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: 

Operate a biofilter 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12046  Operate a biofilter 
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  5 
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
246445  Operate a biological trickling filter  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4   
246448  Operating a rotating biological contactor unit  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 be able to operate and maintain a biofilter in accordance with legislation and work policies and procedures to ensure a good quality effluent. This will contribute towards the smooth running of the wastewater works and 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 
Literacy NQF level 1;
Apply personal safety practices NQF level 2. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Work policies and procedures:
Best operating procedures.

Flow:
Influent, effluent, recycle.

Reports:
Include fault reports, breakages, pump hours, repairs, and/or maintenance.

Irregularities:
Odours and/or colour change and ponding.

Major breakages:
Pump break down, motor burn out, seized bearings, seized filter arm etc.

Information:
Minor breakages, temporary repairs. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Operate biofilter in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Nozzle and air vent blockages on biofilter are opened. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Ponding on biofilter is reported and corrective action is taken. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Drying out of biological bed is reported and corrective action is taken. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Even distribution of wastewater through distribution arms is checked. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Flow to biofilter is monitored and controlled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Weeds are removed from biofilter bed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. Psychoda fly population is monitored. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Complete maintenance of biofilter in accordance with work procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Distribution arm in biofilter is lubricated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Openings between media in biofilter are cleaned and distribution arm is rodded. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Media surface is kept clean of foreign matter. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Stays securing distribution arm are checked and defects are reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Seals and free arm movement are checked. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Maintenance problems are reported. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Inspect biofilter effluent for quality 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Effluent of biofilter is visually inspected and irregularities are reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Flows of biofilter are monitored for even distribution. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Problems with quality are noted/recorded and reported. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Complete designated tasks and reports in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Designated tasks are completed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Irregularities and information are reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Major breakages are reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Reports are completed accurately and submitted to relevant person. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Relevant information is communicated. 


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:
  • Importance of following relevant work policies and procedures
  • The principles of a biofilter
  • The final effluent and disposal/recycle options
  • Health risks of working with wastewater
  • Purpose of psychoda flies and micro organisms
  • Chemical addition procedures 
    		•


    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:
  • Ponding on biofilter is reported and corrective action is taken.
  • Seals and free arm movement are checked.
  • Problems with quality are noted/recorded and reported.
  • Irregularities and information are reported.
  • Relevant information is communicated. 
    		•

    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:
  • Designated tasks are completed.
  • Reports are completed accurately and submitted to relevant person. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Phychoda fly population is monitored.
  • Seals and free arm movement are checked.
  • Problems with quality are noted/recorded and reported.
  • Irregularities and information are reported.
  • Relevant information is communicated. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Maintenance problems are reported.
  • Effluent of biofilter is visually inspected and irregularities are reported.
  • Problems with quality are noted/recorded and reported.
  • Irregularities and information are reported.
  • Major breakages are reported.
  • Relevant information is communicated. 
    		•

    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:
  • None. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by the following unit standards:
  • 246445: "Operate a biological trickling filter and field test", Level 2, 4 credits.
  • 246448: "Operating a rotating biological contactor unit", 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
    Observation 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  22672   National Certificate: Wastewater Process Control  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2008-06-11  Was EWSETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  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.