North Carolina Wastewater Collection System Operator Certification
Grading by System Size
North Carolina wastewater collection system operators are certified under 15A NCAC 08G (.0303) as Grade I through Grade IV, with the grade determined by the population or flow served by the system:
- Grade I — systems serving 1,500 people or fewer.
- Grade II — 1,501 to 15,000.
- Grade III — 15,001 to 50,000.
- Grade IV — 50,001 and above.
Certification renews annually, administered by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission (G.S. 143B-300).
Core Operational Responsibilities
Collection system operators are responsible for gravity sewer and force main maintenance, lift/pump station operation, sewer cleaning (jetting/rodding) and CCTV inspection, manhole rehabilitation, and — critically — inflow and infiltration (I&I) reduction and sanitary s