Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables places the competency in context and allows for differences between enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. The range of variables also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The following variables may be present.

Design may include:
Compliance with the standard specification legislation and regulations of the relevant State or Territory water and power authorities.

Systems range from:
· manual operation and monitoring
· fully automated with computer control and monitoring
· standards of uniformity and efficiency may vary from system to system.

Water types:
· freshwater (generally <3 ppt)
· brackish water (3-30 ppt)
· salt water (31-40 ppt)
· hypersaline (>41 ppt)
· soft, hard
· made up (salt mix is added to water according to requirements).

Water sources:
· bore (artesian)
· catchment (dam, reservoir)
· surface (spring, soak)
· rivers and streams
· tidal creeks, estuaries
· coastal and ocean.

Water budget:
· availability of water in different regions
· options on amount of water disposed
· water holding capacity on farm (storage)
· volume of water required to fill culture structures
· volume of water required for normal operations
· volume of water required for emergency procedures
· water
· evaporation and seepage basins.

Water and soil quality:
· pH, salinity, temperatures, dissolved oxygen, hardness, etc
· sources of contaminants, such as heavy metals, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides
· water holding capacity of soils (e.g. clay content) and degree of overburden
· presence of predator or competing organisms
· present of diseases and other pathogenic organisms.

Water transfer, recharge, reuse and treatment systems:
· soak
· settlement ponds
· gravity
· tidal
· overflow
· pump (mechanical)
· irrigation
· temperature, salinity, pH, hardness
· disinfection
· nutrient removal
· filtration (chemical, mechanical, biological)
· sediment collection
· UV, ozone
· protein skimmers
· oxygenation
· alum.

Documentation may vary according to:
· budget
· environmental constraints
· owner preferences
· quoting procedures.

Government regulations relating to water transfer, recharge, reuse and treatment systems:
· Environmental Protection Authority
· disposal or discharge
· stock exclusion
· testing or monitoring.

Key variables:
· efficiency of water use in various stock/weather situations
· uniformity of distribution
· specialist water supply consultant
· ability to undertake emergency procedures.

Contingency plans:
· backup power supply
· plumbing supplies
· alternative transport facilities
· auxiliary oxygen supply
· filter supplies
· monitoring alarms
· procedures in place in event of reduced water flow or water quality or other emergency.

Each unit of competency has an evidence guide that relates directly to the performance criteria and the range of variables. Its purpose is to guide assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program. The following components provide information to assist this purpose.

Underpinning knowledge
The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· latest pump technology
· contractual developments and obligations
· design processes
· pipe specifications and flow dynamics
· drainage and storage development technology
· latest treatment technology
· Environmental Protection Agency regulations
· automatic control and monitoring systems
· budgeting, waste management and environmental issues.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standards include:
· determining design requirements
· analysing soil and water
· hydrology and aquatic engineering
· designing temperature controls
· defining pumping and power systems
· designing a distribution system
· designing a drainage, storage and treatment system
· determining capital expense budget.

Literacy skills used for:
· maintaining records
· reading literature and extracting information
· writing reports
· reading equipment operator's manuals.

Numeracy skills used for:
· recording flow, water quality data
· reading flow, pump charts, equipment specifications
· formulae for determining water flow and temperature controls.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· plan and design aquaculture water supply and disposal systems and establish operational parameters and procedures.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· pumps, pipe mechanisms/operation
· water quality monitoring
· government regulations
· aquatic organism physiology.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· SFIAQUA504B - Plan ecologically sustainable aquacultural practices.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· practical exercises
· work-based project
· practical demonstration
· case studies.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· work-based scenario or case study
· analytical laboratory equipment.