(1) There is hereby created the water and wastewater facility operators certification board, which constitutes a section of the division of administration of the department and consists of the following ten members:

(a) A certified water treatment or domestic wastewater treatment facility operator with the highest level of certification available in Colorado;

(b) A certified industrial wastewater treatment facility operator or other representative of a private entity that operates an industrial wastewater treatment facility;

(c) A city manager, manager of a special district, or utility manager in a city, county, or city and county that operates a domestic water or wastewater treatment facility;

(d) A representative of the department of public health and environment, who shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member;

(e) A certified water distribution or wastewater collection system operator with the highest level of certification available in Colorado;

(f) A representative of water or wastewater facilities serving rural areas; and

(g) Four members appointed to achieve geographical representation and to reflect the various interests in the water and wastewater facility certification program. At least one of such members shall reside west of the continental divide, and at least one shall reside in the rural portion of the eastern plains of Colorado.

(2) All members of the board shall be appointed by the governor. At least four of the voting members of the board shall be certified water or wastewater facility operators, including representatives of both the water and wastewater industries.

(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (3), appointments are for terms of four years.

(b) The board shall be reconstituted as of July 1, 2004. The governor shall make initial appointments or reappointments to the reconstituted board so that two voting members' terms expire in 2005, two voting members' terms expire in 2006, two voting members' terms expire in 2007, and three voting members' terms expire in 2008.

(4) This article is repealed, effective September 1, 2020. Prior to the repeal, the water and wastewater facility operators certification board shall be reviewed as provided for in section 24-34-104, C.R.S.