A Limited System Certificate is generally issued to operators of:
- Major residential water systems which are not owned by a municipality
- Small residential water supplies which are owned by a municipality and use groundwater
- Large non-residential systems which serve a designated facility
- Systems where a Public Health Inspector has determined that a Limited System Operator is required. This includes systems such as campgrounds, resorts, restaurants which supply their own drinking water and are regulated under O. Reg. 319/08 (Small Drinking Water Systems Regulation).
To become a Limited System Operator, you need to:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
- Pass either a Limited System Surface Water Certificate exam (if the source of your water is either surface water or groundwater under the influence of surface water/GUDI) or a Limited System Groundwater Certificate exam (if the source of your water is groundwater)
Successfully complete the Operation of Small Drinking Water Systems course, available through the Walkerton Clean Water Centre. To learn more about this course and to register, visit the Walkerton Clean Water Centre website. - Apply for your certificate
- Pay all applicable fees.
See the forms and information below for more information on how to apply and the steps to becoming a limited system operator.
Note to drinking water operators with Class 1-4 Certificates:
If you have a Class 1-4 Water Treatment Certificate, you can operate both a surface or groundwater limited system. Operators with a Class 1-4 Water Distribution and Supply Certificate can only operate a groundwater limited system.
Forms
- Limited Surface Water Exam Registration (Form 1858)
- Limited Subsystem Certificate Application Form (Form 1856) (Groundwater and Surface Water)
Information
- Guideline No. 3.2: Limited System Director Approved Course of Study
- Fact Sheet: Steps to Become a Limited System Operator
Visit the drinking water operators section of our online resource library for a complete collection of resources.
If you have questions, contact the Ontario Water and Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO) at 416-231-2100, or toll-free at 1-877-231-2122. You can also send an email to info@owwco.ca.
