It is important that small wastewater treatment plants function as intended and thus satisfy regulatory requirements limiting pollution discharge and other adverse environmental emissions. The Norwegian Pollution Control Act stipulates that small wastewater treatment plants must be operated and maintained (serviced) in accordance with a written agreement (Section 12-13), and that entering into this service agreement with a supplier or other expert business is a prerequisite for sufficient functionality of the treatment plant (Appendix 2, Section 2.3 in Chapter 11). Until now, service personnel could not directly document their competence. Therefore, SINTEF has worked over the last two years to establish a personal certification scheme for the operation and maintenance of small wastewater treatment plants, available from May 2022.

The purpose of this certification is to provide persons servicing small wastewater treatment plants with documentation of their relevant and up-to-date competence. The personal certificate will indicate the products for which the certificate holder has acquired competence.

 

Applicants do not need to attach examination results to the application. The course organizer directly provides SINTEF lists of all candidates who have participated in the course and the candidates’ examination results.

SINTEF will send the application form and certification agreement to candidates who have passed the examination. The applicant shall send application and associated documents to minirenseanlegg@sintef.no. Mark the title field with "Application for personal certification small wastewater treatment plant".

Product-specific training shall be offered by the supplier of the relevant small sewage treatment plant in the Norwegian market, or its representative, and shall be documented using a self-confirmation form. Requirements for the product-specific training and how the training is to be documented can be found here.  

 

The documentation basis for the product-specific training scheme shall be in accordance with the requirements set for product-specific training in the guideline for SINTEF Technical Approval for small wastewater treatment plants. The documentation basis  must be approved by an independent third party with relevant expertise. If the assessment has been carried out by another independent third party than SINTEF, the relevant control report must be sent to SINTEF for approval. For product types covered by a SINTEF Technical Approval, the approval of the documentation basis is part of the Technical Approval. 

 

Maintenance of the certificate

 

The certificate is valid for five years, provided that the holder submits a mid-term report as specified above.

SINTEF Certification will notify the certificate holder before the reporting is due. The certificate can be renewed after five years if the holder wishes. SINTEF offers renewal to the holder by e-mail approximately 6 to 12 months before the certificate expires.

 

At the first renewal after 5 years, a refresher of product-specific training and documentation is required. This requirement applies to every other certification period (i.e., after 5 years from the first issue, after 15 years, after 25 years, etc.). Upon renewal 10 years after the first issue, there is a requirement to re-complete the course and pass the examination. This requirement applies to every other certification period (i.e., 10 years after the first issue, after 20 years, after 30 years, etc.).

 

See documentation requirements for maintaining and renewing certification in the table below.

 

 

Extension of certification scope

The holder may at any time during the certification period apply for an extension of the scope of certification. This is done by filling in the application form and submitting the necessary product-specific documentation for the relevant products.

 

Mutual termination of the certificate can only be done at turn of the year and shall be notified in writing before December 1st. Withdrawal of the certificate can be done at any time if the annual fee is not paid in due time, if it is documented that the holder does not hold the necessary competence for service of small sewage treatment plants, if the personal certificate is misused (for instance, if the holder of the certificate claims product-specific competence not covered by the certificate), if activity reports are not submitted at due time, or if changes in contact information or invoice address are not reported to SINTEF Certification. Any fees paid by the holder will not be repaid by withdrawal.

 

 

Certificates that have expired or been terminated or withdrawn can be restored under the following conditions:

 

• If application is received less than 12 months after expiry/termination/withdrawal date: Restoration can be done without new exam, provided any missing mid-term reporting have been submitted.
• If application is received 12 to 30 months after expiry/termination/withdrawal date: Restoration  can be done after attending and passing exam of an update course. In addition, any missing mid-term reporting have to be submitted.
• If application is received more than 30 months after expiry/termination/withdrawal date: Restoration  can only be done after attending and passing exam of complete course (minimum 15 hours).

Course and exam

SINTEF has entered into a collaboration agreement with Norsk Vann, which, through a course collaboration between NMBU, NIBIO and Norsk Vann, offers the course Service of small treatment plants - basis for personal certification. With the accompanying exam, this course forms the basis for personal certification. More information about courses and exams can be found on the course organizer's website.

Norsk Vann BA