17874 version 2
Page 1 of 4
Demonstrate knowledge of basic science theory relating to water
Level
3
Credits
6
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of
basic microbiology; and describe basic chemistry and physics; relating to
water.
Subfield
Water Industry
Domain
Water - Generic
Status
Registered
Status date
19 September 2008
Date version published
19 September 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0179
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Reference
Drinking-water standards for New Zealand, Ministry of Health, Wellington, 2000 and
2005.
2
Definition
Water includes – drinking-water, environmental water, and wastewater.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
17874 version 2
Page 2 of 4
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of basic microbiology relating to water.
Range
microbiological populations – viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, algae and
pathogens.
Performance criteria
1.1
Microbiological populations are identified in terms of their basic differences.
1.2
Environmental factors affecting each microbiological population are described in
terms of nutrition requirements, temperature, pH, sunlight, aerobic, anaerobic,
and facultative.
1.3
Natural and artificial controls on each microbiological population are described
in terms of reproduction, die-off, disinfection, and marine salinity.
1.4
Microbiological population measurement methods are described in relation to
water quality monitoring.
Range
plate counts; coliform tests;
any two tests of – algae counts, aerobic organisms, giardia,
cryptosporidium, colilert.
Element 2
Describe basic chemistry relating to water.
Performance criteria
2.1
Elements in the periodic table are described in terms of their classification.
Range
2.2
Chemicals and compounds are described with reference to potable water
quality and in accordance with the Drinking-water standards.
Range
2.3
element names, chemical symbol, atomic numbers and masses.
acids, bases, salts, pH, equations, Table 13.2 of the Drinkingwater standards;
evidence is required for at least four.
Organic substances are outlined with reference to potable water quality and in
accordance with the Drinking-water standards.
Range
carbon chains, carbohydrates, oxidation, Tables 13.3 and 13.4 of
the Drinking-water standards;
evidence is required for at least three.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
17874 version 2
Page 3 of 4
2.4
States of matter are described in relation to their interrelationships when
changes occur between these states.
Range
2.5
solid, liquid, gas, latent heats.
Mixtures of solids and water are described in terms of their physical forms.
Range
suspensions, solutions, colloids.
Element 3
Describe basic physics relating to water.
Performance criteria
3.1
The hydrological water cycle is described in terms of the way in which it impacts
on a natural water supply source and an effluent receiving water supply.
Range
precipitation, surface flow, groundwater, oceans, evaporation,
transpiration, percolation, infiltration, permeability.
3.2
Variations in natural water quality are described in terms of flow volumes,
suspended solids, organics, pH, alkalinity, dissolved gases, inorganics and
temperature.
3.3
The states of energy relating to water are described in terms of the different
types of energy and energy losses.
Range
3.4
static, potential, pressure, kinetic, velocity head, friction losses,
pumps, hydraulic fall, hydroelectricity, water hammer, surges.
Water velocities and volumes are calculated for constant flows and the volumes
of simple shapes.
Range
rectangular and circular volumes, time to fill/empty, flow rates,
l/sec, cumecs, m3/hour, Ml/d.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
17874 version 2
Page 4 of 4
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016