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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate knowledge of biological processes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12044  Demonstrate knowledge of biological 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 2  NQF Level 02  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2005-02-09  2007-11-28  SAQA 1058/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2008-11-28   2011-11-28  

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 is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
246473  Demonstrate knowledge of elementary biology in the water wastewater environment  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will have knowledge and understanding of biological processes including biochemical reactions and aerobic and anaerobic processes related to wastewater. This competence will equip the learner with knowledge that contributes to the learner`s personal development, which will enhance employability of the qualifying learner in both the water sector and other related jobs. The application of this knowledge in the wastewater context, will impact positively on the environment and the ecology. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Literacy NQF level 2;
Numeracy NQF level 2. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Attached growth processes:
Anaerobic and aerobic biological filters, rotating biodisc contactor, submerged aerated biofilter.

Suspended growth processes:
Activated sludge, conventional anaerobic digester.

Aerobic processes:
Activated sludge, oxidation ponds, biological filters, composting processes, rotating biological contactors, aerobic digesters.

Anaerobic processes:
Anaerobic ponds, anaerobic digester, septic tank, sludge lagoons.

Micro and macro organisms:
Bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and higher animals.

Chemical test:
Chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity, phosphate, suspended solids, permanganate value. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Explain biochemical reactions 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The purpose of the biological treatment process is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Types of Micro and Macro organisms found in wastewater treatment processes are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Biochemical reactions in wastewater treatment processes are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Concepts of Metabolic reactions, energy synthesis, Growth, Death and Population dynamics are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Chemical tests used to monitor biological processes are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Photosynthesis reactions are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Explain aerobic processes 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Aerobic Metabolic Reactions are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Carbon, Nitrogen and sulphur cycles are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Oxygen requirements are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Nutritional requirements are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. The types of Aerobic processes are drawn accurately and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Process operational fundamentals are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. Microbiological indicators of operator are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
8. Chemical tests used to monitor the process are described. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Explain anaerobic processes 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Anaerobic Metabolic Reactions are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The types of anaerobic processes are drawn accurately and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Process operation fundamentals are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Chemical tests used to monitor the process are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Explain attached growth processes 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Types of attached growth processes are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Benefits of attached growth processes are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Principals of operation of attached growth process are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
Explain suspended growth processes 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Types of suspended growth process are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Benefits of suspended growth process are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Principles of operation of suspended growth processes are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. The concepts of hydraulic residence time and sludge age in a suspended growth process are explained. 


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:
  • Chemical tests used to monitor wastewater treatment
  • Microscopic examination skills
  • The importance of biological processes
  • The difference between aerobic and anaerobic processes
  • The difference between attached growth and suspended growth processes 
    		•


    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:
  • Benefits of attached growth processes are explained.
  • Benefits of suspended growth process are explained.
  • The concepts of hydraulic residence time and sludge age in a suspended growth process are explained. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • None. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • None. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • The purpose of the biological treatment process is explained.
  • Process operation fundamentals are explained.
  • Benefits of attached growth processes are explained.
  • Benefits of suspended growth process are explained. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • The purpose of the biological treatment process is explained.
  • Chemical tests used to monitor the process are described.
  • Chemical tests used to monitor the process are explained. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • None. 
    		•

    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 NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 246473, which is "Demonstrate knowledge of elementary biology in the water wastewater environment", Level 2, 3 credits.

    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 between a number of unit standards are captured in a way that makes sense for assessment.

    Assessment option:

    Learners could be assessed using the following methods:
    Oral or written questions 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  22673   National Certificate: Wastewater Process Operations  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-11-28  Was EWSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    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.