SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Sample a water source for analytical purposes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
110182  Sample a water source for analytical purposes 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Fabrication and Extraction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who are required to sample water sources for analytical purposes.

Persons credited with this unit standard are able to
  • Demonstrate knowledge relating to water sampling
  • Sample a water source for analytical purposes 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Sciences, Communications and Mathematics at ABET Level 4 or equivalent
  • General Health, Safety and Environmental standards 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge relating to water sampling. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Hazards and risks pertaining to the sampling process are identified and explained in terms of team safety, health and environmental issues. The appropriate preventative measures are described in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The purpose of sampling a water source is explained in terms of specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The suitability of containers for the analysis of metals, organics, microbiological content, radioactivity, and toxicity are explained with respect to the quality of the stored sample. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The purpose of preserving or not preserving water samples is explained in terms of the analyses required. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Analyses must include the following:
  • Metals
  • Inorganic compounds
  • Organic compounds
  • Microbiological species
  • Radioactivity
  • Toxicity
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The appropriate preservation technique is described in terms of the analysis required. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Preservation techniques must include the following:
  • pH
  • Temperature control
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Knowledge of the site sampling programme in terms of the number of samples, sampling frequency, sampling points and sample volume is demonstrated in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. The consequences of non-compliance with specified requirements are explained with respect to personal and team health and safety, impact on the environment, production, costs and lost time. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. The appropriate technique for sampling water sources is described in terms of sample integrity and specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Sources must include the following:
  • Taps
  • Streams
  • Rivers
  • Dams
  • Bore-holes
  • Rainfall
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    9. The chain of custody is explained in accordance with specified requirements for environmental samples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Sample a water source for analytical purposes. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Four out of the six water sources listed must be sampled:
  • Taps
  • Springs
  • Streams
  • Rivers
  • Dams
  • Bore-holes
  • Rainfall 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Equipment and containers are selected, prepared, used and maintained in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Sample is taken and the relevant physical conditions noted in accordance with specified requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Common problems and their influence on the analyses are explained and/or dealt with in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Common problems must include the following:
  • Inaccessibility of the sampling point
  • Contamination
  • Inappropriate preservation
  • Breach of sample integrity
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Work is conducted to meet health, safety and environmental standards in accordance with specified requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Health, safety and environmental issues must include the following:
  • Housekeeping
  • Waste disposal
  • Storage
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Samples and data are forwarded to the next processing step in accordance with specified requirements. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge, candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes to the standards described in the assessment criteria. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to identify technical problems, sub-standard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community.
  • Note: The candidate is required to maintain the link in the process in order to achieve production, health, safety and environmental targets. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Note: The candidate is required to prioritise and integrate the various activities in order to meet the set targets. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Note: The ability of the candidate to collect and evaluate information from numerical data and/or physical observations in terms of specified requirements. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.
  • Note: The candidates are required to accurately and clearly convey information to relevant personnel. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
  • Note: The candidate is required to use equipment responsibly to avoid environmental pollution and to safeguard team health. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
  • Note: The candidate is aware of his/her role in the organization in terms of social, economic and environmental impact. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology

    Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

    Legal
  • Relevant Acts, e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act No. 50/1991)
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice
  • SABS and other relevant standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

    Site-Specific
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  58248   National Certificate: Laboratory Practice  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-08-05  MQA 
    Elective  64949   National Certificate: Laboratory Practice  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.