Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What pre-season maintenance might be carried out?
Pre-season maintenance may include weed control, motor servicing, flushing and supply distribution, desilting channels, descaling and equipment service.

What post-season maintenance might be carried out?
Post-season maintenance may include disconnecting electrics, motor servicing, reports of equipment and machinery damage, flushing and draining, protection from environmental damage, and servicing equipment.

What types of gravity fed irrigation systems might be relevant to this standard?
These might include border check, contour irrigation, furrow irrigation, hillside flooding and basin irrigation. Border check systems may be either permanent or temporary earth, plastic or concrete devices for insertion in a drain for reticulating water, contour banks used to collect and distribute water along the perimeter of an irrigation plot, contour banks within a plot to collect/distribute water, or larger scale systems to stop water exiting one area to another. Gravity fed systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

What periodical maintenance might be required?
This may include maintaining fuel, lubrication and cooling levels, and changing lubricants and filters.
Periodical maintenance for the pumping unit may include changing engine oil, replacing the oil filter, replacing the air cleaner, checking battery water level, pre-cleaner, gear box oil, cooling system/water, fuel, battery charge and fuel tank, greasing the pump jack shaft and bearings, and flushing (de-silting) the pump, etc.
Environmental considerations may include environmentally safe disposal of oils/grease and other contaminants.

What might the OHS requirements be for maintenance of gravity fed irrigation systems?
Requirements may include systems and procedures for safe manual handling, outdoor work (including protection from solar radiation, dust and noise), selection, use and maintenance of relevant personal protective clothing and equipment, selection, care and safe use of hand tools, and safe systems for the prevention of electrical injury.

What might the supply and distribution system and parts consist of?
These may vary according to brand and supplier and may include pumps, tensiometers, probe tubes, flow meter, pressure gauge, computer and/or other scheduling devices, recycling equipment, and spray equipment.

What outlets might require maintenance?
Outlets may include siphons, cups and flumes, pipes and gates/slides/doors.

What adverse environmental impacts may occur?
These may include leaking channels or water storages and the secondary impacts of erosion and salinity.

Why might banks require repair?
Banks may be damaged by washouts, subsidence, run-off, and/or animals.

What mechanical methods might be used for weed control?
These may include graders, backhoes, front-end loaders, ploughs, and moulding boards.

What might the OHS and environmental requirements be for weed control/removal?
OHS requirements may include safe systems and procedures for the operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment, the handling, transporting, use and storage of farm chemicals, and protection against chemical residues, including that in/on foliage, water, soil and other items.
Environmental considerations may include choice of chemical versus mechanical weed control/removal, use of hand versus powered equipment, and procedures for avoiding chemical contamination of water supplies.

What crops and plants will require protection?
Crops and plants will vary with the region.

What pre-season maintenance might be carried out?
Pre-season maintenance may include weed control, motor servicing, flushing and supply distribution, desilting channels, descaling and equipment service.

What post-season maintenance might be carried out?
Post-season maintenance may include disconnecting electrics, motor servicing, reports of equipment and machinery damage, flushing and draining, protection from environmental damage, and servicing equipment.

What types of gravity fed irrigation systems might be relevant to this standard?
These might include border check, contour irrigation, furrow irrigation, hillside flooding and basin irrigation. Border check systems may be either permanent or temporary earth, plastic or concrete devices for insertion in a drain for reticulating water, contour banks used to collect and distribute water along the perimeter of an irrigation plot, contour banks within a plot to collect/distribute water, or larger scale systems to stop water exiting one area to another. Gravity fed systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

What periodical maintenance might be required?
This may include maintaining fuel, lubrication and cooling levels, and changing lubricants and filters.
Periodical maintenance for the pumping unit may include changing engine oil, replacing the oil filter, replacing the air cleaner, checking battery water level, pre-cleaner, gear box oil, cooling system/water, fuel, battery charge and fuel tank, greasing the pump jack shaft and bearings, and flushing (de-silting) the pump, etc.
Environmental considerations may include environmentally safe disposal of oils/grease and other contaminants.

What might the OHS requirements be for maintenance of gravity fed irrigation systems?
Requirements may include systems and procedures for safe manual handling, outdoor work (including protection from solar radiation, dust and noise), selection, use and maintenance of relevant personal protective clothing and equipment, selection, care and safe use of hand tools, and safe systems for the prevention of electrical injury.

What might the supply and distribution system and parts consist of?
These may vary according to brand and supplier and may include pumps, tensiometers, probe tubes, flow meter, pressure gauge, computer and/or other scheduling devices, recycling equipment, and spray equipment.

What outlets might require maintenance?
Outlets may include siphons, cups and flumes, pipes and gates/slides/doors.

What adverse environmental impacts may occur?
These may include leaking channels or water storages and the secondary impacts of erosion and salinity.

Why might banks require repair?
Banks may be damaged by washouts, subsidence, run-off, and/or animals.

What mechanical methods might be used for weed control?
These may include graders, backhoes, front-end loaders, ploughs, and moulding boards.

What might the OHS and environmental requirements be for weed control/removal?
OHS requirements may include safe systems and procedures for the operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment, the handling, transporting, use and storage of farm chemicals, and protection against chemical residues, including that in/on foliage, water, soil and other items.
Environmental considerations may include choice of chemical versus mechanical weed control/removal, use of hand versus powered equipment, and procedures for avoiding chemical contamination of water supplies.

What crops and plants will require protection?
Crops and plants will vary with the region.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in undertaking routine maintenance on gravity fed irrigation delivery systems requires evidence that a person can check for problems and return the system to smooth running, build or repair banks, control weeds and silt build-up, and carry out maintenance activities under routine supervision.
The skills and knowledge required to undertake routine maintenance on gravity fed irrigation delivery systems must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this could include different systems, watering strategies, crops and enterprises.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

enterprise and OHS procedures relating to gravity fed irrigation maintenance
types of channels, furrows, borders, fittings and outlets
system cleaning procedures
damage and problems that can occur with gravity-fed irrigation systems
weed types encountered in gravity fed irrigation systems and their control
environmentally safe disposal procedures for chemical containers and residues, oils/grease and used parts

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

read and follow operational procedures for gravity fed irrigation system maintenance
identify adverse environmental impacts of gravity fed irrigation system and take appropriate remedial action
read instructions and safely use chemicals for weed control
use mechanical equipment to build/repair banks and for weed removal
record and report maintenance observations and activities
follow OHS procedures relating to gravity fed irrigation maintenance.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

enterprise and OHS procedures relating to gravity fed irrigation maintenance
types of channels, furrows, borders, fittings and outlets
system cleaning procedures
damage and problems that can occur with gravity-fed irrigation systems
weed types encountered in gravity fed irrigation systems and their control
environmentally safe disposal procedures for chemical containers and residues, oils/grease and used parts

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

read and follow operational procedures for gravity fed irrigation system maintenance
identify adverse environmental impacts of gravity fed irrigation system and take appropriate remedial action
read instructions and safely use chemicals for weed control
use mechanical equipment to build/repair banks and for weed removal
record and report maintenance observations and activities
follow OHS procedures relating to gravity fed irrigation maintenance.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through reporting damage, faulty systems and routine maintenance activities. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Through reporting damage, faulty systems and routine maintenance activities. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
While recording maintenance activities. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
While recording maintenance activities. (1)

Planning and organising activities
To organise task activities and equipment for maintenance activities. (1)

Planning and organising activities
To organise task activities and equipment for maintenance activities. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Working with others to report system problems. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Working with others to report system problems. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In preserving gradients and levels when clearing silt. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In preserving gradients and levels when clearing silt. (1)

Solving problems
In identifying and correcting damaged and faulty systems. (1)

Solving problems
In identifying and correcting damaged and faulty systems. (1)

Using technology
In computerised irrigation systems. (1)

Using technology
In computerised irrigation systems. (1)