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