(415 ILCS 45/18) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 518)

Sec. 18. The Water Supply Operator Certificate shall certify the competency of the applicant within the class of certificate issued, and shall show the full name of the applicant and be signed by the Director.

(a) Certificates shall be issued for a period of 3 years, with the expiration date being three years from the first day of July of the calendar year in which the certificate is issued.

(b) Every 3 years, on or before the July 1 expiration, a certified community water supply operator shall renew his or her certificate of competency and pay the required renewal fee. A grace period for renewal will be granted until August 1 of that year before the restoration fee is assessed as provided in Section 22 of this Act.

(c) A certified water supply operator may renew his or her certificate every 3 years upon a showing, prior to certificate renewal, that:

(1) in the case of a Class "A" or Class "B" operator, he or she has completed a minimum of 30 hours of training as determined by the Agency for certificate renewal during the period of 3 years; or

(2) in the case of a Class "C" or Class "D" operator, he or she has completed a minimum of 15 hours of training as determined by the Agency for certificate renewal during the period of 3 years.

(d) An individual whose certificate of competency has been expired for less than 2 years may have his or her certificate restored only upon payment of the required restoration fee and upon a showing that the individual has completed the required training. An individual whose certificate has been expired for more than 2 years may reapply for certification as a water supply operator.

(e) Any certified Community Water Supply Operator whose certificate of competency has expired while the operator was engaged in Federal Service on Active Duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, including United States Merchant Marines, or in training or education under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction into the military service, may have his or her certificate of competency restored without paying any lapsed renewal fee or restoration fee or passing any additional examination if, within one year after termination of such service, training, or education, other than by dishonorable discharge, the operator furnishes the Agency with an affidavit to the effect that the operator was so engaged and that his or her service, training, or education was so terminated.

(Source: P.A. 91-84, eff. 7-9-99.)