SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Demonstrate knowledge required to effectively monitor water quality

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
110425	Demonstrate knowledge required to effectively monitor water quality
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-
FIELD			SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology			Fabrication and Extraction
ABET BAND	UNIT STANDARD TYPE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Undefined	Regular	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
REGISTRATION STATUS		REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE	SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		2018-07-01	2023-06-30	SAQA 06120/18
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard.

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD

This unit standard will be useful to people who are required to monitor water quality.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:

Demonstrate knowledge relating to water sampling

Demonstrate knowledge related to the water cycle in general

Demonstrate knowledge related to water pollution

Demonstrate knowledge related to the analysis of water samples

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:

Sciences, Communications and Mathematics at ABET Level 4 or equivalent

General Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental standards

Knowledge of the analytical techniques used for determining analytes in waters

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

This competency is applicable to persons responsible for monitoring the quality of water in the mining and minerals sector.

Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Demonstrate knowledge relating to water sampling.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Hazards and risks pertaining to the water sampling process are identified and explained in terms of team safety, health and environmental issues. The appropriate preventative measures are described in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The purpose of sampling a water source is explained in terms of specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The suitability of containers for the analysis of metals, organics, microbiological content, radioactivity, and toxicity are explained with respect to the quality of the stored sample.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. The purpose of preserving or not preserving water samples is explained in terms of the analyses required.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Must include analyses for the following:

Metals

Inorganic compounds

Organic compounds

Microbiological species

Radioactivity

Toxicity

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

5. The appropriate preservation technique is described in terms of the analyses required.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Preservation techniques must include the following:

Temperature control

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6

6. Knowledge of the site sampling programme in terms of the number of samples, sampling frequency, sampling points and sample volume is demonstrated in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7

7. The consequences of non-compliance with specified requirements are explained with respect to personal and team health and safety, impact on the environment, production, quality, costs and lost time.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8

8. The appropriate technique for sampling water sources is described in terms of sample integrity and specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Sources must include the following:

Drinking water

Streams

Rivers

Dams

Bore-holes

Rainfall

Effluent

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9

9. The chain of custody is explained in accordance with specified requirements for environmental samples.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Demonstrate knowledge related to the water cycle in general.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The elements of the water cycle are identified and explained in terms of the principles of ground water and the flow of surface water.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The principles of water catchment are explained in terms of the following:

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Principles must include the following:

Water flow in a catchment.

Ground water trapped in aquifers, fractures and sand.

Ground water and surface water collection and extraction.

Principles of resource management of boreholes and surface water

Natural sources of filtration.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The impact of users on water resources is explained in terms of the following:

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Impacts must include the following:

Recognised water uses within a catchmet.

Ways to conserve watger.

Economic importance of water usage, conservation and treatment

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Demonstrate knowledge related to water pollution.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. Sources of water pollution are identified and explained in the industrial and domestic sectors.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. Appropriate preventive and corrective actions for industrial and domestic sources of water pollution are explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The effects of water pollution are explained in terms of the following:

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Effects of water pollution must include the following:

Diseases commonly related to water and sanitation

Economic impact

Legal impact

Ecological impact

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Relevant water legislation is explained.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Explanations must include the following

Relevant national water licensing and the purposes thereof

Relevant environmental legislation and the purposes thereof

To be notified (DWAF).

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4

Demonstrate knowledge related to the analysis of water samples.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

1. The principal analytes are identified in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

2. The reasons for quantifying the identified analytes are explained in accordance with specified requirements.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

3. The frequency of monitoring is explained in terms of environmental risks and hazards.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

4. Analytical methods are identified and justified in accordance with specified requirement.

UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS

1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.

The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:

Report writing

Health and safety knowledge

Legal and site-specific requirements

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

Note: The ability of the candidate to identify substandard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community.

Note: The candidate is required to maintain the link in the process in order to achieve production, health, safety and environmental targets.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.

Note: The candidate is required to prioritise and integrate the various activities in order to meet the set targets.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Note: The ability of the candidate to collect and evaluate information from numerical data and/or physical observations in terms of specified requirements.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.

Note: The candidate is required to accurately and clearly convey information to relevant personnel.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE

Use science and technology effectively and critically, thus showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

Note: The candidate is required to use equipment responsibly to avoid environmental pollution and to safeguard team health.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING

Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

Note: The candidate is aware of his/her role in the organization in terms of social, economic and environmental impact.

UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA

Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:

Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.

Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.

Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.

The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.

The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.

All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

UNIT STANDARD NOTES

Terminology:

Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

Legal

Relevant Acts, e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act No. 50/1991)

Mandatory Codes of Practice

SABS and other relevant standards

Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

Site-Specific

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)

Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme

Voluntary Codes of Practice

Managerial Instructions

Mine Standard Procedures

List of Recorded OH&S Risks

Working Guides

Equipment and Materials Specifications

QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD:

	ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	STATUS	END DATE	PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
Elective	58952	Further Education and Training Certificate: Laboratory Analysis	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Registered"	2008-08-05	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual
Elective	64950	Further Education and Training Certificate: Laboratory Analysis	Level 4	NQF Level 04	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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