These public water systems include private firms and the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.
Designated operators have to complete 30 continuing education units to secure a three-year certification.
DEQ holds training every year to educate drinking water operators and give them the opportunity to earn 10 credits for certification.
Joe Kaipat, DEQ’s safe water program manager, said major hotels and some water vendors sent representatives to the training.
These included the Hyatt Regency Saipan, the Saipan World Resort, the Pacific Islands Club, the Saipan Grand Hotel, the Aqua Resort Club, the Marianas Country Club, Saipan Ice & Water, the Japan Water System, American Memorial Park and CUC.
Drinking water operators are issued certifications on different levels depending on the size and type of the system they utilize and the size of the population they serve.
Kaipat said most systems on the island are Level 2 certified.
CUC has a Level 3 certification.
The computer-based system that were presented yesterday, Kaipat said, is now used by DEQ in testing water operators and is based on the standards set by the American Board of Certification.
The newly certified operators were also briefed about the sampling procedures on total coliform regulations, and they learned about inconsistencies in sample collection.
In the past there were operators who made some lapses in submitting samples.
