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

Operate activated sludge process 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12056  Operate activated sludge process 
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 4  NQF Level 04  18 
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 is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
255984  Operate and control activated sludge process  Level 4  NQF Level 04  12   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to purify wastewater by removing dissolved and suspended organic material to ensure a good quality effluent. This competence will enable the learner to operate the activated sludge process at various wastewater works. This knowledge will contribute towards the protection of the water environment in accordance with legislation and regulations. 

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

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

Aerators:
Surface, diffused air.

Sludge:
Return, waste, mixed liquor activated sludge, conventional, extended aerator, sequential batch reactor.

General maintenance:
Check nuts & bolts and gear wheels, maintain cleanliness of equipment, check for water in oil, grease bearings, replenish oil, machine guards, gland packing

Ad hoc sample:
Emergency, special request.

Reports:
Maintenance, faults, irregularities in influent, power failures, mechanical breakdowns, dissolved oxygen measurements. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Operate the activated sludge process in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

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

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Inflow is controlled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Aeration is controlled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Sludge is controlled in accordance with sludge age and sludge volume index. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Clarifier effluent solids carryover is controlled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Possible causes of solids carryover are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. Actions to rectify problems are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Monitor and sample the activated sludge process 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Inflow is checked and unusual conditions are noted and sampled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Scums are monitored and appropriate action is taken based on visual inspections. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Sludge is monitored for septic conditions and corrective action is taken and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Rising sludge caused by bulking or de-nitrification are monitored and corrective action is taken and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Routine process samples are taken as prescribed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Ad hoc samples are taken based on problems identified within the process. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Interpret results 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Process sample analytical results are interpreted and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Appropriate corrective action is explained and demonstrated. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Maintain equipment 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Operation of gearboxes is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Pumps and motors are monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. General maintenance tasks are identified, explained and demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Fault reports are accurate and the importance of accuracy is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
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. Reasons are given for incomplete tasks. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Ways to ensure tasks are completed within own hours of work are proposed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Reports required by the works are identified and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Reports are accurate, complete and handed to relevant person. 


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:
  • Relevant sections of Legislation: OHS Act, National Water Act, local by-laws
  • The importance of following relevant work policies and procedures
  • The tests done on process samples, interpretation of results and corrective action
  • The principles of the activated sludge process
  • The causes of unit process malfunctions
  • Alternative ways, using other senses, of identifying problems on a wastewater works
  • Routine maintenance (scheduled maintenance) procedures for equipment
  • Maintenance, cleaning and calibration of probes in own works
  • Safety and emergency procedures when operating an activated sludge process 
    		•


    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:
  • Inflow is controlled.
  • Routine process samples are taken as prescribed.
  • Ad hoc samples are taken based on problems identified within the process
  • Process sample analytical results are interpreted and explained.
  • Appropriate corrective action is explained and demonstrated.
  • Operation of gearboxes is monitored.
  • Ways to ensure tasks are completed within own hours of work are proposed. 
    		•

    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.
  • Aeration is controlled. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Inflow is controlled.
  • Routine process samples are taken as prescribed.
  • Ad hoc samples are taken based on problems identified within the process.
  • Process sample analytical results are interpreted and explained.
  • Appropriate corrective action is explained and demonstrated.
  • Operation of gearboxes is monitored.
  • Ways to ensure tasks are completed within own hours of work are proposed. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Inflow in controlled.
  • Routine process samples are taken as prescribed.
  • Ad hoc samples are taken based on problems identified within the process.
  • Process sample analytical results are interpreted and explained.
  • Appropriate corrective action is explained and demonstrated.
  • Operation of gearboxes is monitored.
  • Ways to ensure tasks are completed within own hours of work are proposed.
  • Reports required by the works are identified and explained. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Inflow is controlled.
  • Operation of gearboxes is monitored. 
    		•

    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:
  • Routine process samples are taken as prescribed.
  • Ad hoc samples are taken based on problems identified within the process. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 255984, which is "Operate and control activated sludge process", Level 4, 12 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
    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
    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.