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Source Water & Preliminary TreatmentIntermediate 12 min read

New York Drinking Water Treatment: Program Structure and Source Water Challenges

Overview of NYSDOH's Water Treatment operator certification ladder (Grade D through IA) and the source-water challenges distinctive to New York, from NYC's unfiltered supply to Long Island's sole-source aquifer.

New York Water Treatment Operator Certification
Drinking water treatment operators in New York are certified by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Bureau of Water Supply Protection, under 10 NYCRR Subpart 5-4. The grade ladder runs from entry-level Grade D through Grade C, IIB, IIA, IB, up to the highest level, Grade IA, with certification requirements based on treatment complexity and system size. Certificates must be renewed under the recertification rules in Section 5-48, which require documented continuing education.
Source Water in New York
New York's drinking water systems draw from three very different source-water pictures, and operators should understand which applies to their facility:
  • NYC's unfiltered surface supply. The Catskill/Delaware system is one of the largest unfiltered surface water supplies in the United States. Rath

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