SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Manage water treatment processes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116980  Manage water treatment processes 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Water Sector 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 12 - Physical Planning and Construction Civil Engineering Construction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  7 
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 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard will be able to analyse and interpret the process and field data from a water treatment works. This competence will enable the learner to manage the operation of a water treatment process and guide the operational staff in optimising the treatment process. This knowledge will contribute towards the cost effective management of a treatment works and provide communities with good quality water. The achievement of this unit standard will expand the skills base of the qualifying learner and make the person more effective in his/her tasks. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Mathematical calculations NQF level 4; literacy NQF level 4 or equivalent, knowledge of coagulation, flocculation, clarification and filtration, potable water science, sampling and safety practices. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Raw water reservoir: Dam, river, impoundment.
  • Sustainability: Sustainability forecast, restrictions, rainfall, inflows, evaporation demand, reservoir level.
  • Biological monitoring: Algae, protozoa and coliforms.
  • Operational data: Pump rate, inflow rate, desludge volumes, meteorology data, final water flow rate.
  • Excessive water loss: An unaccounted loss of water during treatment process.
  • Guidelines and standards: SABS 241 - latest version) and DWAF domestic water guidelines.
  • System demand: Consumption data, meteorological data, reservoir fluctuations, demographics, resource sustainability
  • Process quality data: Coagulation, flocculation, clarification and filtration data.
  • Waste streams: Sludge, chemical wastes, screenings, rejects and concentrates. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Manage a raw water reservoir. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The distribution and extent of invasive plants on the water body is monitored and reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Floods are monitored and flood control is planned and regulated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Raw water reservoir levels are monitored in accordance with seasonal changes and sustainability forecasts are made. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Stratification of water body is monitored to determine the level of abstraction. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Biological monitoring laboratory results are monitored, interpreted and reported. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Manage the inlet of the works. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Stratification data is evaluated to determine level of abstraction. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Operational plan is developed based on water quality and treatment losses to determine pump rate in own plant. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Shift roster is drafted and personnel are allocated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Implementation of shift roster is monitored. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Implementation of safety procedures is monitored in accordance with relevant legislation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Monitor water balances and losses. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Operational data is reviewed and evaluated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The water balance and loss is calculated and excessive loss is determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Causes of excessive water losses are investigated and appropriate corrective action is taken in accordance with works procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Water balance and loss report is submitted. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Plan routine and preventative maintenance and repairs. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Routine and preventative maintenance schedule is planned. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Breakdown incidents are inspected and repair work is proposed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Resources are requested in accordance with requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Personnel are allocated in terms of the maintenance plan to carry out planned maintenance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is monitored at all times. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The quality and progress of maintenance is monitored on an ongoing basis. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Maintenance report is submitted within agreed time frames. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Manage water reservoir. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    System demand is evaluated and determined to plan for reservoir management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Operational schedule is drafted and resources are allocated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The implementation of the operation schedule is monitored and resources are allocated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Report on system demand is submitted within agreed time frames. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Optimise operational costs. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Raw water, process water and final water quality data is evaluated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The final water result is evaluated and analysed against guidelines and standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A series of laboratory tests are carried out using various chemicals to determine optimum dosage. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Financial analysis of the various chemicals, as tested in the laboratory, is performed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Plant trials with selected chemicals are performed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Adjustments are made to optimise the treatment process based on the process data. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Leave roster is implemented to minimise overtime. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Defective equipment monitored and reported timeously to prevent process interruption and loss of equipment. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 7 
    Manage the disposal of waste products at own works. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The various waste streams are identified, respective volumes produced are calculated and the methods of treatment before disposal are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of disposal are managed in accordance with relevant legislation. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA's policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the Qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the Qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Learners should have a knowledge and understanding of:
  • Invasive plants in watercourse.
  • Healthy ecosystem in a raw water system.
  • Pre, post and intermittent chlorination with regard to algae removal and odour and taste control.
  • Laboratory tests to determine optimum dosage.
  • Financial analysis.
  • Hydrology of own system and raw water reservoir.
  • Concepts of stratification.
  • Laboratory analysis to determine microbiological, physical and chemical quality of raw and final water.
  • Safety practices and procedures.
  • Record keeping. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made.

    Assessment criteria:
  • The water balance and loss is calculated and excessive loss is determined.
  • Causes of excessive water losses are investigated and appropriate corrective action is taken in accordance with works procedures.
  • The final water result is evaluated and analysed against guidelines and standards.
  • A series of laboratory tests are carried out using various chemicals to determine optimum dosage. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community.

    Assessment criteria: All. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Plan, organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.

    Assessment criteria:
  • Routine and preventative maintenance schedule is planned.
  • Breakdown incidents are inspected and repair work is proposed.
  • Resources are requested in accordance with requirements.
  • Personnel are allocated in terms of the maintenance plan to carry out planned maintenance.
  • The wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is monitored at all times. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Assessment criteria:
  • The water balance and loss is calculated and excessive loss is determined.
  • Causes of excessive water losses are investigated and appropriate corrective action is taken in accordance with works procedures.
  • The final water result is evaluated and analysed against guidelines and standards.
  • A series of laboratory tests are carried out using various chemicals to determine optimum dosage. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the form of oral and/or written presentation.

    Assessment criteria: All. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Assessment criteria: All. 

    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.

    Assessment criteria: All. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Legislation in this context refers to the National Water Act, 1998 and the Water Services Act.

    Integrated assessment

    When conducting assessments, assessors must ensure that they are familiar with the full text of the unit standards being assessed. Assessors must ensure that the assessment covers the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge by developing assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the learners are working. These activities and tools may include self-assessment, peer assessment, formative and summative assessment. It may be more effective and efficient to assess a number of unit standards together in an integrated way, thus reducing the overall number of assessments and ensuring that commonalities that exist among a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  59201   National Certificate: Generic Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  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.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.