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

Manage the disposal of effluents, solids and sludge from a wastewater treatment works in terms of relevant legislation and guidelines 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116970  Manage the disposal of effluents, solids and sludge from a wastewater treatment works in terms of relevant legislation and guidelines 
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 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  5 
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
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 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 manage the disposal of treated wastewater effluents, solids and sludges in accordance with relevant policies, legislation and guidelines. This competence will enable the learner to manage the disposal of effluents, solids and sludges at various types of wastewater treatment works. This knowledge will contribute towards the protection of our water resources, the environment and community health, in accordance with policies, legislation and guidelines. Achieving this unit standard will enhance the efficiency of the qualifying learner as a manager and advance his / her own expertise and employability in the water sector. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Knowledge of a wastewater treatment works and processes. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • Authorisation procedures include Authorisation in terms of Chapter 4 of the National Water Act, 36 of 1998.
  • Authorisation in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998.
  • Disposal options for solids refer to on-site or landfill site.
  • Waste discharge charges refers to proposed charges based on polluter pays principles.
  • Disposal options for effluent in terms of the National Water Act, Section 21 Water Uses are identified and Authorisation procedures for those at the coast includes disposal to marine outfall. Disposal options for effluent refers to the National Water Act, (Act 36 of 1998), Chapter 4 Section 21 (f), (g), (h) and (k)
  • Legislation in this context refers to the National Water Act, 1998; National Environmental Management Act, 1998; Licence documents, General Authorisations Notice No. 1191, 8 October, 1999; Regulation 2834, 1985, The Health Act, 1977.

    Guidelines in this context refer to relevant effluent and sludge disposal guidelines such as the Permissible utilisation and disposal of treated sewage effluent, 1978, (Irrigation Guidelines) and Permissible Utilisation And Disposal Of Sewage Sludge (1997) and related addendum (2002).

    Appropriate chemical parameters refers to parameters that constrain choice of disposal options for example:
  • Irrigation - Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR).
  • Industrial reuse - Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
  • Sludge application to land - Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP). 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Manage effluent re-use in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Irrigation practices are identified and the respective authorisation procedures explained and the Contract between provider and user is drawn up. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Irrigation practices at own works are identified and the management thereof is demonstrated in terms of the relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Industrial re-use practices of treated sewage effluent are identified and the authorisation procedures are explained and the Contract between provider and user is drawn up. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Internal re-use practices of treated sewage effluent at own works are identified and the management thereof is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Knowledge and application of appropriate chemical parameters that may influence disposal and reuse of effluents is demonstrated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Manage effluent disposal to a water resource in accordance with relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Disposal options for effluent in terms of the National Water Act, Section 21 Water Uses are identified and Authorisation procedures are explained. (Note for those at the coast this includes disposal to marine outfall). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Disposal options for effluent in terms of the National Water Act, Section 21 Water Uses at own works are identified and the management thereof is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Waste Discharge Charges for the treated effluent discharged to the environment are explained and charges for own water uses are calculated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Manage the disposal of solids (including screenings and grit/ detritus) in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Disposal options for solids are identified and management thereof is demonstrated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Legislative criteria are identified and explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Knowledge and application of appropriate chemical parameters that influence disposal and reuse of sludge are demonstrated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Manage the beneficial disposal of sludge in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Classification of sludge in terms of the sludge guidelines is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Sludge disposal options in terms of the sludge guidelines are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A contract between the provider and user is drawn up. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Management of the disposal of sludge at own works is demonstrated. 


    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 the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998), the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) and the Health Act, 1977.
  • Irrigation Guidelines: Guide: Permissible utilisation and disposal of treated sewage effluent (Irrigation Guidelines), 1978.
  • Sludge Guidelines: Permissible utilisation and disposal of sewage sludge, Edition 1, 1997 and Addendum, 2002
  • Authorisation documentation examples: licences, permits, general authorisation; registration of water use documentation.
  • Department Of Water Affairs and Forestry document entitled: Towards a Strategy for a Waste Discharge Charge System, September 2003. 
    		•

    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:
  • Management of the disposal of sludge at own works is demonstrated. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria: All 

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Management of the disposal of sludge at own works is demonstrated. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Disposal options for effluent in terms of the National Water Act, Section 21 Water Uses are identified and Authorisation procedures are explained. (Note for those at the coast this includes disposal to marine outfall).
  • Disposal options for effluent in terms of the National Water Act, Section 21 Water Uses at own works are identified and the management thereof is demonstrated.
  • Disposal options for solids are identified and management thereof is demonstrated. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria: All. 

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

    Assessment criteria: All. 

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

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  59201   National Certificate: Generic Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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.