• NWP261A - Operate and maintain water treatment plant and equipment

Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

NWP261A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Operate and maintain water treatment plant and equipment

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency NWP261A - Operate and maintain water treatment plant and equipment
Description This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to operate water treatment processes within potable community and industrial water treatment plants in urban and rural areas. The ability to operate water treatment processes in compliance with relevant water legislation and regulations, and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines is vital to performance.
Employability Skills This unit of competency contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for operational staff in water treatment plants with responsibility for the practical and safe operation of plant, equipment and processes.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field Treatment
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Operate water treatment processes.
  • Identify reasons and requirements for treatment of water.
  • Identify major components of water treatment processes.
  • Identify and apply practices undertaken in water treatment processes.
  • Operate mechanicalequipment used in water treatment according to manufacturer specifications and organisational requirements.
  • Handle, use, store and dose chemicals according to organisational procedures.
       
Element: Maintain items of equipment used in water treatment processes.
  • Identify maintenance requirements and schedules according to standard operating procedures.
  • Complete maintenance and cleaning requirements of equipment.
       
Element: Follow safety requirements for work in a water treatment plant.
  • Identify and record hazards of working in a water treatment plant.
  • Identify and record operational requirements for the safe and effective use of equipment.
  • Select, fit and use safety equipment, including personal protective equipment.
  • Identify and apply safe work practices when handling chemicals and working in a water treatment plant.
       
Element: Complete documentation.
  • Complete records required for effective operation of a water treatment plant according to organisational requirements.
  • Identify and record range of data routinely collected.
  • Identify data that falls outside normal operating parameters and report for further action.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

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

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to operate water treatment processes within potable community and industrial water treatment plants in urban and rural areas including:

applying water treatment processes, including operating mechanical equipment

using chemicals safely and according to organisational procedures

conducting regular routine inspection of mechanical equipment

identifying hazards and applying appropriate safety procedures

gathering and recording data

reporting anomalies.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Access to the workplace and resources including:

documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation

relevant codes, standards and government regulations.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice

a decision of competence only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence

where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time

assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.

Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator and cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills:

apply policies, procedures and standards

recognise and report operational problems

use safety equipment and personal protective equipment

collect and test samples

interpret material safety data sheets (MSDS)

receive and apply instructions

use literacy skills in regard to verbal and written communication in the workplace

communicate with other employees and people that interact within work environment.

Required knowledge:

water cycle

sources of water

uses of water, both domestic and industrial

physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of water within the water treatment process

water quality characteristics

reasons for water treatment

types of treatment plants and processes

major chemicals and equipment used

water treatment plant hazards

safety equipment

reasons for data and information collection.

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. Add any 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.

Reasons and requirements for treatment include:

ensuring conformity with standards and guidelines, including Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

removal of impurities, contaminants and pollution

impact of impurities on water treatment processes

relevant water legislation and regulations relating to water and the environment

hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) operational philosophy.

Water treatment processes may include:

screens

coagulation and flocculation

sedimentation clarification

dissolved air flotation

granular and membrane filtration

disinfection

aeration and oxidation

fluoridation

reverse osmosis

ion exchange

activated carbon adsorption

calibration of dosing equipment

softening

backwash water treatment.

Mechanicalequipment may include:

pumps, including:

centrifugal

positive displacement

airlift

blowers and compressors

mixers and chemical batching facilities

control valves

electronic digital monitoring systems

recording systems

chemical testing and analysis equipment

communication equipment

flow meters

alarms and process control systems

centrifuge

belt filter press

screens, including raked bar screens

manual or hydraulic equipment.

Chemicals and aids used may include:

lime

soda ash

aluminium and iron coagulants

polymers

chlorine

fluoride

carbon dioxide.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify reasons and requirements for treatment of water. 
Identify major components of water treatment processes. 
Identify and apply practices undertaken in water treatment processes. 
Operate mechanicalequipment used in water treatment according to manufacturer specifications and organisational requirements. 
Handle, use, store and dose chemicals according to organisational procedures. 
Identify maintenance requirements and schedules according to standard operating procedures. 
Complete maintenance and cleaning requirements of equipment. 
Identify and record hazards of working in a water treatment plant. 
Identify and record operational requirements for the safe and effective use of equipment. 
Select, fit and use safety equipment, including personal protective equipment. 
Identify and apply safe work practices when handling chemicals and working in a water treatment plant. 
Complete records required for effective operation of a water treatment plant according to organisational requirements. 
Identify and record range of data routinely collected. 
Identify data that falls outside normal operating parameters and report for further action. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

NWP261A - Operate and maintain water treatment plant and equipment
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

NWP261A - Operate and maintain water treatment plant and equipment

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: