General information and rules

Applicable laws and rules

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) certifies Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and provides certification under section Part 41 of Public Act 451, as amended, and the Sewerage System Administrative Rules. 

General information

Municipal wastewater certification examinations are offered twice a year, usually in May and November. Certification is offered for Class A, B, C, D, L1, L2, and SC, and these classifications are outlined below.

Treatment facilities are classified by population, but may be moved to a higher classification by the department using the following criteria: (1) use of special design features, (2) characteristics more difficult to operate than usual, (3) difficult sewage composition, 4) particular stream conditions, or a combination of multiple of these factors.

• Class A - treatment facility serving or designed to serve a population of 50,000 or more
• Class B - treatment facility serving or designed to serve a population of 10,000 to 50,000
• Class C - treatment facility serving or designed to serve a population of 2,000 to 10,000
• Class D - treatment facility serving or designed to serve a population less than 2,000
• Class L2 - treatment facility utilizing waste stabilization lagoon process, which includes aeration,
•  chemical precipitation, disinfection, or other factors
• Class L1 -  treatment facility utilizing waste stabilization lagoon process, which does not include aeration, chemical precipitation, disinfection, or other factors
• Class SC - special classification; treatment facilities that require minimal operation and control, and serve a population of less than 1,000. Examples include, but are not limited to: septic tank and tile fields, and recirculating sand filters.

Replacement certification requests must be submitted to the EGLE WRD Operator Certification Unit and should include the operator’s full name and all requested certification numbers