Water work card
The water work card ensures that people working with commercial and swimming pool water have sufficient knowledge of and competence in water-related hygiene and plant engineering. People working at water abstraction plants, water supply plants and swimming pools in tasks where they affect water quality must have a water work card.
The water work card is granted after an approved water work card test. There are separate tests for commercial and swimming pool water work cards. If a person is working in a task that affects the quality of both commercial and swimming pool water, they must have the commercial water work card and swimming pool water work card.
The water work card test tests participants’ knowledge of matters such as water microbiology, cleaning techniques and water quality legislation. More detailed competence requirements are described in the Decrees of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 1350 and 1351/2006.
Water work card tests are organised by testers approved by Valvira. The water work card is valid for five years from the day the test was successfully completed. The test must be taken again after five years.
Testers
Water work card testers are approved by Valvira. A tester must have formal competence in accordance with the Health Protection Act, as well as knowledge and experience of plant engineering and household water and swimming pool water hygiene. Testers are independent operators supervised by Valvira.
Valvira keeps a contact list of the testers. The lists are found at the end of this page.
In addition to water work card testing, testers can provide training. However, Valvira is not responsible for the training provided by the testers.
You can apply to become a tester by filling in our electronic application or by submitting a free-form application with the required attachments to Valvira’s registry office. Read more about becoming a tester in Valvira’s guideline. You will find the guideline at the end of this page.
Frequently asked questions about the water work card
The household water work card is required for people who work in a water supply plant that supplies household water for the use of more than 50 people, or where the household water supply is more than ten cubic metres per day, and whose tasks include procedures affecting the quality of household water. Procedures affecting the quality of household water refers to tasks such as installation, service, adjustment and maintenance of water-processing equipment, handling household water chemicals and on-call work. The procedures can be related to the water supply network, water supply plant, or water abstraction plant. It is recommended that people working in tasks that affect the quality of drinking water in smaller plants also take the competence test.
The swimming pool water work card is required for people who work at a swimming pool, spa or similar facility, and whose tasks include procedures affecting the quality of swimming pool water. Procedures affecting the quality of swimming pool water refers to tasks such as the installation, service, adjustment and maintenance of water processing equipment. Procedures affecting the quality of water also include handling swimming pool water chemicals in a swimming pool or spa.
For more information, read Valvira’s guideline “Completing the competence test for household water or swimming pool water hygiene” (in Finnish). You will find the guideline at the end of this page.
Valvira’s approved water work card testers organise testing events across Finland. Valvira does not organise testing events.
For more information about schedules, registration and other practical matters related to water work card tests, please contact the water work card tester. Contact details of household water and swimming pool water testers are found in the lists maintained by Valvira. The lists are found at the end of this page.
The test is completed electronically in Valvira’s OSTI competence testing system under the supervision of a tester. You log into the system with your suomi.fi credentials. The test consists of 30 multiple choice questions, and you need to answer 22 questions correctly to pass the test. You have one hour to complete the test.
In the household water work card test, you can choose a test focusing on either water supply plants or water supply networks, or you can complete both tests if you wish.
Valvira is responsible for the competence test questions and the testing system. You can choose whether you wish to complete the test in Finnish or Swedish. The test language can be changed in the testing system.
If special arrangements are needed for the test, they are agreed separately. Special arrangements are possible due to dyslexia, for example.
The water work card costs 15 euros (VAT 0%). The fee is charged if the card is granted, i.e. the test is passed.
In addition, the tester has the right to charge for the costs of arranging the testing event. For more information about the price of a testing event, please contact the water work card tester.