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

Demonstrate knowledge of activated sludge processes in wastewater treatment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254116  Demonstrate knowledge of activated sludge 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 3  NQF Level 03  6 
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
246437  Demonstrate knowledge of activated sludge processes in wastewater treatment  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for persons who are working with activated sludge in order to produce effluent in compliance with organisational standards. The learner will understand the principles of the activated sludge process and be familiar with the layout of the plant.

Learners credited with this unit standard are capable of:
  • Describing the theory of activated sludge.
  • Describing the layout of the plant.
  • Making adjustments on the plant.
  • Monitoring performance of the plant. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication skills at NQF Level 2.
  • Mathematical literacy at NQF Level 2. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Extended aeration.
  • Conventional.
  • Packaged plant.
  • Mechanical aeration and dissolved aeration. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain the theory of activated sludge. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The purpose of activated sludge is described within the context of wastewater treatment process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The significance of the activated sludge process is explained in relation to biological life. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The significance of the control parameters available in the activated sludge process is explained in order to optimise the process. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Illustrate the layout of the plant. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Various stages of the activated sludge plant are described to determine how the process operates. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Various stages include but are not limited to aeration tanks and clarifiers.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The sequence of the stages is described with a flow diagram. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Various aeration systems are described in order to determine the oxygen transfer to the biological life. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Various aeration systems include but are not limited to diffused air and mechanical aeration.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Clarifiers are described in terms of their types in order to determine the separation of suspended solids from the mixed liquor. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Types of clarifiers refer to but are not limited to radial flow, vertical flows, gravity sludge removal and siphon sludge removal.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Make adjustments on the plant. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The recycle rate is adjusted in order to optimise the operation of the clarifier. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The wasting rate is adjusted using valves to control the mixed liquor concentration in the aeration tank. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Aeration is controlled to maintain required dissolved oxygen concentration in the aeration tank. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Monitor performance of the plant. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The importance of monitoring is explained in order to achieve the specified effluent quality in accordance with established procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Monitoring includes but is not limited to dissolved oxygen and half hour settling.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The recycling rate is monitored in order optimise sludge separation in the clarifier. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Sludge blanket level is monitored to maintain effluent quality. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Problems associated with activated sludge plant control are identified in order to determine corrective action. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Problems refer to but are not limited to sludge carry-over, scum and foam formation in aeration tank.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Information is collated for reporting purposes. 


    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 standardmats as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Learners should have a knowledge and understanding of:
  • Biological processes.
  • Calculations.
  • Knowledge of wastewater treatment process. 
    		•

    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 sub optimal operation of the plant in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made by adjusting the plant. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a small team to ensure continuous and satisfactory performance of the plant. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Plan, organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively by developing a work plan in order to carry out monitoring activities. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information relating problems and conditions in order conduct sampling test to use the result to effect changes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation to report the nature of the problems to the immediate supervisor. 

    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 recognising that activated sludge is part is part of the larger wastewater process within the number of stages. 

    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 246437, "Demonstrate knowledge of activated sludge processes in wastewater treatment", Level 3, 6 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  60190   National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Control  Level 3  NQF Level 03  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. CHILUTSI TRADING ENTERPRISE 
    2. DR HE MAEPA INSTITUTE 
    3. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    4. ERWAT 
    5. HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY 
    6. K-BONENG CONSULTING SERVICES (PTY) LTD 
    7. Kelvin Power (Pty) Ltd 
    8. NTANDOKAZI HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD 
    9. SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 


    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.