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Evidence Guide: MSS027006A - Coordinate water quality management activities

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

MSS027006A - Coordinate water quality management activities

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Confirm scope of water quality management activities with manager

  1. Review legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements and approvals that apply to site/project/program
  2. Review current water quality management plan, including objectives, known issues, specified management activities and any required changes
  3. Review previous water quality records and reports, if available
  4. Confirm that water quality monitoring sites, sampling and measurement methods, instrumentation and enterprise procedures are in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines
  5. Clarify own scope of responsibility/authority for achieving specific outcomes and the roles of other key personnel
  6. Identify resources available to conduct water quality management activities
Review legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements and approvals that apply to site/project/program

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review current water quality management plan, including objectives, known issues, specified management activities and any required changes

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review previous water quality records and reports, if available

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Confirm that water quality monitoring sites, sampling and measurement methods, instrumentation and enterprise procedures are in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clarify own scope of responsibility/authority for achieving specific outcomes and the roles of other key personnel

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify resources available to conduct water quality management activities

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organise water quality management activities

  1. Develop a consolidated schedule to ensure all activities can be conducted efficiently with the available resources
  2. Develop checklists/clear work instructions to enable personnel to perform assigned tasks efficiently and with minimal errors
  3. Ensure that personnel who conduct monitoring and/or collect water samples are competent to undertake their assigned tasks
  4. Ensure water quality monitoring equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained and that adequate stocks of consumables are available
  5. Ensure water samples are handled in accordance with the sampling method and chain of custody requirements and dispatched promptly for analysis
  6. Conduct, or arrange for, regular site inspections to monitor the effectiveness of water quality management actions (if relevant to site/project/program)
  7. Advise relevant personnel when specified water quality management actions are not being implemented effectively (if relevant to site/project/program)
  8. Conduct, or arrange for, additional monitoring/inspections after atypical events, legitimate complaints or government requests
Develop a consolidated schedule to ensure all activities can be conducted efficiently with the available resources

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Develop checklists/clear work instructions to enable personnel to perform assigned tasks efficiently and with minimal errors

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure that personnel who conduct monitoring and/or collect water samples are competent to undertake their assigned tasks

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure water quality monitoring equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained and that adequate stocks of consumables are available

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure water samples are handled in accordance with the sampling method and chain of custody requirements and dispatched promptly for analysis

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct, or arrange for, regular site inspections to monitor the effectiveness of water quality management actions (if relevant to site/project/program)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advise relevant personnel when specified water quality management actions are not being implemented effectively (if relevant to site/project/program)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct, or arrange for, additional monitoring/inspections after atypical events, legitimate complaints or government requests

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verify water quality data

  1. Identify relevant job instructions, data and technical records in enterprise information management system
  2. Confirm that technical records provide sufficient information to ensure traceability/chain of custody for the monitoring activities involved
  3. Compare monitoring data with expected values and identify any outliers
  4. Inspect data records to identify any gaps and to check the integrity of data entry, transfers, alterations and calculations
  5. Notify manager when data is incomplete or contains significant errors, and clarify what action to take
Identify relevant job instructions, data and technical records in enterprise information management system

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Confirm that technical records provide sufficient information to ensure traceability/chain of custody for the monitoring activities involved

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare monitoring data with expected values and identify any outliers

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspect data records to identify any gaps and to check the integrity of data entry, transfers, alterations and calculations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notify manager when data is incomplete or contains significant errors, and clarify what action to take

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine if results are acceptable and within expectation

  1. Compare results with expected and/or relevant guideline values and identify any significant differences or trends
  2. Check the reliability of results by examining data or results from repeat measurements and/or tests of duplicate samples or other monitoring stations
  3. Assess the significance of any recorded observations of atypical environmental or meteorological conditions
  4. Check that all calculations are free from error
  5. Check that estimations of uncertainty are reasonable and consistent with the sampling method and relevant guidelines, if relevant
  6. Report results that meet enterprise data quality standards and are consistent with expectations
Compare results with expected and/or relevant guideline values and identify any significant differences or trends

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the reliability of results by examining data or results from repeat measurements and/or tests of duplicate samples or other monitoring stations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess the significance of any recorded observations of atypical environmental or meteorological conditions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check that all calculations are free from error

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check that estimations of uncertainty are reasonable and consistent with the sampling method and relevant guidelines, if relevant

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report results that meet enterprise data quality standards and are consistent with expectations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigate/rectify unexpected or unacceptable results

  1. Examine records of pre-use checks and calibration performance to ensure that the sampling equipment and/or monitoring/test instruments used meet specifications and enterprise requirements
  2. Establish whether human, environmental and/or meteorological factors could have affected the reliability of results
  3. Check for obvious sources of interference that may have occurred during measurements or analysis of samples
  4. Retrieve stored samples (if available) and assess whether they are atypical or contaminated
  5. Arrange for control tests using the same or new samples to check unexpected results, if relevant
  6. Report unexpected results that meet enterprise data quality standards
  7. Identify possible root causes of unacceptable results and appropriate preventative/corrective actions
  8. Report investigation outcomes and recommendations for improvements in accordance with enterprise procedures
  9. Seek manager’s advice when challenges are beyond own technical competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required
Examine records of pre-use checks and calibration performance to ensure that the sampling equipment and/or monitoring/test instruments used meet specifications and enterprise requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Establish whether human, environmental and/or meteorological factors could have affected the reliability of results

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check for obvious sources of interference that may have occurred during measurements or analysis of samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retrieve stored samples (if available) and assess whether they are atypical or contaminated

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arrange for control tests using the same or new samples to check unexpected results, if relevant

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report unexpected results that meet enterprise data quality standards

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify possible root causes of unacceptable results and appropriate preventative/corrective actions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report investigation outcomes and recommendations for improvements in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seek manager’s advice when challenges are beyond own technical competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep management informed about water quality performance

  1. Provide regular reports about water quality, including instances of potential/actual non-conformance, incidents and the actions taken in each case
  2. Report opportunities and recommendations for improvements in water quality monitoring or management in accordance with enterprise procedures
Provide regular reports about water quality, including instances of potential/actual non-conformance, incidents and the actions taken in each case

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report opportunities and recommendations for improvements in water quality monitoring or management in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain water quality records

  1. Ensure all water quality records are legible, accurate and satisfy enterprise/legislative requirements
  2. Store water quality records to enable easy access and review by authorised personnel in accordance with enterprise procedures
  3. Regularly review water quality records to identify any significant trends and impacts
  4. Identify any problems with the maintenance and security of water quality records and resolve them promptly
Ensure all water quality records are legible, accurate and satisfy enterprise/legislative requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Store water quality records to enable easy access and review by authorised personnel in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regularly review water quality records to identify any significant trends and impacts

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify any problems with the maintenance and security of water quality records and resolve them promptly

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

planning and implementing the day-to-day water quality management activities for a site, project or ongoing program

explaining water quality management plans, procedures, sampling/monitoring methods and operation of monitoring equipment clearly and accurately

verifying the accuracy and completeness of water quality data, results and technical records

investigating unexpected or unacceptable water quality results in a logical and efficient manner

reporting water quality results, performance and opportunities for improvements in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintaining water quality records in accordance with legislative/licensing/enterprise requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS027011A Select, commission and maintain environmental monitoring instruments.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

site/project/program history

relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans, actions, procedures, checklists and equipment manuals

water quality data sets, records and reports

sampling methods and description of monitoring set-up, and access to monitoring, sampling and testing equipment

computer and relevant software or enterprise information management system.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of water quality management data files, results and records verified by the candidate

feedback from managers and site personnel regarding the candidate’s ability to safely coordinate day-to-day water quality management activities

review of reports and recommended improvements for water quality monitoring or management prepared by the candidate

questions to assess understanding of procedures governing the validation of data; acceptability of data/results; sources of water quality data variability, interferences and uncertainty; and relevant preventative or corrective actions

analysis of case studies/reports of relevant water quality management issues and incidents

observation of the candidate providing water quality management information and/or instruction to other personnel.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

Required skills include:

accessing, interpreting and applying relevant legislative/regulatory requirements, standards, codes, guidelines and equipment manuals

explaining relevant water quality standards, sampling/monitoring methods, equipment operating procedures and enterprise water quality management actions clearly and concisely

verifying the accuracy and completeness of water quality data, results and technical records

using statistical tests (e.g. to determine data acceptability, estimate uncertainties, examine trends and infer basic relationships)

recognising unexpected or unacceptable data and results

analysing records of sampling, monitoring and/or calibration activities to identify potential causes of unacceptable/unexpected data and results

recommending appropriate preventative/corrective actions to control potential/actual non-conformances or incidents

solving complex technical problems, including identifying and rectifying instrument faults

responding effectively to complaints and requests for information

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

maintaining records and providing accurate, complete and timely reports

working safely and monitoring the safety of others

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

water quality management terminology, concepts and principles

legislative/regulatory requirements, standards, codes and guidelines dealing with water quality

enterprise water quality management plans, procedures (and water quality issues, control measures and mitigation/management actions for site/project, if relevant)

measurement parameters and for waters, sediments or biota (relevant to job role)

detailed scientific and technical knowledge of the samples, sampling/monitoring methods, equipment, materials and instrumentation used to generate the water quality data, including calibration, fault-finding and troubleshooting

expected values for water quality parameters, relevant ANZECC guidelines, and statutory environmental quality concentration limits or similar

problem-solving techniques and cause analysis

impacts of common human, environmental and/or meteorological factors on data quality

sources of interference, uncertainty, limitations of methods and sources of variability

enterprise procedures for identifying/assessing environmental risks/impacts, responding to complaints and environmental incidents, and record management and reporting water quality data

interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution techniques

relevant health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures

Range Statement

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

pollution and contaminated sites

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS 2031:2001 Selection of containers and preservation of water samples for microbiological analysis

AS 3550 series - Water analysis

AS/NZS 4276 series - Water microbiology

AS/NZS 5667 series - Water quality - sampling

US Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Methods and guidance for the analysis of water

American Public Health Association (APHA) Standard methods for the examination of waters and wastewaters

ANZECC Guidelines for fresh and marine water quality

Australian Guidelines for water quality monitoring and reporting

enterprise sampling and monitoring protocols

equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogue and handbooks

government policy (e.g. environmental protection and impact assessment)

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice

site-specific requirements

Water quality measurement parameters (field and laboratory)

Water quality measurement parameters may include:

physical and chemical tests, such as:

temperature

electrical conductivity

phosphorus (total and soluble reactive)

nitrogen (nitrate, organic, ammonia and Kjeldahl)

ratio of total phosphorus to total nitrogen

total organic carbon (TOC)

dissolved organic carbon (DOC)

biological oxygen demand (BOD)

chemical oxygen demand (COD)

true colour (Pt/Co units)

turbidity

Secchi disk depth

total suspended solids

volatile suspended solids

chlorophyll and phaeophytin

pH

silica

metals (total and dissolved)

organic and inorganic pollutants

microorganisms

ecotoxicological tests, such as:

toxicity tests (bioassays) using bacteria, algae, invertebrates and fish

use of biomarkers and bioaccumulation

ecological assessment (e.g. Australian River Assessment System (AUSRIVAS) for rapid assessment of health using macro invertebrates)

Sampling and field monitoring equipment

Sampling and field monitoring equipment may include:

bottle sampling containers (e.g. glass, polyethylene and plastic)

pumping systems for shallow depths, depth samplers, automatic samplers and integrating samplers

groundwater sampling systems

sediment sampling systems

samplers for aquatic organisms, such as nets, traps, cages, hose pipe, sticks and modified brushes

reagents, such as acid washes, electrode filling and storage solutions, and preservatives

filters, such as membrane, microfiber and paper

parameter specific meter or multi-probes (e.g. dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and temperature)

field test kits to determine such parameters as dissolved gases, chemical anions and cations, heavy metals, E. coli and BOD

portable colorimeters, field microscopes

data loggers and global positioning system (GPS)

Water quality reports

Water quality reports may include:

weekly and monthly environmental reports

non-conformance report form

contributions to regulatory agency reports as required by permit, approval or licence conditions

Water quality records

Water quality records may include:

digital photographs of water quality monitoring sites

data files

records required by permit, approval or licence conditions

records of monitoring equipment purchase, calibration, inspection, maintenance and service

records of complaints and government requests

records of water quality non-conformances, incidents or significant impacts

contractor and supplier information

internal quality/environmental audit reports

electronic/hard copy correspondence

records of approved expenditure and orders

Water quality management actions

Water quality management actions will vary greatly with the type of site and industrial processes involved and may include:

correct handling and storage of chemicals and fuels to prevent spills to wetlands and stormwater system

minimising water consumption through substitution, water efficient devices and recycling/reuse

scheduling of works to enable disturbed areas to be promptly re-vegetated or stabilised progressively

regular inspection and maintenance of sediment control structures and stormwater drainage pits

keeping stormwater run-off free of litter, gross pollutants and contaminants

diversion of clean run-off away from disturbed areas

use of vegetated swale drains and filter strips

use of erosion control structures, such as silt fences, sand bags and geofabric wrapped hay bales

checking water for contaminants before disposal

controlling the timing, frequency and magnitude of water releases from the site

controlling access of feral/stock and domestic animals to wetlands

limiting disturbance of wetlands, riparian areas and drainage channels by vehicles and/or boats

OHS and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health