Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
21/07/2026 11:23 PM AWST
21/07/2026 11:23 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Operate water systems
Operate water systems
Unit of competency
National Code
FPPWAS210A
FPPWAS210A
State Code
AUY54
AUY54
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
Nominal Hours
Description
This unit describes the outcomes required to operate water systems in the pulp and paper industryGeneral legislation, regulatory, licensing and certification requirements applicable to this unit are detailed in the range statementSpecific high risk and small boat licensing requirements for this unit may be applicable and are to be met separately and prior to the achievement of this unit
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Conduct local inspections and pre-operational safety checks
- 1.1. Local inspections and pre-operational safety checks are conducted within Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, environmental and safe working requirements/practices, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and housekeeping requirements
- 1.2. Isolations are removed
- 1.3. Availability of supplies for water system is confirmed
- 1.4. Plant status and requirements are determined
- 1.5. Sequencing for plant startup is confirmed
2. Start up water systems
- 2.1. Water systems are started up within OHS, housekeeping, SOP, environmental and safe working requirements and practices
- 2.2. Water system is started up
- 2.3. Water system is observed for correct startup operational response
- 2.4. Startup variation conditions are detected and corrective action taken
3. Monitor and control water systems
- 3.1. Water systems are monitored and controlled within OHS, housekeeping, SOP, environmental and safe working requirements and practices
- 3.2. Water system operation is monitored
- 3.3. Water samples are taken and tested to maintain quality as required
- 3.4. Routine checks of water systems are conducted as required
- 3.5. Variations from operational parameters are identified
- 3.6. Action is taken to restore water system to standard operational parameters
- 3.7. Operator level maintenance is conducted as required
4. Conduct a water system shutdown
- 4.1. Water system shutdown is conducted within OHS, housekeeping, SOP, environmental and safe working requirements and practices
- 4.2. Shutdown plan is confirmed and communicated to relevant personnel
- 4.3. Shutdown procedures are implemented
- 4.4. Plant is left in a safe condition for isolation as required
5. Respond to an unplanned shutdown
- 5.1. Unplanned shutdown is responded to within OHS, housekeeping, SOP, environmental and safe working requirements and practices
- 5.2. Cause of shutdown is identified and actioned as required
- 5.3. Sequence for systems shutdown of plant is completed
- 5.4. Action taken is communicated to relevant personnel
- 5.5. Plant is left in a safe condition for isolation as required
6. Record and report water systems information
- 6.1. Water systems information is recorded and reported within OHS, housekeeping, SOP, environmental and safe working requirements and practices
- 6.2. Water systems information is recorded as required
- 6.3. Problems and related action are recorded and communicated to relevant personnel
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Productivity requirements may include:
energy efficiency
waste minimisation
evaporation minimisation, including landfill and waste water reduction
environmentally safe waste disposal
consideration of resource utilisation, including fibre efficiency
minimising delays
chemical recovery maximisation
meeting key performance indicators
line speed
handovers
quality checks
meeting output targets i.e. net tonnes per employee per annum
machine/process time availability i.e. time the machine or process is making product
machine/process production rate
Water system may include:
de-alkalinisation plant
de-mineralisation plant
water softening plant
chemical treatment plant
reverse osmosis plant
clarifier plant
chillers
water storage systems
filtration systems
cooling towers
condensers
potable water plant
Water sources may include:
raw water
mains water
recycled water
Water types may include:
fresh water
treated water
de-mineralised water
softened water
filtrate-clarified water
potable water
dilution water (filtrate) ex-vacuum system
waste water (effluent)
white water (ex-machine)
cloudy water
Materials and supplies may include:
chemicals
filtering mediums
Equipment may include:
flow control and metering devices
pumping systems
electronic and digital monitoring and metering
valving systems
recording systems
pipes
fittings
chemical testing and analysis equipment
chemical dosing equipment
tanks and chests
cranes and hoists
communication equipment
aeration ponds
chemical handling equipment
hand and power tools
pest control equipment
load shifting equipment
small boat
computer systems
electronic screens and alarms
process control systems
fully automated, semi-automated, manually operated plant and equipment appropriate to water processes and systems
analogue and digital instrumentation
Electronic control systems may include:
Digital Control System (DCS)
touch screens
robotics
Hazards and risks in water systems may include:
confined space
hazardous chemicals and materials
biological hazards
environmental hazards
heat
height
slippery surfaces
pressures
fumes
electrical
compressed air
nip points
flooding
Legislation, regulatory, licensing and certification requirements may include:
OHS and environmental requirements (local, state and commonwealth)
activity or task specific high risk and small boat licensing requirements
water and chemical legislation and regulations
safety instructions
Documentation, procedures and reports may include:
SOP
site policy and procedures
environmental sustainability requirements/practices
plant manufacturing operating manuals
confined space requirements
vendor documentation
reference manual
quality procedures
oil or chemical spills and disposal guidelines
plant isolation documentation
housekeeping
safe work documentation e.g. plant clearance, job safety analysis, permit systems
maintenance logs
job sheets
operating log
production instructions
Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
process and instrument diagrams
Maintenance may include:
operator level maintenance as per site agreements
operator maintenance schedules
maintenance systems
maintenance suppliers
pro-active maintenance strategies e.g. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM)
Sampling and testing may include checks of:
sludge consistency
pH
conductivity
flocculation
colour
suspended solids
caustic strength
alkalinity
impurities
brine
bacteria
colour
acid strength
Communications may include
interaction with:
team members
production/service co-ordinators
internal/external customers and suppliers
maintenance services
operational management
statutory authorities
Situational awareness may include
awareness of:
traffic
pedestrians
location of equipment
product
hazards
obstructions
unexpected movement
Sensory information may include:
visual
sound
feel
touch
smell
vibration
temperature
Forms of communications may include:
written e.g. log books, emails, incident and other reports, run sheets, data entry
reading and interpreting documentation e.g. standard operating procedures, manuals, checklists, drawings
verbal e.g. radio skills, telephone, face to face, handover
non-verbal e.g. hand signals, alarms, observations
signage e.g. safety, access
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Productivity requirements may include:
energy efficiency
waste minimisation
evaporation minimisation, including landfill and waste water reduction
environmentally safe waste disposal
consideration of resource utilisation, including fibre efficiency
minimising delays
chemical recovery maximisation
meeting key performance indicators
line speed
handovers
quality checks
meeting output targets i.e. net tonnes per employee per annum
machine/process time availability i.e. time the machine or process is making product
machine/process production rate
Water system may include:
de-alkalinisation plant
de-mineralisation plant
water softening plant
chemical treatment plant
reverse osmosis plant
clarifier plant
chillers
water storage systems
filtration systems
cooling towers
condensers
potable water plant
Water sources may include:
raw water
mains water
recycled water
Water types may include:
fresh water
treated water
de-mineralised water
softened water
filtrate-clarified water
potable water
dilution water (filtrate) ex-vacuum system
waste water (effluent)
white water (ex-machine)
cloudy water
Materials and supplies may include:
chemicals
filtering mediums
Equipment may include:
flow control and metering devices
pumping systems
electronic and digital monitoring and metering
valving systems
recording systems
pipes
fittings
chemical testing and analysis equipment
chemical dosing equipment
tanks and chests
cranes and hoists
communication equipment
aeration ponds
chemical handling equipment
hand and power tools
pest control equipment
load shifting equipment
small boat
computer systems
electronic screens and alarms
process control systems
fully automated, semi-automated, manually operated plant and equipment appropriate to water processes and systems
analogue and digital instrumentation
Electronic control systems may include:
Digital Control System (DCS)
touch screens
robotics
Hazards and risks in water systems may include:
confined space
hazardous chemicals and materials
biological hazards
environmental hazards
heat
height
slippery surfaces
pressures
fumes
electrical
compressed air
nip points
flooding
Legislation, regulatory, licensing and certification requirements may include:
OHS and environmental requirements (local, state and commonwealth)
activity or task specific high risk and small boat licensing requirements
water and chemical legislation and regulations
safety instructions
Documentation, procedures and reports may include:
SOP
site policy and procedures
environmental sustainability requirements/practices
plant manufacturing operating manuals
confined space requirements
vendor documentation
reference manual
quality procedures
oil or chemical spills and disposal guidelines
plant isolation documentation
housekeeping
safe work documentation e.g. plant clearance, job safety analysis, permit systems
maintenance logs
job sheets
operating log
production instructions
Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
process and instrument diagrams
Maintenance may include:
operator level maintenance as per site agreements
operator maintenance schedules
maintenance systems
maintenance suppliers
pro-active maintenance strategies e.g. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM)
Sampling and testing may include checks of:
sludge consistency
pH
conductivity
flocculation
colour
suspended solids
caustic strength
alkalinity
impurities
brine
bacteria
colour
acid strength
Communications may include
interaction with:
team members
production/service co-ordinators
internal/external customers and suppliers
maintenance services
operational management
statutory authorities
Situational awareness may include
awareness of:
traffic
pedestrians
location of equipment
product
hazards
obstructions
unexpected movement
Sensory information may include:
visual
sound
feel
touch
smell
vibration
temperature
Forms of communications may include:
written e.g. log books, emails, incident and other reports, run sheets, data entry
reading and interpreting documentation e.g. standard operating procedures, manuals, checklists, drawings
verbal e.g. radio skills, telephone, face to face, handover
non-verbal e.g. hand signals, alarms, observations
signage e.g. safety, access
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence should be relevant to the work. It should satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include consideration of:
the required knowledge and skills tailored to the needs of the specific workplace
applicable OHS regulations, environmental and safe working requirements/practices, SOP and housekeeping requirements
applicable aspects of the range statement
practical workplace demonstration of skills in the operation of water systems
Context of and specific resources for assessment
A workplace assessment must be used to assess:
the application of required knowledge on the job
the application of skills on the job, over time and under a range of typical conditions that may be experienced in operating water systems
Access to the full range of equipment involved in integrated continuous operation of water systems in a pulp or paper mill is required
Method of assessment
A combination of assessment methods should be used. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of applied skills and knowledge on the job
workplace demonstrations via a mock-up or simulation that replicate part/s of the job
answers to written or verbal questions about specific skills and knowledge
third-party reports from relevant and skilled personnel
written evidence e.g. log sheet entries, checklist entries, test results
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and in keeping with the language and literacy capacity of the learner and the work being performed. This includes conducting an assessment in a manner that allows thoughts to be conveyed verbally so that the learner can both understand and be understood by the assessor (e.g. use plain English and terminology used on the job)
A holistic assessment with other units relevant to the pulp and paper industry, mill and job role is recommended
Additional information on approaches to assessment for the pulp and paper industry is provided in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence should be relevant to the work. It should satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include consideration of:
the required knowledge and skills tailored to the needs of the specific workplace
applicable OHS regulations, environmental and safe working requirements/practices, SOP and housekeeping requirements
applicable aspects of the range statement
practical workplace demonstration of skills in the operation of water systems
Context of and specific resources for assessment
A workplace assessment must be used to assess:
the application of required knowledge on the job
the application of skills on the job, over time and under a range of typical conditions that may be experienced in operating water systems
Access to the full range of equipment involved in integrated continuous operation of water systems in a pulp or paper mill is required
Method of assessment
A combination of assessment methods should be used. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of applied skills and knowledge on the job
workplace demonstrations via a mock-up or simulation that replicate part/s of the job
answers to written or verbal questions about specific skills and knowledge
third-party reports from relevant and skilled personnel
written evidence e.g. log sheet entries, checklist entries, test results
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and in keeping with the language and literacy capacity of the learner and the work being performed. This includes conducting an assessment in a manner that allows thoughts to be conveyed verbally so that the learner can both understand and be understood by the assessor (e.g. use plain English and terminology used on the job)
A holistic assessment with other units relevant to the pulp and paper industry, mill and job role is recommended
Additional information on approaches to assessment for the pulp and paper industry is provided in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AYE42 | FPPWAS1A | Manage water system start-up | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXH90 | PPMWAS210 | Operate water systems | Unit of competency |