Elements

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance Criteria

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Confirm scope of water quality management for a site or project or program

1.1

Read and interpret legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements and approvals that apply to site or project or program

1.2

Read current water quality management plan to identify objectives, known issues, specified management activities and required changes

1.3

Read and review previous water quality records and reports

1.4

Confirm that water quality monitoring sites, sampling and measurement methods, instrumentation and workplace procedures are in accordance with standards and guidelines

1.5

Clarify own scope of responsibility for achieving outcomes and the roles of key personnel

1.6

Identify resources available to conduct water quality management activities

2. Plan water quality management activities

2.1

Develop a consolidated schedule to ensure all activities can be conducted efficiently with the available resources

2.2

Develop checklists and clear work instructions to enable personnel to perform assigned tasks efficiently and with minimal errors

2.3

Check that personnel are competent to conduct monitoring or collect water samples

2.4

Check water quality monitoring equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained and that adequate stocks of consumables are available

2.5

Check water samples are handled in accordance with the sampling method and chain of custody requirements and dispatched promptly for analysis

2.6

Conduct, or arrange for, regular site inspections to monitor the effectiveness of water quality management actions

2.7

Advise relevant personnel when specified water quality management actions are not being implemented effectively

2.8

Conduct, or arrange for, additional monitoring and inspections after atypical events, legitimate complaints or government requests

3. Verify water quality data

3.1

Read and interpret job instructions, data and technical records in workplace information management system

3.2

Confirm that technical records provide sufficient information to ensure traceability and chain of custody for the monitoring activities

3.3

Read and compare monitoring data with expected values and identify outliers

3.4

Read and interpret data records to identify gaps and to check the integrity of data entry, transfers, alterations and calculations

3.6

Notify manager when data is incomplete or contains significant errors and clarify what action to take

4. Check if results are acceptable and within expectation

4.1

Compare results with expected values and guidelines and identify significant differences or trends

4.2

Check the reliability of results by examining data or results from repeat measurements or tests of duplicate samples or other monitoring stations

4.3

Assess the significance of recorded observations of atypical environmental or meteorological conditions

4.4

Check calculations to ensure there are no errors

4.5

Check that estimations of uncertainty are reasonable and consistent with the sampling method and guidelines

4.6

Report results that meet workplace data quality standards and are consistent with expectations

5. Investigate and rectify unexpected or unacceptable results

5.1

Read and interpret records of pre-use checks and calibration performance to ensure that the sampling equipment or monitoring or test instruments used meet specifications and workplace requirements

5.2

Establish whether human, environmental or meteorological factors could have affected the reliability of results

5.3

Check for obvious sources of interference that occurred during measurements or analysis of samples

5.4

Retrieve stored samples and assess whether they are atypical or contaminated

5.5

Arrange for control tests using the same or new samples to check unexpected results

5.6

Report unexpected results that meet workplace data quality standards

5.7

Identify root causes of unacceptable results and preventative or corrective actions

5.8

Report investigation outcomes and recommendations for improvements in accordance with workplace procedures

5.9

Seek manager’s advice when challenges are beyond own technical competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required

6. Keep management informed about water quality performance

6.1

Provide regular reports about water quality, including instances of potential and actual non-conformance, incidents and the actions taken in each case

6.2

Report opportunities and recommendations for improvements in water quality monitoring or management in accordance with workplace procedures

7. Maintain water quality records

7.1

Write legible and accurate water quality records in accordance with workplace and legislative requirements

7.2

Store water quality records in accordance with workplace procedures

7.3

Regularly read and review water quality records to identify significant trends and impacts

7.4

Identify problems with the maintenance and security of water quality records and resolve them promptly