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: |
National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Operations |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
58951 | National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Operations | |||
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 | ||
National Certificate | Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction | Civil Engineering Construction | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 136 | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 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 replaces: |
Qual ID | Qualification Title | Pre-2009 NQF Level | NQF Level | Min Credits | Replacement Status |
24193 | National Certificate: Water Purification Process Operations | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 120 | Complete |
22673 | National Certificate: Wastewater Process Operations | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 120 | Complete |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
This qualification is aimed at persons who work or intend to work in the water and wastewater treatment plant and who seek recognition for essential skills in water and wastewater treatment works. This qualification will provide learners with a basic knowledge and understanding of the water and wastewater treatment works. Qualifying learners will be able to operate processes at a water and wastewater treatment works in line with the relevant legislation within the water sector. The qualifying learner will understand the implications on cost, health and the environmental conservation of water. This qualification forms the foundation for advancement or progression to the highest levels within the qualification learning pathways. Qualifying learners will be competent in: Rationale: This qualification reflects the workplace-based needs of water and wastewater process operators working in the water sector that are expressed by employers and employees, both now and for the future. The introduction of a National Certificate in Water and Wastewater Process Operations on NQF Level 2 provides the learner with a career path in water and wastewater processes with skills specific to the operation of processes of a water and wastewater treatment works and progression to a National Certificate in Water and Wastewater Process [senior operator] on NQF Level 3 (which will provide the skills necessary for the supervision of a water and wastewater treatment works). This qualification will enable learners to reach their potential of advancement without the lack of formal education being an impassable barrier. In addition, the qualification will provide access to employment opportunities within the water sector, together with the flexibility to pursue different careers other related sectors such as pollution control, wet industries, electricity generation, environmental qualifications and will allow for advancement through the recognition of prior learning. This qualification also focuses on the development of the learner and further mobility and transportability within the water sector. It has been developed to assist with standardisation across the water purification industry and to permit learners, through several common unit standards, to access the complementary Wastewater Process Operation qualification with valuable employment potentials. This qualification will enhance productivity within the water sector, improve the health of communities and contribute towards the ecological sustainability and improvement of the water environment. The individual will have the capacity to advance and gain skills and self- confidence. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
It is assumed that the learner is competent in:
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. Access to the qualification: Access to this qualification is open bearing in mind learning assumed to be in place. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
Fundamental:
Core: Electives: The elective unit standards are clustered to provide areas of specialisation within the water and wastewater domains. Learners choosing an area of specialisation must complete all unit standards listed within that area of specialisation. Additional credits to the value of 11 should be selected from the generic cluster to make up 136 credits in order for the learner to obtain the qualification. Specialisation Area A: Water Treatment Process Operations: Elective: Total Credits: 18. Specialisation Area B: Wastewater Treatment Process Operations: Elective: Total Credits: 18 Specialisation Area C: Generic: Electives: Total Credits: 28. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
On achieving this qualification the qualifying learner will be able to:
1. Conform to legislation and operational instructions specific to water and wastewater processes. 2. Operate processes at a water and wastewater treatment works. 3. Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of equipment to be used to perform water and wastewater treatment works. 4. Communicate with team workers. Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit level 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit level 2: > Range: Designed test refers to but is not limited to cascade, jar test, and settling test. Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit level 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit level 4: Integrated Assessment: Integrated assessment at the level of the 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 2 can be assessed through occupational contexts and activities relating to water purification treatment, 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 |
International qualifications were examine to ensure that the qualification model and associated unit standards proposed are comparable in terms of qualification levels, scope and competencies covered. However, the core and elective components have been developed and/or revised taking into account South Africa's unique context, but also looking at international best practice. Qualifications form the following countries were examined:
Australia Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Australia was used to conduct a comparison against, is known to be a water scarce country and their climate is very similar to the South African environment. The search results indicated that most of the unit standards covered in our qualification are very comparable with the units contained in the Australian qualification at this level. Certificate II in Water Industry Operations Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SQA) New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) United Kingdom (QCA) Short Courses: United States of America The USA has no standards at this level but the following short courses were found offered by different institutions and organisations targeting to a larger extent Water and Wastewater Operators. The content of some of the short courses have been found to compare well with the South African qualification although the level at which the course is pitched is not known. Some courses are at an undergraduate level, which form the basis for more advanced courses. Alabama Rural Water Association: Water and Wastewater Operator Certificate Training This association in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management conducts free Primary, Secondary and Advanced Water Treatment Operator Certificate course. The purpose of the course is to protect the public health and welfare and prevent pollution by classifying all water and wastewater treatment plants. The programme also aims to provide certification of the competency of operation to operators who operate such plants. The duration of the course 60 hours. College Campus: The college offers a short course for operators who work in different size plants, as there is no nationally mandated certification programme for operators. The course is aimed at improving the water and wastewater plant operators' skills and knowledge thus enabling the to pass an examination to certify that they are capable of overseeing water and wastewater plant operations. The duration of the course is not known, however the course covers the following topics that compare with some of the unit standards contained in the South African qualification at level 2. The following topics are covered: Virginia Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators short course The Virginia Tech is providing a training programme aimed at developing more qualified plant operators. The programme duration is 10 days. The programme is designed to be introductory where learners learn about water or wastewater treatment and other relevant subject matter. London Imperial College This is a certification course offered for people who work or intend to become a water or wastewater treatment plant operator. The course aims to provide basic description and understanding of unit processes used in the treatment of water and wastewater. The duration of the course is 20 hours of lectures over 10 sessions. The course however compares favourably well with this qualification in some of the unit standards contained in the qualification although topics such as coagulation, floc separation and sedimentation are dealt with individually whilst the qualification cover them in one unit standard. The topics covered in the course compare favourably with some of the unit standards contained in the qualification. These are: SADC Zimbabwe The Institute of Water and Sanitation Development is a UNDP-World Bank Programme established in 1989 with a strong emphasis on the building and promotion of urban and rural water supplies and sanitation. The Institute has sister organisations in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and South Africa. The Institute offers courses aimed at building a career in the water and sanitation sector. The only possibility relevant courses offered found here were: Unfortunately none of these courses are related to this qualification. Kenya Despite numerous searches on the Kenyan Ministry of Education, website http: www.education.go.ke, no specific qualification could be found regarding Water or Wastewater Process Operations. A further search indicated that water industries tend to follow the Australian and New Zealand standards. Botswana The Botswana Training Authority (BOTA), http://www.bota.org.bw/index.shtml was inaugurated in October 2000 which is mandated to monitor and regulate Vocational Education and Training (VET) within Botswana. Unfortunately there is limited number of qualifications and unit standards developed by BOTA hence none could currently be found relating to water and wastewater qualifications. Namibia The Namibia Qualifications Authority is a statutory body established by the Namibian Qualifications Authority Act No. 29 of 1996. A search was conducted from http://www. namqa.org . Unfortunately there are no qualifications currently registered within the field of Water and Wastewater Process Operations at this level. Tanzania The Vocational Education and Training Act was enacted by the Parliament in 1994 to guide the vocational education and training (VET) system in Tanzania. The Act established the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) as an autonomous government agency charged with an overall responsibility of Coordinating, Regulating, Financing, Providing and Promoting vocational education and training. According to the Annual Conference held in Tanzania in 1998, it was stated that more than 80 percent of Tanzania's population live in rural areas. Therefore the government aims for sustainable rural water supply. Unfortunately no reference was found to any type of relevant developed qualifications or unit standards including short courses that could compare with this qualification. Findings concerning comparability A substantial degree of similarity was found in most of the qualifications examined. Although the South African qualification combines both water and wastewater process operations due to the similarities found in the core components of both qualifications, the revised qualification provides a mix of mandatory unit standards to cover both water and wastewater core competencies and electives as optional units that enable learners to choose from to address their particular roles in their respective areas of specialization. The South African qualification and its associated unit standards is generally comparable to the Australian, New Zealand and Scottish in terms of levels, scope and range of competencies covered and slightly with the United Kingdom qualification as well although the titles of the qualifications differ. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
Vertical articulation is possible with:
Horizontal articulation is possible with: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:
|
REREGISTRATION HISTORY |
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. |
NOTES |
This qualification replaces two qualifications:
|
UNIT STANDARDS: |
ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS | |
Core | 246472 | Handle and dispose of water and wastewater sludge | Level 1 | NQF Level 01 | 5 |
Core | 244061 | Interpret material safety data sheets (MSDS) in order to address chemical safety in the workplace | Level 1 | NQF Level 01 | 4 |
Core | 246443 | Operate a sand filter | Level 1 | NQF Level 01 | 4 |
Core | 246459 | Apply personal safety practices in the water sector | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Core | 246464 | Conduct sampling for water and wastewater treatment processes | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Core | 246461 | Conduct water treatment process control tests | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Core | 8494 | Demonstrate an understanding of HIV/AIDS and its implications | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Core | 246471 | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of plant equipment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 6 |
Core | 246473 | Demonstrate knowledge of elementary biology in the water wastewater environment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Core | 246463 | Demonstrate knowledge of water cycle, water and wastewater systems and processes | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Core | 13220 | Keep the work area safe and productive | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 8 |
Core | 246442 | Operate pumps | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Core | 246535 | Operate the chlorine dosing process | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Core | 246466 | Operate water and wastewater chemical dosage systems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Fundamental | 119463 | Access and use information from texts | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 9009 | Apply basic knowledge of statistics and probability to influence the use of data and procedures in order to investigate life related problems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 7480 | Demonstrate understanding of rational and irrational numbers and number systems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 9008 | Identify, describe, compare, classify, explore shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional shapes in different contexts | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Fundamental | 119455 | Respond to selected literary texts | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 119460 | Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 7469 | Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal and community life | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 2 |
Fundamental | 9007 | Work with a range of patterns and functions and solve problems | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Fundamental | 119456 | Write/present for a defined context | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 246441 | Maintain maturation and oxidation ponds | Level 1 | NQF Level 01 | 2 |
Elective | 116932 | Operate a personal computer system | Level 1 | NQF Level 01 | 3 |
Elective | 246460 | Demonstrate basic knowledge of the wastewater treatment process | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 8 |
Elective | 246450 | Demonstrate knowledge of the water treatment process | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 8 |
Elective | 246445 | Operate a biological trickling filter | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 246440 | Operate coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation processes | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 10 |
Elective | 246468 | Operate inlet works | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 246469 | Operate primary settling processes in wastewater treatment | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 5 |
Elective | 246486 | Operate water recovery unit | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 4 |
Elective | 246448 | Operating a rotating biological contactor unit | Level 2 | NQF Level 02 | 3 |
Elective | 116534 | Carry out basic first aid treatment in the workplace | Level 3 | NQF Level 03 | 2 |
Elective | 246437 | Demonstrate knowledge of activated sludge processes in wastewater treatment | Level 3 | NQF Level 03 | 6 |
Elective | 246446 | Operate a rapid gravity filtration process | Level 3 | NQF Level 03 | 5 |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. |
1. | ATTI NELSPRUIT (PTY) LTD |
2. | CHILUTSI TRADING ENTERPRISE |
3. | CITIVIEW TRADING AND PROJECTS |
4. | ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD |
5. | GG SQUARED PROJECTS |
6. | GNS ENTERPRISE (PTY) LTD |
7. | HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY |
8. | MMAKAU TRAINING INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD |
9. | O & K PROJECT (PTY) LTD |
10. | PIONEER BUSINESS CONSULTING (PTY) LTD |
11. | SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT |
12. | TWINMARK STRATEGY AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS |
13. | URSIVOX (PTY) LTD |
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. |