SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Further Education and Training Certificate: Water Purification Processes

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
48910	Further Education and Training Certificate: Water Purification Processes
ORIGINATOR
SGB Water Sector
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
EWSETA - Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Further Ed and Training Cert	Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction		Civil Engineering Construction
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	160	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Regular-Unit Stds Based
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 9999/99	2018-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30		2029-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The National Certificate in Water Purification Process Control will prepare learners to function independently and in a supervisory capacity on a water purification plant. Qualifying learners are able to:

Supervise teams of people;

Manage conflict within the workplace;

Supervise health and safety practices in the workplace;

Plan, organise and supervise processes at a water purification plant;

Manage stock and fixed assets at the workplace; and

Complete administrative tasks and reports.

This Qualification forms the foundation for advancement to management or tertiary Qualifications and will also lay the foundation for future career advancement across similar trades. For those who have been in the workplace for a long time, this Qualification can be used in the recognition of prior learning to recognise workplace skills acquired without the benefit of formal education and training.

This Qualification has been developed to assist with standardisation in water purification operations. The individual will have the capacity to advance and gain skills and self-respect, as the qualified learner will be able to work in a professional manner, to ensure that industry standards are maintained in a range of water purification contexts.

Rationale of the Qualification

This Qualification reflects the workplace-based needs of water purification process controllers working in the water sector that is expressed by employers and employees, both now and for the future. This Qualification is intended for a supervisor and will include supervising operators on a water purification plant. Once having gained this competence, learners may choose to develop further management competences or specialise in water specific Qualifications.

Many water purification process operators and controllers have no formal Qualification in water purification yet they are required to perform the job. This Qualification provides the learner with a career path and progression from water purification process operations to water purification process control. The prospective candidate for this Qualification may be a person who is entering the work place or a person who has been working on a water purification plant with limited formal water purification supervisory competence.

The Qualification gives accessibility and flexibility to the new entrant and to the employed. The level of flexibility reflects the multiple job roles, organisational requirements and changing technological nature of the industry and at the same time it allows the individual to work towards a nationally recognised Qualification. This will enable learners to pursue different careers within the water sector, enhance productivity and employability within the water sector and contribute towards the ecological sustainability and improvement of the water environment.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

A knowledge, comprehension and application of language and mathematics at NQF level 3. Candidates will be required to demonstrate competence in all the core Unit Standards described in the National Certificate For Water Purification Process Operations at NQF level 2. These may also be achieved through RPL.

Recognition of prior learning

This Qualification may be achieved in part or completely through the recognition of prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. Any learner wishing to be directly assessed may arrange to do so, without attending further training or education. The assessor and learner will decide together on the most appropriate assessment route to be taken.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

Fundamental total: 68 credits
Core total: 80 credits
Elective credits: minimum of 12 credits

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Qualifying learners can:

1. Monitor the application of relevant health and safety legislation.
2. Demonstrate supervisory skills in the workplace.
3. Monitor and co-ordinate the water treatment process.
4. Plan and prioritise tasks and maintain records.
5. Implement and co-ordinate operation and maintenance tasks.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Personal safety practices are monitored in a water purification environment in accordance with standard operating procedures and safety requirements.

Relevant sections of the occupational health & safety legislation are interpreted and explained.

Personal health, hygiene and presentation is monitored in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act,

Good housekeeping is maintained in accordance with legislation and work policies and procedures

2.

Interaction with staff, work colleagues, customers and management is appropriate

The development of staff is monitored within own scope of responsibility

Staff are supervised to achieve work objectives

Conflict is managed within own scope of responsibility

3.

Relevant laboratory tests are conducted, results are analysed and appropriate actions are implemented based on the results

Water science principles are applied to the chemical process in water treatment

Compliance with SABS241 (latest version) of treated water is monitored

The efficiency of the plant is optimised based on test results and available information

Routine production, maintenance and other tasks are co-ordinated

Mechanical and electrical equipment and hydraulic control systems relevant to water purification are operated effectively

4.

Tasks are planned and co-ordinated in accordance with priorities and daily requirements

Development, action and year plans are explained and monitored

Ability to organise administrative tasks in priority order and to facilitate an efficient flow of documentation is demonstrated.

Accurate records of financial expenditure are maintained in accordance with work policies and procedures.

Authorisation is obtained for any modifications to agreed budgets during the accounting period

Technology is used appropriately to complete work tasks

5.

Staff are briefed on tasks and required resources are available

Stock levels and fixed assets are monitored and stock levels are maintained

Operation and maintenance tasks are supervised in accordance with legislation and work policies and procedures

Provide feedback regularly to relevant role players.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment at the level of Qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show that they are able to integrate concepts, ideas and actions across Unit Standards to achieve competence that is grounded and coherent in relation to the purpose of the Qualification. Integrated assessment should show how already demonstrated competence in individual areas can be linked and applied for the achievement of a holistic outcome.

Integrated assessment must judge the quality of the observable performance, and also the quality of the thinking that lies behind it. Assessment tools must encourage learners to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpin their demonstrated performance. Some assessment practices will demand practical evidence while others may be more theoretical, depending on the type of outcomes to be assessed, and the nature and level of the Qualification. The ratio between action and interpretation is not fixed, but varies according to the demands of the Qualification.

While the generic component (literacy, communication and life skills) of this Qualification at NQF Level 4 can be assessed through occupational contexts and activities relating to water purification care must be taken in both the learning programme and the assessment to ensure that these foundational skills are truly portable. The primary aim of this Qualification is to ensure that learners have a sound base of general education to prepare them for further learning, whatever career path they may choose. Learners must be able to transfer generic skills such as language, computation and learning skills etc across a number of different contexts, and apply them within a number of learning areas.

A broad range of task-orientated and theoretical assessment tools may be used, with the distinction between practical knowledge and disciplinary knowledge maintained so that each takes its rightful place. Unit Standards in the Qualification must be used to assess specific and critical cross-field outcomes. During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and should assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflexive competencies.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

The core and elective components have been developed taking into account South Africa's unique context, but also looking at international best practice. Benchmarking was done against Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations from Australia. The Australian qualification has no fundamental unit standards. The core consists of two unit standards Health and Safety and Environmental Plans and Procedures. The South African qualification has an equivalent for Health and Safety but no equivalent for Environmental Plans. The Australian qualification has electives that cover all fields of water whereas the South African qualification is specific to water operators. Similarities were found in content, level and degree of complexity with the four unit standards that relate to water operators. The Australian qualification is at a slightly higher level and has a greater emphasis on management. Management will be accommodated at level five in the South African context. The fundamental components, reflecting foundational learning and generic skills and knowledge have been derived from registered, local adult education Unit Standards.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This Qualification has been developed for mobility across similar trades within the industry and is intended to allow for further learning towards management certificates or diplomas within this sector or other sectors on NQF level 5 or 6. This Qualification will provide articulation with a range of Qualifications in both technical and management areas.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner against these standards must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of these Unit Standards or will assess these Unit Standards must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.

Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant Qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.

Therefore anyone wishing to be assessed against this Qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA or by any other ETQA that has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:

A minimum of five years practical, relevant occupational experience.

Declared competent in all the outcomes of the generic assessor standard, and certificated by the relevant ETQA or by any other ETQA that has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Detailed documentary proof of educational Qualification, practical training undergone, and experience gained by the applicant must be provided (Portfolio of evidence).

Able to demonstrate competence in relation to these specified standards and Qualifications, at or above, the level of the Qualifications in question.

Meet any other additional requirements laid down by their constituent ETQA.

The subject matter experience of the assessor can be established by recognition of prior learning.
The status of registered assessors can be checked on the appropriate ETQA database or website.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

NOTES

A note on the compilation of standards in this qualification

In line with the SAQA principle of avoiding duplication, existing registered standards were used where possible.

UNIT STANDARDS:

	ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Core	115883	Calculate and control chemical dosing parameters	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Core	12058	Demonstrate knowledge and operation of mechanical and electrical sytems	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Core	115946	Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and application of potable water science	Level 4	NQF Level 04	20
Core	13945	Describe and apply the management of stock and fixed assets in a business unit	Level 4	NQF Level 04	2
Core	115892	Monitor and co-ordinate the water treatment process	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Core	12070	Operate a rapid gravity filtration process	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Core	115960	Operate mechanical, electrical and hydraulic equipment and control systems	Level 4	NQF Level 04	10
Core	115896	Plan and implement a sampling program to monitor water quality	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Core	115957	Supervise and optimise the operation of separation processes	Level 4	NQF Level 04	8
Core	12061	Supervise personal safety practices on a wastewater treatment works	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Core	10981	Supervise work unit to achieve work unit objectives (individuals and teams)	Level 4	NQF Level 04	12
Fundamental	7572	Demonstrate knowledge of and produce computer spreadsheets using basic functions	Level 2	NQF Level 02	3
Fundamental	8968	Accommodate audience and context needs in oral communication	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	8969	Interpret and use information from texts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	7570	Produce word processing documents for business	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	8973	Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	8970	Write texts for a range of communicative contexts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	9015	Apply knowledge of statistics and probability to critically interrogate and effectively communicate findings on life related problems	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	8974	Engage in sustained oral communication and evaluate spoken texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	8977	Evaluate literary texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	12417	Measure, estimate & calculate physical quantities & explore, critique & prove geometrical relationships in 2 and 3 dimensional space in the life and workplace of adult with increasing responsibilities	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Fundamental	8975	Read analyse and respond to a variety of texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	7468	Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	8976	Write for a wide range of contexts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	14609	Participate in management of conflict	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
Elective	13941	Apply the budget function in a business unit	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	115884	Control water intakes	Level 4	NQF Level 04	8
Elective	115963	Operate an alternative filter system	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Elective	12066	Operate telemetric and electronic equipment and scientific instrumentation	Level 4	NQF Level 04	12
Elective	14426	Read, interpret and use construction drawings and specifications	Level 4	NQF Level 04	10
Elective	7818	Conduct on-the-job coaching	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	5
Elective	115961	Operate and maintain various disinfection and oxidation processes	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	6

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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