Section 465.310  Personnel Requirements

a)         The laboratory supervisor shall be a person holding a minimum of a bachelor's degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or related natural or physical science field, shall have completed a training course conducted or approved by the Department, and shall have received Department approval to serve as laboratory supervisor.  In addition, the laboratory supervisor shall have had a minimum of 80 hours of on-the-job training in water microbiology at a certified laboratory. The supervisor shall demonstrate the ability to properly perform representative test procedures under his or her supervision while under observation by the certification officer.  A laboratory supervisor shall be a full-time employee who is on-site at the certified laboratory. If the laboratory supervisor position becomes vacant, then a replacement supervisor shall be in place within 60 days.

b)         An analyst is a person who performs microbiological analyses on water, has a minimum of a high school diploma in academic or laboratory oriented vocational courses, and has had a minimum of three months bench experience in a microbiological analytical laboratory.  The analyst shall have a minimum of 30 days of on-the-job training in drinking water microbiology under an experienced analyst. In addition, an analyst shall demonstrate ability to properly perform representative test procedures with which he or she is involved while under observation of the certification officer.  Analysts shall be under the direct supervision of the laboratory supervisor.  Before analyzing compliance samples, the analyst shall demonstrate acceptable results on samples spiked with known culture controls.

c)         The Department may waive the need for the academic training required by this Section, on a case-by-case basis, for highly experienced analysts. The Department may also waive the need for the above-specified training, on a case-by-case basis, for supervisors of laboratories that analyze only samples from drinking water systems with which the laboratory is associated. If a waiver for supervisor is granted, the Department will prepare a written and signed justification for the waiver.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 14494, effective August 12, 2011)