This unit applies to water managers and involves a technical and self-directed role in developing and integrating resources and systems and covers the process of identifying design requirements, determining specifications for storage and treatment systems, and determining capital and operating expense budgets for the system designed.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Determine design requirements

1.1. Quality of water to be treated and level of treatment is determined.

1.2. Construction specifications define the work required to treat water for the enterprise in accordance with environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

1.3. Environmentally sensitive areas are identified and protected according to local, State and National legislation.

1.4. Design calculations and decisions are documented to enterprise requirements.

2. Define pumping and power systems

2.1. Pumps are selected to treat water efficiently and effectively as required, to enable supply at the flow and the pressure required to operate the distribution system.

2.2. The pump motor combinations are efficient and the pumps are reliable, functional, serviceable and flexible for the intended application.

2.3. Energy requirements are determined and layout of electricity lines are determined and checked with local authority.

2.4. The relationship between capital and operational costs are optimised including a comparison of energy sources.

2.5. Structures, valves and accessories are selected and integrated into a functional system that can be monitored and maintained according to enterprise guidelines.

2.6. Performance indicators, design calculations and decisions are documented according to enterprise guidelines.

2.7. Construction specifications define the work required to make a suitable pumping and power system available to enterprise.

2.8. Power supply design specification is checked with power authorities

3. Design an water treatment system

3.1. Treatment systems are evaluated and designed with respect to a range of key variables.

3.2. Pipes, valves and fittings are sized according to design system specifications so that capital cost is balanced against operation costs over the anticipated system life.

3.3. Flows, water levels and pressures are calculated and documented to be within the acceptable tolerances for optimum performance.

3.4. Flows, water levels and pressures are achievable by the pumps operating at optimum efficiency and according to enterprise standards.

3.5. Mechanisms for controlling and adjusting pressure are included.

4. Determine capital expense budget

4.1. Design calculations and decisions are documented and relevant information is communicated clearly through plans, specifications and manuals.

4.2. Design output is checked by a competent designer against enterprise objectives.

4.3. Materials requirements are determined and documented from plans and specifications.

4.4. Labour requirements are estimated based upon documented work schedule, with reasonable allowance for variances in work schedules.

4.5. Costing attributed to each component is based upon quoted information from suppliers, or sound analysis of individual elements.

5. Determine operating expense budget

5.1. Operating expense budget indicates all expenses applicable to the completed irrigation system.

Required skills

collect and analyse information

identify adverse environmental impacts of water treatment activities and appropriate remedial action

identify design requirements

develop specifications

develop and implement relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures

use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

design processes

developments in water treatment technology

automatic control and monitoring systems

waste management and environmental issues

budgeting, contractual development and obligations

environmental protection agency regulations

environmental impacts of water treatment

cost/benefit analysis

enterprise policies and procedures.

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:

identify design requirements

determine specifications for suitable pumping and power systems

design treatment systems

determine capital and operating expense budgets for the system designed.

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.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Reuse systems may include:

disinfestation and filtering equipment

Drainage systems may include:

surface drains

culverts

mole drains

sand slit

sub-surface traps

pit and trap systems

dune and swale systems

reed beds

water-recycling pumps and baffles.

Unit sector

Water

This unit contains employability skills.