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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Determine water needs for irrigation
  2. Assess a water source for water quality
  3. Determine cost and availability of alternative water sources
  4. Complete water sourcing and/or acquisition arrangements

Required Skills

Required skills include

Ability to

apply basic principles of hydraulics to the selection of irrigation systems legal access and structures

take water samples

analyse results for electrical conductivity and ionic composition of irrigation water

estimate the irrigation requirements of plants

calculate water losses in an irrigation system

compare costs for different water sources

calculate capital and operating expenditure for a water supply system

carry out purchasing of water rights

Required knowledge includes

Knowledge of

plant water requirements in terms of water quality and frequency of supply

types of irrigation systems

selection of irrigation systems

irrigation drainage seepage surface and subsurface drainage systems

salinity and ionic composition impacts on soil structure and plant growth

conveyance and disposal of drained effluent

reuse systems management of irrigation systems

operations and maintenance requirements

water supply potential for the development of irrigation systems

management planning and operation of water allocations

water law

cost benefit analysis

capital and operating expenditure calculations to source water

environmental and energyuse implications of resource utilisation and development

efficiency of irrigation systems and longterm viability

climatic factors in irrigation development rainfall evaporation evapotranspiration and hydrology

plant physiology and plant water use transpiration crop water requirements in terms of water quality and quantity

soils and water soil moisture retention and movement plant root zones and development infiltration and leaching

irrigation scheduling soil moisture measurement

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following

determine the amount required and quality parameters for irrigation water

carry out water sampling and analyse the results

compare costing and delivery arrangements for alternative water sources

complete purchasing arrangements

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Water sources may include:

town water

permanent watercourses

storages

underground water

recycled water.