This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for operational staff in water treatment plants with responsibility for monitoring and reporting on water treatment processes.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Identify characteristics of water purity and reasons for treatment of potable water.

1.1 Identify characteristics of water affecting its physical, chemical and microbiological acceptability.

1.2 Identify reasons and requirements for treatment of water.

2Monitor and report on water quality.

2.1 Clearly identify water treatment processes and determine their application.

2.2 Identify organisation's water quality parameters and check characteristics of water quality according to relevant legislation and organisational procedures.

2.3 Record and report water quality according to organisational procedures.

3Follow safety requirements for work in a water treatment plant.

3.1 Identify and record hazards of working in a water treatment plant.

3.2 Identify and record operational requirements for safe and effective use of equipment.

3.3 Select, fit and use safety equipment, including personal protective equipment.

4Monitor and report on water treatment.

4.1 Identify operating principles used in water treatment processes.

4.2 Complete records required for effective operation of a water treatment plant.

4.3 Identify, record and report range of data routinely collected.

4.4 Identify data that falls outside normal operating range and report for further action.

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

select, 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 the work environment.

Required knowledge:

operating principles of water treatment processes

basic water chemistry

water uses and demands, both domestic and industrial

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

water quality guidelines

reasons for water treatment

types of treatment plants and processes

major chemicals and equipment used

physical and chemical hazards

reasons for data and information collection.

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 monitor and report on water treatment processes within potable community and industrial water treatment plants in urban and rural areas including:

identifying characteristics and importance of water quality

establishing organisational water quality standards

checking and recording water quality characteristics

applying safety procedures in a potable water treatment plant

collecting and recording routine data on water treatment plant processes.

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.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. 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.

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 water 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 and environment legislation and regulations

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.

Water quality characteristics may include:

physical

chemical

microbiological.

Equipment used 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

manual or hydraulic equipment

personal protective equipment.

Treatment

This unit of competency contains employability skills.