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

Demonstrate knowledge of water quality control 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116982  Demonstrate knowledge of water quality control 
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 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the requirements of water quality control. This competence will enable the learner to manage the quality of water throughout the reticulation system, to understand why this is necessary and be able to use the tools developed for this purpose. This will contribute towards the protection of the health of the country's citizens and the protection of the country's water services infrastructure. The achievement of this unit standard will expand the skills base of the qualifying learner and make the person more effective in his/her tasks, more employable and will open up job opportunities in related fields. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Arithmetic calculations NQF level 4; literacy NQF level 4 or equivalent, knowledge of coagulation, flocculation, clarification and filtration, potable water science, sampling and safety practices. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Legal Rationale
Water Services Act and the Compulsory National Standards

Water Classes
Class 0; Class 1; Class 2

Categories of determinands
Physical and organoleptic; macro, micro, organic, microbiological

Minimum requirements for sampling
Table B.1 of SABS 241

Diseases transmitted by bacteria
Typhoid fever,Gastroenteritus, Bacillary dysentery, Cholera, Legionnaires' Disease

Diseases transmitted by viruses
Poliomyelitis, Gastroenteritis, Hepatitis

Diseases transmitted by protozoa
Giardiasis, Cryptosporidiosis, Amoebic Dysentery

Health effects of Health effects of inorganic compounds
Compounds to be considered are: fluoride, nitrate, sulphate and heavy metals

Organic compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's), Disinfection by-products (DBP's), Trihalomethanes (THM's), Pesticides

Methods of measuring stability
Langelier index, Ryzner index, calcium carbonate precipitation potential (CCPP), Stasoft programme

Methods used to achieve water Stability
Lime, Sodium carbonate, Carbon Dioxide

Scaling inhibitors
Sodium Hexametaphosphate, polyphosphates, zinc compounds

Cathodic protection
Impressed current, sacrificial anodes 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the content of SABS 241 of 2001: Drinking Water. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The legal rationale for the imposition of the standard is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The different water classes are defined and their appropriate use is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The different categories of determinands are defined and their effects explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The minimum requirements for sampling are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Explain the health related aspects of water quality. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The common diseases transmitted by bacteria in water are listed and methods of eliminating them are discussed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The common diseases transmitted by viruses in water are listed and methods of eliminating them are discussed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The common diseases transmitted by protozoa in water are listed and methods of eliminating them are discussed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The health effects of inorganic compounds found in water are listed and methods for the removal of the compounds are diescribed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
The origin and health effects of organic compounds found in water are listed and methods for limiting or removing them are discussed. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Explain the need for and methods of achieving the stabilisation of water. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The concept of the stability of water with respect to calcium carbonate is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The effect of unstable water on reticulation and household fittings is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Different methods of measuring stability are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The methods used to achieve water stability on the treatment plant are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Demonstrate the use of software packages to control water quality. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The Stasoft programme is used to demonstrate water softening. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The Stasoft programme is used to demonstrate the stabilising of water. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
Explain the protection of the reticulation system against corrosion and scaling. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The principle of an electrolytic cell is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Comparisons between an electrolytic cell and a reticulation system are drawn. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
Corrosion caused by corrosive water is defined. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The corrosion index and relative corrosivity of metals is defined and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
Scaling is defined and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
The formation of tubercules and the interaction of scaling and corrosion are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
The theory and use of scaling inhibitors is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
The theory and application of cathodic protection is explained. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
1. 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.
2. Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
3. Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
4. 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 
1. Water Services Act, 1997 (Act 107 of 1997) and relevant Government Notices and Regulations.
2. SABS 241 of 2001: Drinking Water.
3. Basic Microbiological terms: cells, bacteria, pathogens, viruses.
4. Basic Chemistry: solutions, solution strengths, molecules and ions, oxidation and reduction, adsorption and complex formation. 

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. 

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

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

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

Assessment criteria:
  • Comparisons between an electrolytic cell and a reticulation system are drawn. 

  • 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.

    Assessment criteria: all 

    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 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    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 among a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  59201   National Certificate: Generic Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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.