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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate sound environmental practices in wastewater operations 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115893  Demonstrate sound environmental practices in wastewater operations 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Water Sector 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  7 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2007-05-15  2008-02-19  SAQA 0160/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-02-19   2012-02-19  

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 unit standard is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
254115  Demonstrate sound environmental practices in wastewater operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  7   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to explain sound environmental practices associated with wastewater operations and demonstrate contamination prevention methods and remedial techniques for spillages. This competence will enable the learner to demonstrate sound environmental practices in compliance with relevant legislation and contribute towards the protection of the environment. In acquiring this competence the qualifying learner will lay a good foundation for future learning and action, and better understand the broader context of own work. Achieving this unit standard will enhance the employability of the qualifying learner in the water sector and contribute to the improvement of community health. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Reading and communication skills NQF level 3. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Wastewater
  • Domestic sewage, industrial effluent and grey water

    Typical effluents
  • Chemical toilets, domestic, petro chemical, textiles, metal finishing

    Typical water resources
  • Dams, rivers, weirs, canals, ground water systems and the sea

    Sewage waste
  • Silt, detritus, wastewater effluent and fat.

    Preventative maintenance
  • Regular inspection of sewers, regular cleaning of sewers, inspection for illegal connections

    Abnormal effluent
  • Colour, excessive volume, foreign objects, oil and corrosive and toxic

    Odour groups
  • Resin based odour, petro chemical based odour, H2S, ozone or a burning/electrical fire odour

    Techniques to prevent or reduce the generation of odours
  • Reduction of turbulence, reduction of retention time, ventilation, sealing of systems 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the harmful effects of wastewater spillage on the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Chemistry and composition of typical effluents are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Typical water resources and their eco-systems are identified and the effects of untreated wastewater on them described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The difference between wastewater and storm water systems are explained and their effects on the environment are described. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate contamination prevention methods in wastewater operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Methods of wastewater containment are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Safe methods of disposal of sewage waste are demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Potential causes of blockages in a wastewater system are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Preventative maintenance that can avert spillages are described and demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Contamination prevention methods including wastewater diversion are completed in accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Abnormal effluents in a wastewater system are identified and reporting procedure is demonstrated and explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate remedial techniques regarding wastewater spillages. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Safety procedures are followed in accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Local containment and appropriate removal of spillage is completed in accordance with works procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Local disinfection and cleanup techniques for wastewater spillages are completed in accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Methods of chemically treating large contaminated water resources are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Type of chemicals used for the treatment of effluent spills are described and their hazards explained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate knowledge of odours and remedial techniques in wastewater systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The causes of odours in wastewater systems are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Basic odour groups are described and identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The operation of various odour control systems is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Techniques to prevent or reduce the generation of odours are described and demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Methods of investigating complaints of odours are demonstrated. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA=s policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Relevant sections of environmental legislation and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
  • Safety procedures.
  • Work procedures.
  • Health and hygiene practices.
  • Different types of odours related to wastewater systems and the control of odours.
  • Different types of spillages and waste and their impact on the environment.
  • Chemicals related to wastewater spillages.
  • Water born diseases associated with wastewater and their symptoms.
  • Preventative measures with regard to water borne diseases.
  • The reporting procedure for abnormal effluents.
  • Types of abnormal effluent and ways to identify abnormal effluents.
  • Different methods of removing wastewater spillages. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

    Assessment criteria:
  • None 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Safety procedures are followed in accordance with work procedures.
  • Local containment and appropriate removal of spillage is completed in accordance with works procedures.
  • Local disinfection and cleanup techniques for wastewater spillages are completed in accordance with work procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Plan, organise and manage oneself and one=s activities responsibly and effectively.

    Assessment criteria:
  • None 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Specific outcomes:
  • Demonstrate remedial techniques regarding wastewater spillages.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of odours and remedial techniques in wastewater systems. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation.

    Assessment criteria:
  • All 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Specific outcomes:
  • Demonstrate contamination prevention methods in wastewater operations.
  • Demonstrate remedial techniques regarding wastewater spillages.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of odours and remedial techniques in wastewater systems. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

    Assessment criteria:
  • All 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 254115, which is "Demonstrate sound environmental practices in wastewater operations", Level 4, 7 credits.

    Integrated Assessment

    When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the unit standards being assessed. Assessors must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge by developing assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the learners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment.
    It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together in an integrated way, thus reducing the overall number of assessments and ensuring that commonalities that exist between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.


    Assessment Option

    Learners could be assessed using the following methods:
  • Oral or written questions
  • Observation
  • Simulation 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48905   National Certificate: Wastewater Reticulation Services  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2008-02-19  Was EWSETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  48906   Further Education and Training Certificate: Supervision of Wastewater Reticulation Operations  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2008-02-19  Was EWSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.