Water Industry Training in
non-metropolitan NSW
Robert Mitchell – Water Utilities Branch – July 2012
Presentation Overview
Background of NSW Water and Sewerage Training
Changing needs of LWU’s
National Water Training Package
NOW training Courses
NSW Government Training
1976 – Brochure
The State Government has
been instrumental in water
and sewerage training
Training delivered by
engineers, technical
officers and inspectors
Training provided at time of
construction
Regular training courses
Wastewater Training Courses Pre 2000
Level 1A Trickling Filter and Oxidation Ponds
– Trickling filters introduced in late 1920’s
– Procedure based operation
Level 1B Activated Sludge and Aerated Lagoons
– First Pasveer Channel - Adelong 1967
Level 1 – Awarded on completion of both 1A and 1B
In the last 20years…
1991 Blue Green Algae outbreak on the Murray/Darling
River System (1,000km)
20/30 BOD5/SS – licences
1994 – EPA Effluent Standards
1997 – Introduction of the POEO Act
– LBL the polluter pays
– Effluent standard based on in-stream WQO
c.1994…
Major Changes
Improved secondary
treatment
Reliable control of Nitrogen
and Phosphorus
Metabisulphate
Ferric
Alum MgOH
Hypo
The 2000’s training environment
1A Trickling Filter – Diminishing demand
1B Activated Sludge - Strong attendance and popularity
DLWC - Chemical Dosing and P Removal – Low demand.
Increasing sophistication in STW operations
Development of the National Water Training Package
NOW response
Reformat Courses
– Combine the 3 courses eliminating duplication
Part 1 Wastewater Operations
– Basic operation / procedure based
Part 2 Advanced Treatment
– Nutrient control, chemical processes
Alignment with NWP07
– Define the NOW training within the NWP07
National Water Training Package
Covers a broad range of specialisations, including:
Water treatment and distribution
Wastewater treatment and collection
Trade waste
Catchment operations and irrigation
Dams safety, operations and source protection
River and groundwater diversions and licensing
Construction and maintenance
Hydrometric monitoring.
Qualifications in the NWP07 Training
Package Certificate I in Water Sustainability
– Entry qualification
Certificate II in Water Operations
– monitor/operate/maintain/report
Certificate III in Water Operations (Part 2 Water and Sewerage*)
– monitor/operate/control
Certificate IV in Water Operations (Liquid Trade Waste Regulation)
– Develop/Coordinate/monitor/manage
Diploma of Water Operations
– Implement/Manage
* (in progress)
Certificate III in Water Operations
Completions of 3 Core Units
Implement, monitor and coordinate environmental procedures (NWP301B)
Organise personal work priorities and development (BSBCMN302A)
Contribute to OHS hazard identification and risk assessment (BSBOHS303A)
Completions of 8 Electives*
5 at Cert 3 Level
3 at Cert 2 Level
Part 1 – Wastewater Treatment
Operations (5 days) Topics covered
– Legislation
– collection systems
– preliminary, primary, secondary and tertiary processes.
– Trickling filters, oxidation ponds, aerated lagoons and basic activated sludge processes.
Assessment
– Theory exam
– On-site exam appropriate to the works being operated.
Resulting qualification
– An Operator Certificate
Course prerequisites
– Minimum of 4-6 weeks experience on the treatment works
Part 2 – Advanced
Treatment (5 days) Topics covered
– Basic chemistry & dosing systems
– operation and control of activated sludge systems,
– nutrient removal systems,
– testing and sampling for operational control.
Assessment
– Tutorial & practical session
– Written & on-site exam
Resulting qualification
– An Operator Certificate**
Course prerequisites
– Part 1 Course
– Either of the two wastewater operator courses 1A or 1B.
Challenges in Wastewater Training
Training is generic
– All STW are different
– Proprietary systems
Ongoing Development
– New/emerging technologies
– Training provided at commissioning
LWU Role
– Provide relevant experience
– Work place mentoring/direction
More information…
NSW Office of Water Website
www.water.nsw.gov.au
– Urban Water
• Country Towns Program
– Technical Support
» Training
Includes Details on:
– Liquid Trade Waste Regulation
– Water treatment Operations
Questions?
data
projector?
apologies to Scott Adams
Part 2 – Advanced Treatment (5 days)
The Part 2 course addresses a number of units of competency of the Certificate
III qualification under the NWP07 Water Training Package.
The Office of Water will be negotiating an agreement with NSW TAFE for the
issue of competency units. Once completed this will provide operators with a
nationally recognised qualification.
UOC Name
NWP208A Perform basic wastewater tests
NWP268B Monitor, operate and report chlorine disinfection systems
NWP271B Monitor, operate and report sedimentation processes
NWP346B Monitor, operate and control wastewater treatment processes
NWP350B Monitor, operate and control aerobic bioreactor processes
NWP351B Monitor, operate and control activated sludge processes
NWP359B Monitor, operate and control nutrient removal processes
NWP363B Monitor performance and control maintenance of treatment plant assets
NWP07 Electives 1. NWP300B Provide and promote customer service
2. NWP305B Monitor and conduct minor maintenance of complex flow-control and metering devices
3. NWP308B Test and commission wastewater collection systems
4. NWP309B Test and commission water distribution systems
5. NWP310B Monitor and operate water distribution systems
6. NWP311B Monitor and operate wastewater collection and transfer systems
7. NWP315B Investigate and report breaches of water industry legislation
8. NWP316B Monitor and schedule water deliveries
9. NWP317B Control water quality in distribution systems
10.NWP318A Monitor and operate gated spillways
11.NWP319A Monitor and control dam operations
12.NWP320B Monitor and implement dam maintenance
13.NWP321B Inspect and operate groundwater regulation
14.NWP322B Inspect and operate surface water systems
15.NWP323B Monitor and coordinate catchment operations
16.NWP324B Inspect and report river regulation operations
17.NWP325B Conduct and report on dam safety inspection and basic monitoring
18.NWP330B Establish positions of underground utilities using locating devices
19.NWP331B Inspect conduit and report on condition and features
20.NWP332B Monitor, operate and control drainage operations
NWP07 Electives 21. NWP333B Monitor and control rural water distribution operations
22. NWP334B Monitor and control maintenance of water distribution assets
23. NWP335B Monitor and control maintenance of wastewater collection and transfer assets
24. NWP336B Monitor and control maintenance of bulkwater assets
25. NWP337B Monitor and control maintenance of irrigation delivery systems or drainage assets
26. NWP338B Perform odour and infiltration investigations
27. NWP339B Perform leak detection
28. NWP340A Measure and process hydrometric stream discharge data using wading gaugings
29. NWP341A Install and maintain hydrometric instruments and equipment
30. NWP342A Commission, decommission and monitor hydrometric sites, stations and facilities
31. NWP345B Monitor, operate and control water treatment processes
32. NWP346B Monitor, operate and control wastewater treatment processes
33. NWP347B Monitor, operate and control coagulation and flocculation processes
34. NWP348B Monitor, operate and control sedimentation and clarification processes
35. NWP349B Monitor operate and control incineration processes
36. NWP350B Monitor, operate and control aerobic bioreactor processes
37. NWP351B Monitor, operate and control activated sludge processes
38. NWP352B Monitor, operate and control dissolved air flotation processes
39. NWP353B Monitor, operate and control anaerobic bioreactor processes
40. NWP354B Monitor, operate and control granular media filtration processes
NWP07 Electives 41.NWP355B Monitor, operate and control membrane filtration processes
42.NWP356B Monitor, operate and control ion exchange processes
43.NWP357B Monitor, operate and control reverse osmosis and nano filtration processes
44.NWP359B Monitor, operate and control nutrient removal processes
45.NWP360B Monitor, operate and control dewatering processes
46.NWP361B Monitor, operate and control gas scrubber treatment processes
47.NWP362B Monitor, operate and control reclaimed water irrigation
48.NWP363B Monitor performance and control maintenance of treatment plant assets
49.NWP364B Perform laboratory testing
50.NWP365A Identify and confirm blue green algae outbreaks
51.NWP366A Monitor, operate and control chloramination disinfection processes
52.NWP367A Monitor, operate and control activated carbon adsorption processes
53.NWP368A Respond to blue green algae incidents
54.LGAWORK405A Plan and supervise roadworks
55.LGAWORK406A Supervise concrete works