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 an aerobic digester 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12049  Operate an aerobic digester 
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 2  NQF Level 02  5 
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 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 operate an aerobic digester in accordance with legislation, guidelines and procedures. This competence will enable the learner to operate pumps and aerators and monitor and maintain an aerobic digester. This unit standard will expand the skills base of the qualifying learner and make the person more effective in his/her tasks. This competence will contribute towards the optimal functioning of the wastewater treatment works and sustainability of the water environment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Numeracy NQF level 1;
Apply personal safety practices NQF level 2. 

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

Reports:
Maintenance, faults, irregularities.

Information:
Flows, sludge volumes and concentrations, breakdowns, incidents, material requisitions etc. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Operate pumps in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Pumps are checked while in operation for correct functioning. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Sludge is checked for correct flow rate and concentration. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Valve positions are checked. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Operate aerators in accordance with work procedures and legislation 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Aeration is controlled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Sludge inflow volume and concentration is controlled and monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Sludge outflow volume is controlled and monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Samples are taken for solids analysis. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Problems are identified and corrective action is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Maintain aerobic digester in accordance with work policies and procedures 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Operation of gearboxes is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Drive motors are monitored. 

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

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Routine maintenance procedures are described and scheduled. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Visual inspection of structure is completed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Fault reports are accurate and complete and the importance of accuracy is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. Information is communicated to relevant person. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Monitor aerobic digester 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Aeration is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Sludge retention time is monitored. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Problems are identified and corrective action is explained. 


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 Legislation: OHS Act. National Water Act when operating aerobic digesters
  • The importance of following relevant work policies and procedures
  • The principles of aerobic digesters
  • The difference between aerobic and anaerobic digesters
  • Sample procedures for aerobic digesters 
    		•


    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:
  • Problems are identified and corrective action is explained.
  • Fault reports are accurate and complete and the importance of accuracy is explained.
  • Problems are identified and corrective action is explained. 
    		•

    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:
  • Problems are identified and corrective action is explained.
  • Fault reports are accurate and complete and the importance of accuracy is explained.
  • Problems are identified and corrective action is explained. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • Operate pumps in accordance with work policies and procedures.
  • Operate aerators in accordance with work procedures and legislation.
  • Maintain aerobic digester in accordance with work policies and procedures.
  • Monitor aerobic digester. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • General maintenance tasks are identified and explained.
  • Routine maintenance procedures are described and scheduled.
  • Fault reports are accurate and complete and the importance of accuracy is explained.
  • Information is communicated to relevant person.
  • Problems are identified and corrective action is explained. 
    		•

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

    Assessment criteria:
  • None. 
    		•

    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:
  • None. 
    		•

    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 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 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    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 
    Elective  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 


    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.