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 rotating biodisc contactor 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12048  Operate rotating biodisc contactor 
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  2008-02-09  SAQA 1058/05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2009-02-09   2012-02-09  

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 in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to operate a Rotating Biodisc Contactor (RBC) process in accordance with legislation and work policies and procedures to ensure a good quality effluent. This competence will equip the qualifying learner with an enhanced skills base thereby improving the qualifying learner`s motivation, employability in the water sector and contribute towards the smooth running of the wastewater works. This competence will contribute towards the sustainability of the water system for all communities. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Apply personal safety practices NQF level 2;
Knowledge of mechanical and electrical equipment NQF level 2;
Literacy NQF level 1. 

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

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

Irregularities:
Odours and/or colour change.

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

Information:
Minor breakages, temporary repairs. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

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

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Work is planned and priorities are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Biodiscs on RBC are monitored and irregularities are reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Solids in RBC are removed regularly. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Thickness of sludge in the RBC is measured for withdrawal purposes. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Sludge is disposed of correctly. 

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

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Motor and gearbox in the RBC are lubricated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Solids are removed from biodiscs. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Maintenance problems are reported. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Inspect RBC effluent for quality 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Final effluent of RBC is visually inspected and irregularities are reported. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. RBC flows are monitored. 

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 are reported in accordance with works regulations. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Major breakages are reported in accordance with works regulations. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Reports are complete and accurate and handed in 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 a Rotating Biodisc Contactor
  • The final effluent and disposal/recycle options 
    		•


    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:
  • Problems with quality are noted/recorded and reported.
  • Irredularities are reported in accordance with works regulations.
  • Major breakages are reported in accordance with works regulations. 
    		•

    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:
  • Work is planned and priorities are explained.
  • Designated tasks are completed.
  • Major breakages are reported in accordance with works regulations. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Problems with quality are noted/recorded and reported.
  • Irregularities are reported in accordance with works regulations.
  • Major breakages are reported in accordance with works regulations. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Work is planned and priorities are explained.
  • Problems with quality are noted/recorded and 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 
    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
    Product sample reports 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    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 
    Elective  60190   National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Control  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  EWSETA 
    Elective  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 


    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.
     
    1. CHILUTSI TRADING ENTERPRISE 
    2. DR HE MAEPA INSTITUTE 
    3. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    4. ERWAT 
    5. HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY 
    6. K-BONENG CONSULTING SERVICES (PTY) LTD 
    7. Kelvin Power (Pty) Ltd 
    8. NTANDOKAZI HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD 
    9. SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 


    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.