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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Assess performance of processes to remove microorganisms
   • Review existing process performance data.
   • Review existing operational processes with reference to manufacturer and plant designer specifications.
   • Identify the impact of raw water quality on water treatment effectiveness for microorganism removal.
   • Review existing fault reports and other relevant plant asset information.
   • Investigate the operational status of plant components.
   • Investigate the cause of treated water quality issues relating to microorganisms.
   • Assess the effectiveness of process control strategies for microorganism removal.
2. Improve process performance for removal of microorganisms
   • Identify treatment process conditions for optimising microorganism removal.
   • Determine plant configuration and revised operational processes for process optimisation.
   • Plan a trial to test the performance of the determined optimisation options.
3. Report on system performance and improvement
   • Report on the current operational status of the water treatment process.
   • Report on effective treatment processes and associated sampling and testing procedures to maintain water quality.
   • Compile a report making recommendations on optimisation options.
4. Assess performance of processes to remove microorganisms
   • Review existing process performance data.
   • Review existing operational processes with reference to manufacturer and plant designer specifications.
   • Identify the impact of raw water quality on water treatment effectiveness for microorganism removal.
   • Review existing fault reports and other relevant plant asset information.
   • Investigate the operational status of plant components.
   • Investigate the cause of treated water quality issues relating to microorganisms.
   • Assess the effectiveness of process control strategies for microorganism removal.
5. Improve process performance for removal of microorganisms
   • Identify treatment process conditions for optimising microorganism removal.
   • Determine plant configuration and revised operational processes for process optimisation.
   • Plan a trial to test the performance of the determined optimisation options.
6. Report on system performance and improvement
   • Report on the current operational status of the water treatment process.
   • Report on effective treatment processes and associated sampling and testing procedures to maintain water quality.
   • Compile a report making recommendations on optimisation options.

Range Statement

Treatment processes include:	source water management pre-treatment processes to address problems associated with waterborne microorganisms physical treatment processes to remove waterborne microorganisms disinfection processes to kill or deactivate waterborne microorganisms
Associated problems with microorganisms include:	algal toxins taste and odour compounds disinfection by-products regrowth, nitrification & disinfection failure

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Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. Candidate must be assessed operating at least one of the processes, treating at least one of the problems, listed in Range of Conditions. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

identifying a range of waterborne microorganisms

analysing general characteristics caused by waterborne microorganisms, including at least one of:

pathogenicity

virulence

resistance to disinfectants

opportunistic infection capability

analysing types of problems caused by waterborne microorganisms, including at least one of:

nuisance problems

taste and odour

filter clogging

colour

corrosion

toxicity problems

pathogenic problems

identifying pathogenic microorganisms and the diseases they cause, including at least one of:

viruses

bacteria

protozoa

algae

cyanobacteria

helminths

assessing and selecting water or re-use treatment processes for physically removing or deactivating pathogenic microorganisms, including at least one of:

filtration

slow sand filter

granular media filters

membrane filters

disinfection:

chlorination

chloramination

UV

chlorine dioxide

ozone

assessing causes of nuisance and toxicity problems, including at least one of:

micro types:

diatoms

sulphur bacteria

cyanobacteria:

Microcystis aeruginosa

Anabaena circinalis

pathogenic microorganisms:

viruses

enterovirus

hepatitis A

hepatitis E

rotavirus

bacteria:

Campylobacter

Salmonella

Escherichia coli

protozoa species:

Giardia

cryptosporidium

Nagleria

helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides

selecting pre- or post-treatment processes for removing the causes of nuisance and toxicity problems, including at least one of:

micro-straining

algicides

activated carbon

ozone-biologically activated carbon (BAC)

preparing reports on the optimum treatment for a range of microorganisms, including measures to ensure validity

preparing and applying chemical dosing as required

assessing process performance

reviewing existing process barrier performance with reference to historical data, differences in raw water quality and plant configuration

identifying data deficiencies and additional data collection through sampling and testing

assessing fault reports and investigating current operational status of processes for microorganism removal

investigating current and potential chemical addition practices

planning trials to test the performance of the treatment optimisation options for microorganism removal

preparing recommendation reports

applying calculations to determine log removal values for physical barriers and contact time for disinfection

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Knowledge Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

types, lifecycle, characteristics of waterborne microorganisms, including:

evolutionary development

source

structure

life cycle

growth rates and requirements

nuisance problems caused by waterborne microorganisms

toxicity and pathogenic problems caused by waterborne microorganisms, including:

typhoid

cholera

ascariasis

hepatitis

giardiasis

cryptosporidiosis

gastroenteritis

tuberculosis

relevant legislation, standards and workplace policies and procedures relating directly to the control and treatment of waterborne microorganisms

principles of water or re-use treatment processes

log removal value concept for physical barriers

Ct concept for disinfection

properties and modes of action of disinfectants

properties and modes of action for physical barriers

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