Qualification Outline
22/07/2026 2:26 AM AWST
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Diploma of Water Industry Operations
Diploma of Water Industry Operations
NWP50126
BTT8
Current
Approved
National Endorsed, State Implementation and Classification
Releases
| Release Version | Release Date | TGA Status | DTWD Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 04/02/2026 | Current | Approved |
Description
This is a qualification for those engaged in water industry operations and includes specialisations for asset management, control centre operations, hydrographic survey, hydrometric monitoring, irrigation, networks, source, trade waste and treatment.
The general qualification covers skills and knowledge to obtain a broad range of skills in the water industry. It allows experienced staff to apply advanced practice and develop leadership roles.
Group A: Specialist Elective - Asset Management
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to analyse, develop and implement asset management plans to support and optimise risk, performance and life-cycle costs of water operations assets.
Group B: Specialist Elective - Control Centre Operations
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor, review, diagnose, test, operate and respond to network operations using supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to meet water quantity and quality requirements.
Group C: Specialist Elective - Hydrographic Survey
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to collect hydrographic data, determine features of marine floors, prepare and revise maps and charts and analyse, present and maintain graphical information about marine environments. Completion of this specialist grouping may lead to certification as a hydrographic surveyor.
Group D: Specialist Elective - Hydrometric Monitoring
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to measure, collect and analyse hydrometric information and review the accumulated data to develop water management plans for inland water systems including rivers, lakes, stormwater and sewage.
Group E: Specialist Elective - Irrigation
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to coordinate and manage the development, implementation and review of irrigation plans and systems.
Group F: Specialist Elective - Networks
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor and manage network operations including collection and treatment of drinking water and wastewater.
Group G: Specialist Elective - Source
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor and manage water provisioning from water sources including seawater, dams and reservoirs, rivers and bores.
Group H: Specialist Elective - Trade Waste
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to coordinate and manage the development, implementation and review of trade waste programs.
Group I: Specialist Elective - Treatment
This specialisation covers the skills and knowledge required to manage water supply assets including storage and service reservoirs, treatment plants, pumping stations, transfer mains, pressure reducing valves and hydro generation facilities.
Please note: RTO to insert on the testamur, the specialist elective unit group selected from the group choice below.
Schedule
Packaging Rules
A total of ten (10) units of competency comprising:General Qualification
- Two (2) core units listed below plus
- Four (4) units selected from any of the specialist elective group units plus
- Four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification
or
Specialisations
- Two (2) core units listed below plus
- Four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C listed below plus
- remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Up to two (2) of the elective units may be selected from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The elective units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification. Where imported units are selected, care must be taken to ensure all prerequisite units specified are complied with.
Elective units can only be counted once towards the qualification packaging rules, i.e. if a unit is listed in both a specialist elective group and the general elective group, it can only be counted as one of the elected units required.
1. Core units
Both units must be completed.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODQ03 | TLIF0024 | Develop and maintain a safe workplace | 50 | Unit of competency |
| OAO89 | NWPGEN016 | Interpret and comply with regulatory requirements | 55 | Unit of competency |
2. Group A: Asset management
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OER54 | TLIX0054 | Assess maintenance spares and manage repairable items | 15 | Unit of competency |
| OEQ18 | MSS404089 | Assist in implementing a proactive maintenance strategy | 50 | Unit of competency |
| OEQ05 | MSS405077 | Develop a proactive maintenance strategy | 55 | Unit of competency |
| OBW37 | RIISAM601E | Establish and maintain plant, equipment and infrastructure maintenance systems | 90 | Unit of competency |
| AVI57 | TLIL4059 | Implement asset management systems | 40 | Unit of competency |
| OAO79 | NWPAMG001 | Manage asset construction and maintenance | 80 | Unit of competency |
3. Group B: Control centre operations
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAO82 | NWPCCO001 | Analyse and implement network data | 45 | Unit of competency |
| OCK71 | PMAOPS338 | Communicate and monitor pipeline activities | 40 | Unit of competency |
| ODY98 | UEPOPS107 | Operate and monitor supervisory control and data acquisition systems | 54 | Unit of competency |
| ODY55 | UEPOPS126 | Plan a scheduled outage | 18 | Unit of competency |
| OAP11 | NWPCCO002 | Use control centre systems to monitor and control water | 70 | Unit of competency |
4. Group C: Specialist Elective – Hydrographic Survey
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAO91 | NWPHYS001 | Identify and analyse information technology for hydrographic surveys | 45 | Unit of competency |
| OAP09 | NWPHYS002 | Interpret and analyse science principles for hydrographic surveying | 45 | Unit of competency |
| OAO80 | NWPHYS003 | Manage and analyse water levels and flows | 55 | Unit of competency |
| OAO86 | NWPHYS004 | Manage hydrographic surveying projects | 55 | Unit of competency |
| OAP12 | NWPHYS005 | Use alternate positioning systems to gather data | 35 | Unit of competency |
| OAP10 | NWPHYS006 | Use remote sensing for hydrographic surveying | 25 | Unit of competency |
| OAP08 | NWPHYS007 | Use underwater acoustics to map waterways | 25 | Unit of competency |
5. Group D: Hydrometric monitoring
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAO92 | NWPHYD002 | Apply principles of open channel hydraulics | 35 | Unit of competency |
| OER21 | MSS024031 | Collect and evaluate meteorological data | 40 | Unit of competency |
| OAO90 | NWPHYD003 | Develop and maintain ratings | 100 | Unit of competency |
| OCW33 | NWPHYD007 | Measure discharge using wading method | 60 | Unit of competency |
| OAO93 | NWPHYD004 | Plan water resource management | 100 | Unit of competency |
| OAO81 | NWPHYD005 | Process and report hydrographic time series data | 100 | Unit of competency |
| OCW60 | NWPHYD009 | Undertake surveying of monitoring sites | 60 | Unit of competency |
6. Group E: Irrigation
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAO96 | NWPIRR004 | Develop and review a groundwater plan | 100 | Unit of competency |
| OAP02 | NWPIRR005 | Develop and review a surface water plan | 120 | Unit of competency |
| OAO88 | NWPIRR006 | Develop and review an irrigation system plan | 120 | Unit of competency |
| OAO77 | NWPIRR007 | Implement and coordinate a surface water plan | 120 | Unit of competency |
| OAO83 | NWPIRR008 | Implement and coordinate an irrigation delivery system plan | 100 | Unit of competency |
7. Group F: Networks
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAP04 | NWPNET006 | Apply construction principles to civil works in the water industry | 70 | Unit of competency |
| OAP05 | NWPNET007 | Conduct commissioning and post-commissioning activities | 120 | Unit of competency |
| OAO84 | NWPNET008 | Develop and manage a drinking water system plan | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OAO99 | NWPNET009 | Develop and manage a wastewater collection plan | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OAP06 | NWPNET010 | Develop and manage an alternate water supply plan | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OAO79 | NWPAMG001 | Manage asset construction and maintenance | 80 | Unit of competency |
8. Group G: Source
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAP03 | NWPSOU004 | Develop and manage a catchment plan | 55 | Unit of competency |
| OAO78 | NWPSOU005 | Develop and manage a dam safety inspection plan | 55 | Unit of competency |
| OAO87 | NWPSOU006 | Develop and manage a flood plan | 70 | Unit of competency |
| OAP00 | NWPSOU007 | Implement and coordinate a catchment plan | 100 | Unit of competency |
| OAO97 | NWPSOU008 | Implement and coordinate a groundwater plan | 100 | Unit of competency |
9. Group H: Trade waste
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAP07 | NWPTRD005 | Develop and modify trade waste policies and plans | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OAP01 | NWPTRD003 | Evaluate, implement and monitor high risk trade waste discharge approvals | 120 | Unit of competency |
| OAO95 | NWPTRD004 | Implement and manage trade waste policies and plans | 100 | Unit of competency |
| OCW62 | NWPGEN033 | Sample and test trade wastewater | 35 | Unit of competency |
10. Group I: Treatment
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
| State Code | National Code | Title | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCW35 | NWPTRT057 | Assess and improve coagulation and flocculation processes | 60 | Unit of competency |
| OCW32 | NWPTRT066 | Assess and improve wastewater processes to control microbial impacts | 40 | Unit of competency |
| OAO94 | NWPTRT002 | Develop and manage a treatment process monitoring program | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OAO85 | NWPTRT003 | Develop and manage a wastewater treatment plan | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OAO98 | NWPTRT004 | Develop and manage a water treatment plan | 80 | Unit of competency |
| OEY09 | MSL976006 | Evaluate and select appropriate test methods and/or procedures | 60 | Unit of competency |
11. General elective units
For the General Qualification:
- choose four (4) from any of the specialist elective groups plus
- four (4) units selected from anywhere within this qualification.
For the Specialisations:
- choose four (4) units from one of the specialist elective groups A, B, D, E, F, G, H or I listed below or seven (7) units from specialist elective group C.
- the remaining elective unit(s) to be selected from anywhere within this qualification.
Please refer to the packaging rules for the full details of available options.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEG3 | NWP50118 | Diploma of Water Industry Operations | Qualification |