Alabama Water Treatment Operator Certification
Alabama's water treatment plant certification is administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) under Admin Code Division 335-10, Chapter 335-10-1. Unlike most states, Alabama's drinking-water ladder does not start at Grade I — it starts at Grade II.
The Grade Structure
| Grade | Plant Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| II | Basic groundwater treatment plant | All |
| III | Advanced groundwater treatment plant | All |
| IV | Surface water treatment plant (or groundwater under direct surface influence) | All — regardless of flow |
Basic groundwater treatment (Grade II) covers corrosion control, disinfection, pressure filtration, and fluoridation for water drawn from a well or spring.
Advanced groundwater treatment (Grade III) covers groundwater plants using more technically sophistic