Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

planning and safely conducting surveys/inspections of a range of stormwater system components that meet user needs

accessing and using existing environmental data sets

obtaining reliable field samples and measurements

providing detailed descriptions of catchment characteristics, existing conditions, management values, environmental issues and possible causes

completing all documentation in the required format and timeframe

working safely.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS024005A Collect spatial and discrete environmental data

MSS024006A Perform sampling and testing of water

MSS024007A Collect and evaluate meteorological data.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

access to natural and constructed drainage systems and combinations of these

sampling equipment, field instruments and materials

enterprise procedures, test methods and equipment manuals.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of data, results and records prepared by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise procedures, sampling/measurement procedures and works safely

oral/written questioning associated with inspection/survey of stormwater systems, sampling/measurement equipment and procedures and stormwater assessment techniques

observation of the candidate collecting samples and conducting field tests.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Required skills

Required skills include:

interpreting procedures, guidelines and manuals

locating and evaluating stormwater system information

planning and conducting assigned field activities efficiently

making objective observations based on clear criteria

demonstrating correct and safe use of sampling/measuring equipment, including pre-use checks, to obtain valid samples and data

identifying and rectifying basic equipment faults

calculating simple flow rates, scientific quantities, uncertainties and unit conversion factors

analysing findings of field work to produce reliable data and logical conclusions

providing written reports that meet user needs

communicating effectively with others, such as enterprise staff, members of the public, clients, council members and consultants

responding effectively to changed or unforeseen circumstances

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

working safely for the protection of self and others

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

specific legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to field activities

sources of stormwater system information

terminology and principles of stormwater management

basic design of stormwater transport systems, constructed wetlands and flood mitigation structures

procedures and equipment for collecting soil, water and (micro) biological samples

procedures and equipment for maintaining, storing and transporting samples/specimens to ensure their wellbeing, viability and integrity

procedures and equipment for basic water flow and quality measurements

fundamental principles of ecology and assessment of site environmental indicators

environmental factors that impact on soils, water quality, population and diversity of flora and fauna

enterprise procedures for the recording of field data

reporting requirements

protocols for the confidentiality and security of information and communicating with the community and media

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, guidelines, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS 5667 set Water quality

state/territory Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and manuals:

Managing urban stormwater: Council handbook (NSW EPA)

Water quality sampling manual (QLD EPA)

Regulatory monitoring and testing: Water and wastewater sampling (EPA SA)

Stormwater survey/inspection/ audit activities

Stormwater survey/inspection/audit activities may include:

broad scale, ‘whole of catchment’ assessment of catchment health

assessment of environmental conditions or risk in a smaller, localised study area or individual premises

Stormwater management plan

A stormwater management plan may include:

existing and future values of a catchment

stormwater management objectives to protect these values

problems and issues that may compromise these objectives

agreed stormwater management practices (non-structural/structural) to mitigate existing impacts and minimise future impacts

Stormwater management techniques

Stormwater management techniques may include:

retention and restoration of existing watercourses and wetlands and riparian/foreshore vegetation, and aquatic habitats

control of source water quality and quantity through minimising impervious areas, stormwater re-use and infiltration, limiting development of flood plains, community education, small on-site treatment measures

‘end of pipe’ techniques, such as use of retarding basins, gross pollutant traps, channel stabilisation/design, erosion and sediment control, and large off-site treatment

Stormwater system information

Stormwater system information may include:

terrain models

stormwater drainage plans

flood and drainage studies

water and sediment quality studies

contaminated site reports

aquatic ecology and riparian vegetation studies

land use information, such as topographical maps, aerial photos, satellite imagery and land use/zoning maps

reports of consultations with the scientific community, local environmental groups and industry associations, catchment management committees and councils

history of engineering works and modifications

Field equipment and materials

Field equipment and materials may include:

stormwater drainage maps, topographic maps, aerial photos, compass, survey point markers and drivers, GPS, tape measure, flagging tape and binoculars

data recording sheets, palm pilot, laptop, data logger and digital camera

sampling equipment, such as bottles, bags, biological specimen containers, secateurs, scoop nets, esky, preservatives, water pumps and tubing

automatic water samplers

portable water quality probe that measures dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, pH, conductivity and field test reagents

tipping bucket rain gauge and data logger

flow meters

soil infiltration test rigs

personal protective equipment

appropriate clothing and footwear

phone

first aid kit

insect repellent

Laboratory analyses

Laboratory analyses may include:

suspended solids

total phosphorus

filterable reactive phosphorus

total nitrogen

total Kjeldahl nitrogen

oxidised nitrogen

faecal Coliforms

soil permeability

Catchment characteristics and existing conditions

Catchment characteristics and existing conditions may include:

physical characteristics, such as:

soils and sediments

topography, including slope characteristics

climate, including rainfall, evaporation

bridge and culvert crossings, major utility services that may impact on management practices

point sources of pollution (e.g sewage treatment)

major sewer outflows

existing stormwater management structures (e.g. retarding basins and constructed wetlands)

social characteristics, such as:

recreational areas

land use and land use zoning

waterway characteristics, such as:

stormwater transport via piped, lined or natural channels

characteristics of receiving water bodies (e.g. lakes, reservoirs, wetlands and estuaries)

erosion/sediment transport processes for natural/modified stormwater systems

surface hydrology (e.g. flooding and low flow)

water quality in stormwater transport systems and receiving bodies (dry/wet conditions)

ecological characteristics, such as:

aquatic fauna and flora in stormwater transport systems and receiving bodies

riparian zone fauna and flora

areas of urban bushland

Catchment values

Catchment values may include:

aquatic fauna habitats, such as appropriate substrate, woody debris and aquatic plants

terrestrial fauna habitats, such as riparian zone vegetation

aquatic flora (e.g. macrophytes) habitats, such as appropriate sediment, stream flow and water quality

terrestrial flora habitats, such as morphology of banks/floodplain, prevailing stream flow and groundwater conditions

avifauna (e.g. land-based and water birds) habitats, such as riparian zone, stormwater transport system and receiving water bodies

public health and safety (e.g. risk of bacterial pollution in stormwater run-off)

recreational values

visual amenity of stormwater systems and riparian zone

use of surface or groundwater as a water source

aquaculture and other commercial fishing

reuse of stormwater for (non)potable use

value of properties adjacent to visually attractive constructed wetlands and natural channels

Environmental issues and possible causes

Environmental issues and possible causes may include:

poor water quality in waterways (wet/dry conditions) due to excess fertiliser application, washing of cars in streets, sewer overflows, domestic animal droppings and atmospheric deposition

inappropriate stream flow regime (flooding, base flows) due to increased run-off from impervious areas and insufficient stormwater reuse

degraded aquatic habitats due to increased sediment deposition, removal of riparian vegetation

barriers to aquatic fauna migration weirs

degraded riparian vegetation due to introduction of exotic species and vegetation removal

channel erosion and sedimentation due to increased flood flows following urbanisation and vegetation removal

litter in watercourses due to insufficient number/emptying of rubbish bins and commercial waste

weed growth in urban bushland due to stormwater nutrients, weeds from residential gardens, and removal of canopy vegetation

degradation of ecologically sensitive water bodies

health risks associated with recreational use of polluted waters

low visual amenity and landscape value due to litter along watercourses and concrete lined channels

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health