100.9, "Wastewater Collection System Classification") uses a two-step process to assign a system to Class 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Step 1 — Population served. The baseline classification is set by the population the collection system serves:

| Class | Population Served | |---|---| | Class 1 | 3,300 or less | | Class 2 | 3,301 – 25,000 | | Class 3 | 25,

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