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 reticulation pump station 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254066  Operate a reticulation pump station 
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 3  NQF Level 03  10 
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
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
115955  Operate a wastewater pump station  Level 3  NQF Level 03  12   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner achieving this unit standard in combination with context expertise standard(s) will be able to explain the working principles of pumps and operate and maintain a pump station in the wastewater sector. This competence will enable the learner to operate and maintain pumps, diagnose faults and work with moving machinery in accordance with work and safety procedures. In acquiring this competence the qualifying learner will lay a good foundation for future learning and action, and better understand the broader context of own work. Achieving this unit standard will enhance the employability of the qualifying learner in the water sector and other related sectors. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Knowledge of personal safety practices. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Pumps:
  • Centrifugal (submersible, immersible and dry well) reciprocating, ejector and screw.

    Components of pumps:
  • Impeller, casing, filter, packing, nipples, shafts, universal joints/couplings, bleed-off points, gaskets, gauges, bearings and suction and delivery pipe work.

    Hazards:
  • Harmful gases, slippery conditions, electrical equipment, moving mechanical equipment, vertical drops and falls and biological contact.

    Maintenance of pumps:
  • Cleaning inlets, filters, packing glands and lubrication.

    Valves:
  • Non return, isolating, regulating, sluice-gate venting and resilience seal valves.

    Drive-units for pumps:
  • Water, hand, wind, electric and internal combustion.

    Indications of malfunctions:
  • Excessive vibration, excessive noise, gland water (too much or too little) water leaks, high temperature, odour, low delivery of water, non-delivery of water, high/low current. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify and explain pumps. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of pumps are identified and the principles of their operation are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Appropriate applications of different pump types are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The components of pumps are identified. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Comply with safety procedures in pump station. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Potential hazards on a pump station are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Lock out procedures are demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Security procedures are demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Safety checks are completed in accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Safety requirements are applied in accordance with current and relevant occupational health and safety legislation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Operate pumping system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Pre-start inspection is completed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    On-and-off procedures are carried out in accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Pump is monitored and operated safely accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Indications of malfunctions are identified and appropriate action is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Rotation of pump duties and cleaning procedures are completed in accordance with work procedure. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Provide basic maintenance for pumps. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Inlet to pumps are checked and cleaned. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Packing of glands and lubrication procedures are completed using the appropriate tools. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Problems are identified and identified and appropriate corrective action is taken in accordance with own scope of responsibility. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Maintain and repair valves in a pumping system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Valves are serviced in accordance with work procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Repairs within own scope of responsibility are completed using the appropriate tools. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Service drive-units of pumps. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Drive-units of pumps are identified and described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Drive-units are serviced in terms of code of practice, own scope of work and work procedures. 


    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 
  • Relevant codes of practice.
  • The purpose of pumps and the pumping system.
  • Reasons for rotation of pump duty.
  • Principles of servicing pumps.
  • Malfunctions and potential faults including excessive vibration, excessive noise, gland water (too much or too little) water leaks, temperature, odour, low delivery of water, non-delivery of water, high/low current.
  • Purpose and types of valves in a pumping system.
  • Cleaning sumps and screenings.
  • Hazards associated with a pump station including harmful gases, slippery conditions, electrical equipment, moving mechanical equipment, vertical drops and falls and biological contact.
  • Lubricating and refuelling diesel drive-unit.
  • Bleeding diesel fuel lines.
  • Safety precautions when working with or near electricity.
  • The difference between submersible, immersible and dry well pumps.
  • Preventative maintenance procedures for pumps.
  • Security at a pump station. 
    		•

    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:
  • Potential hazards on a pump station are identified.
  • Rotation of pump duties and cleaning procedures are completed in accordance with work procedure.
  • Problems are identified and identified and appropriate corrective action is taken in accordance with own scope of responsibility. 
    		•

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

    Refer to all Assessment Criteria. 

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

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

    Assessment Criteria:
  • Potential hazards on a pump station are identified.
  • Rotation of pump duties and cleaning procedures are completed in accordance with work procedure.
  • Problems are identified and identified and appropriate corrective action is taken in accordance with own scope of responsibility. 
    		•

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

    Refer to all Assessment Criteria. 

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

    Refer to all Assement Criteria. 

    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:
  • Safety requirements are applied in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety Act.
  • Rotation of pump duties and cleaning procedures are completed in accordance with work procedure. 
    		•

    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 
    This unit standard replaces unit standard 115955, " Operate a wastewater pump station", Level 3, 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.
  • Simulation. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  60155   National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Reticulation Services  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  EWSETA 
    Elective  66429   National Certificate: Landscape Irrigation  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    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. ERGO MAPHELONG INSTITUTE (PTY) LTD 
    3. ERWAT 
    4. HAZYVIEW WATER SKILLS ACADEMY 
    5. SEANEGO INTERGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 
    6. THOBOLOGO TRAINING & EDUCATION GROUP 


    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.