这篇文章描述了俄勒冈州为非常小的水系统操作员建立认证计划所做的努力。运营商认证在俄勒冈州有着悠久的历史，针对大型公共供水系统运营商的项目的优点得到了认可。然而，尽管进行了几次尝试，但非常小的公共供水系统的运营商尚未获得认证。俄勒冈州三分之二的社区供水系统，以及几乎所有非临时性非社区供水系统，都免于法规认证。 2001年俄勒冈州立法机构正在辩论一项法案，该法案旨在终止这种豁免，并为这些非常小的系统建立和实施一个可行的认证计划。该法案得到了代表小型系统的组织的支持，这些组织此前反对制定认证要求。受监管社区的支持不仅对该法案的通过至关重要，而且在该法案通过成为法律后，该计划的设计和实施也至关重要。 成功认证俄勒冈州小型供水系统的运营商是一项巨大的挑战。900个社区和非社区供水系统的运营商将首次获得认证，其中大多数运营商都是兼职或无偿志愿者。这些供水系统中有许多是其供水设施的商业用途附带的。经营者流动频繁。操作员可能无法投入大量时间或长途旅行来参加培训。 最后，《联邦安全饮用水法案》设定了明确的截止日期，各州必须在截止日期之前证明遵守了美国环境保护局制定的运营商认证指南。未能建立和实施符合这些准则的运营商认证计划，将危及该州每年20%的州循环基金拨款；在俄勒冈州，这相当于每年200万美元。包括数字。

This article describes efforts in Oregon to establish a certification program for operators of very small water systems. Operator certification has a lengthy history in Oregon, and the merits of the program for operators of larger public water systems are recognized. However, certification for operators of very small public water systems has not yet been established, despite several attempts. Two-thirds of the community water systems in Oregon are exempt from certification by statute, along with almost all of the nontransient noncommunity water systems. A bill to end this exemption, and establish and implement a workable certification program for these very small systems, is now under debate in the 2001 Oregon Legislature. The bill is supported by organizations representing small systems that previously opposed efforts to establish requirements for certification. The support of the regulated community is not only crucial to getting this bill passed, but is also vital as the program is designed and implemented following passage of the bill into law. The task of successfully certifying operators of very small water systems in Oregon is a huge challenge. Operators of 900 community and noncommunity water systems will be certified for the first time, and most of these operators work part-time or as unpaid volunteers. Many of these water systems are incidental to the business purpose of the facility to which they provide water supply. Turnover of operators is frequent. Operators will likely be unable to devote much time or travel long distances to participate in training. Finally, the federal Safe Drinking Water Act set firm deadlines by which states must demonstrate compliance with operator certification guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Failure to establish and implement an operator certification program meeting those guidelines jeopardizes 20% of that state's annual allocation of State Revolving Fund; in Oregon that amounts to $2M per year. Includes figures.