NWP417B
Coordinate and monitor groundwater system usage

This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to coordinate and monitor the use of groundwater as a source of water supply ensuring that Ground Water Management Plan (GWMP) performance measures are met, environmental issues are addressed and a source of supply is maintained.

Application

This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for staff with a specific responsibility for ensuring that groundwater system usage complies with the GWMP and that assets and processes comply with organisational and statutory requirements. The level of responsibility may vary according to the size, scope and complexity of the groundwater system.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Confirm GWMP performance measures.

1.1 Identify groundwater management requirements.

1.2 Identify stakeholder requirements that impact on the groundwater quality, quantity and conservation.

1.3 Gather historical groundwater information and apply as required.

1.4 Identify water quality and quantity requirements.

1.5 Identify environmental and development factors that impact on groundwater.

2Monitor and coordinate processes.

2.1 Conduct monitoring and testing programs.

2.2 Monitor groundwater usage and quality according to the GWMP.

2.3 Identify, investigate and report breaches of usage provisions and changes to quality parameters.

3Monitor performance of assets.

3.1 Monitor assets to ensure performance meets specifications in plan.

3.2 Correctly select, fit and use personal protective equipment.

3.3 Schedule maintenance programs to meet current and potential problems.

4Report on groundwater system usage.

4.1 Analyse, record and report coordination and monitoring data according to organisational procedures and statutory requirements.

4.2 Identify and investigate current and potential problems.

4.3 Report investigation results and recommendations.

Required Skills

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

Required skills:

interpret and apply legislation and policies

coordinate measuring and testing activities

conduct investigations

assess environmental impact

solve operational problems

produce reports

calculate flows

undertake source inspections

follow standard operating procedures

communicate with employees and customers

use communication equipment

identify control system faults

use safety equipment and personal protective equipment

identify potential sources of contamination.

Required knowledge:

relevant legislation

relevant enterprise policies

range of appropriate measuring and testing procedures

investigation procedures

customer expectations and requirements

groundwater analysis procedures

groundwater hydraulics

environmental legislation

properties of stored water

system layout

control systems

equipment operation

relevant utilities and service bodies

hazardous materials handling

effects of weather and conditions on bulkwater assets

principles of soil mechanics

concrete structure, strengths and deterioration

construction procedures

risk management techniques

occupational health and safety

organisational and statutory requirements.

Evidence Required

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 coordinate and monitor groundwater system usage including:

identifying groundwater management requirements, including water quality and quantity requirements

identifying stakeholder requirements and environmental and development factors that impact on groundwater

implementing monitoring and testing programs

monitoring groundwater usage and quality

investigating and reporting on breaches

monitoring assets performance

scheduling asset maintenance programs

analysing and reporting asset performance data

identifying, investigating and reporting current and potential asset problems, including recommendations for action.

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/or 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 should only be made 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, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.


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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Stakeholder may include:

water consumers

government

water authorities

environmental departments

general public

interest groups

industry

extractive industry.

Historic groundwater information may include:

relevant geological data

hydro-geological data

hydrological information

previous monitoring studies

land use studies

environment management studies.

Environmental and development factors may include:

human interaction

adsorption

pollutants

nutrients

salinity

cultural aspects

land use

other human activity

vegetation

urban growth

industry growth.

Monitoring and testing programs may include:

resource yield

testing procedures

testing medium

frequency

quality requirements

geophysical work

modelling

surveys

water quality

other variables.

Organisational procedures and statutory requirements may include:

statutory requirements, including:

relevant federal legislation

relevant state or territory legislation

relevant local government by-laws

Australian Drinking Water guidelines.


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Collection and distribution


Employability Skills

This unit of competency contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.