24948 version 1
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Describe the characteristics of, and sources that affect, wastewater
Level
4
Credits
15
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the
characteristics of wastewater, their effects on health and the environment,
common water-borne diseases, use of indicator organisms for water quality
monitoring, management of risks from contaminants in wastewater, and the
ways in which they are modified or treated by treatment processes; and
sources that affect wastewater composition.
Subfield
Water Industry
Domain
Wastewater Treatment
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 and visit by NZQA, industry
and teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
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
Definition
Wastewater includes stormwater and sewage systems.
2
Reference
Rules and requirements for wastewater include but are not limited to those found in –
rules in regional and district plans, and regulatory authority requirements.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
24948 version 1
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Describe the characteristics of wastewater, their effects on health and the environment,
common water-borne diseases, use of indicator organisms for water quality monitoring,
management of risks from contaminants in wastewater, and the ways in which they are
modified or treated by treatment processes.
Range
wastewater constituents include but are not limited to – Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), faecal coliforms; pathogens –
helminths, protozoa, bacteria, viruses; indicator organisms, nutrients, organics,
forms of nitrogen and phosphorous, pH, oil and grease.
Performance criteria
1.1
Wastewater constituents are described in terms of their features.
1.2
Wastewater constituents are described in terms of the ways in which they are
modified or treated by primary, secondary, tertiary, and alternative treatment
processes.
1.3
Wastewater constituents are described in terms of the likely concentrations
which impact on public health.
1.4
Wastewater constituents are described in terms of their impact on the
ecosystems, and the concentrations which impact on the environment.
1.5
Wastewater is described in terms of the common waterborne diseases it may
contain, and the use of indicator organisms in water quality monitoring.
1.6
Wastewater is described in terms of the management of risks from the
contaminants in wastewater.
Element 2
Describe sources that affect wastewater composition.
Performance criteria
2.1
The sources and composition of wastewater are described in terms of permitted
and prohibited substances, trade waste bylaws, volumes and concentrations.
2.2
The sources and composition of wastewater are described in terms of domestic
loading.
2.3
The sources and composition of wastewater are described in terms of
extraneous loading levels and timing.
Range
includes but is not limited to – stormwater, groundwater.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
24948 version 1
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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.
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