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

Operate primary settling processes in wastewater treatment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
246469  Operate primary settling processes in wastewater treatment 
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 2  NQF Level 02  5 
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
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 unit standard replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
12039  Operate settling process  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Learners completing this unit standard will be able to operate a settling process in accordance with work policies and procedures to ensure optimal functioning of the settling process. This competence will enable the learner to operate the settling process at both large and small works. The learner will understand his/her own role in contributing to sustainability and protection of the water environment.

Learners credited with this unit standard are capable of:
  • Demonstrating knowledge of the different settling processes.
  • Desludging and de-scumming in accordance with working procedures.
  • Maintaining settling tanks.
  • Collating data for settling tanks. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are already competent in the following:
  • Mathematical literacy at NQF Level 1.
  • Communication at NQF Level 1. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Work policies and procedures:
  • Optimal operating procedures.

    Settling processes include but are not limited to:
  • Dortmund tanks, circular & rectangular settling tanks.

    Sludge removal mechanism:
  • Hydrostatic, scraper bridge, siphon.

    Legislation:
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act.

    Reports:
  • Reports refer to but not limited to reports on irregularities (e.g Unusual odours, unusual colours, solids rising to the top, malfunction of settling process, excessive gassing) and logging. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of the different settling processes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of settling tanks are identified and described using schematic representation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Components of settling tanks are labelled in accordance with their functions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Principles of settling process are explained using a schematic diagram or flow chart. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Settling processes include but are not limited to hydrostatic sludge removal.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Factors affecting settling processes are identified and described in terms of the settling characteristics. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Disludge and de-scum in accordance with working procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Physical characteristics of sludge are identified and explained in terms of being biologically active. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Method of desludging and de-scuming is described and demonstrated to produce primary effluent without settleable solids. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Precautions in operating the settling tanks are identified and described in accordance with working procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Operating refers to but not limited to digesters level, sump, pipeline blockages, funnelling of sludge, belching of sludge and sludge thickness.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Maintain settling tanks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The reasons for maintaining settling tanks are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of maintaining settling tanks are identified and explained in accordance with organisational procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Methods refer but are not limited to greasing, cleaning overflow weirs and remove unwanted debris.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Malfunctioning of the settling tanks is identified and recorded for reporting purposes for corrective action. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Malfunctioning includes but is not limited to equipment failure, blockages, leakage and short circuiting.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Procedures for de-commissioning and re-commissioning are explained to ensure safe operation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Procedures include and are not limited to work permit and lockout procedures.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Collate data for settling tanks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Information to be collated is identified and described in terms of operational procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Log sheets are completed accordance with working procedures. 


    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 
    Learners should have a knowledge and understanding of:
  • The importance of following work policies and procedures.
  • The importance of noting and reporting irregularities.
  • The settling process.
  • Health risks of working with wastewater.
  • Desludging procedure.
  • Scum removal procedure. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems relating to the operation of settling tanks in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made by ensuring that safety precaution measures are applied. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community by ensuring that reporting instructions are followed in relation to reporting irregularities to immediate supervisors and colleagues. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Plan, organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively by prioritising tasks according to work schedules. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in connection with settling tanks. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation by reporting any incidents pertaining to irregularities. 

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

    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 within the water and wastewater treatment processes. 

    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 
    This unit standard replaces unit standard 12039, "Operate settling process", Level 2, 5 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.
  • Product sample reports. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  58951   National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Operations  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  EWSETA 


    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.
     
    1. ATTI NELSPRUIT (PTY) LTD 
    2. CHILUTSI TRADING ENTERPRISE 
    3. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    4. HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY 
    5. SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 
    6. 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.