RIIWMG601A
Establish and maintain water management system

This unit covers the establishment and maintaining of water management systems in the coal and metalliferous mining and extractive industries. It includes: identifying and researching the organisation needs; facilitating site environmental investigation; developing, implementing and maintaining procedures for the system; and evaluating the system.

Application

This unit is appropriate for those working in management or technical specialist roles, within or serving:

Coal mining

Extractive industries

Metalliferous mining


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify and research organisation needs

1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the establishment and maintenance of water management systems

1.2. Analyse organisation's goals, objectives and strategies to gain direction as to the type of research to be undertaken

1.3. Investigate and analyse license, worksite environmental conditions and legislation to develop options, strategies and anticipated outcomes

1.4. Evaluate existing system and equipment suitability, taking into account operational requirements, safety and health issues and environmental legislation/ regulations

1.5. Research, evaluate, select and purchase new systems in line with operational and budget requirements, safety and health and environmental legislation/regulations

1.6. Analyse and interpret research information to establish options and opportunities

2. Facilitate site environmental investigation

2.1. Ensure internal and external stakeholders are involved in the planning process in a way that uses their contribution effectively and gains their support for the outcomes.

2.2. Establish strategies and systems to support analysis of the worksite environments

2.3. Ensure worksite environments are investigated to identify and assess the factors, which impact on work development

2.4. Ensure market opportunities are identified and explored to assist the organisation to forecast trends and options

2.5. Ensure water quantity and quality requirements and excesses are determined

2.6. Ensure threats and opportunities are identified, analysed and used to optimise project outcomes

2.7. Ensure titles searches are undertaken

2.8. Ensure legal obligations are identified and documented

3. Develop, implement and maintain procedures for the system

3.1. Ensure contingency plans for flood routing of water in operational area to cover peak flows are developed and implemented

3.2. Ensure site plans for surface drainage and total reticulation network are developed and implemented to service the life of the mine according to engineering principles

3.3. Ensure procedures for pumping waters from the mine are developed and meet licence conditions.

3.4. Ensure procedures for work are developed for drainage and road geometry in accordance with engineering principles and to minimise environmental impacts

3.5. Ensure staged development of civil aspects to the worksite are planned and interpret

3.6. Ensure water treatment systems are designed to specification to meet requirement of the water management system

3.7. Ensure procedures for maintenance work for the drainage scheme of the worksites are developed and implemented

3.8. Identify, clarify and communicate roles and responsibilities to implement mine water management system

3.9. Develop and implement information and training systems to support water management to ensure the implementation and application of the system

3.10. Prepare an emergency response plan for failure or critical aspects of mine water management system

4. Evaluate the system

4.1. Identify and agree on performance indicators and criteria for the evaluation of statutory compliance and effectiveness of the water management system

4.2. Ensure site drainage, reticulation and wastewater treatment is monitored against agreed indicators

4.3. Ensure quality of site drainage effluent is monitored, recorded and reported to meet environmental and organisation requirements

4.4. Ensure hydrological effects and sensitive ecological/ conservation sites are monitored

4.5. Ensure instances of non-compliance with regulatory requirements are responded to in accordance with state/local government requirements and organisation's requirements

Required Skills

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit, particularly for the application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be applied. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to establish and maintain water management system:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

access and use appropriate information management technologies

read and interpret survey plans

interpret geological and hydrological data

apply procedures to analyse and review water management systems

apply auditing procedures

apply resource plan develop procedures

apply techniques to evaluate new and used equipment

apply processes required to gain statutory/legal approvals

apply procedures to implement change

apply people and processes management techniques

apply projects and tasks management procedures

apply techniques for negotiation with internal/external customers, community and statutory/legal authorities

prepare and present management reports

prepare operating budgets

prepare tender specifications

apply conflict resolve techniques

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly its application in a variety of circumstances in which the unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to establish and maintain water management system:

drainage systems

emergency response and disaster planning procedures

environmental requirements and management

financial management

mine design relating to mine water management systems

mine operating procedures , including those applying to mine water management

mine plant and equipment

mine water management systems

organisational objectives

resource monitoring

risk management; principles, strategies and applications

safety and health requirements and management

safety features for water management systems

statutory control requirements

team management

training and assessment systems

Evidence Required

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for the establishing and maintenance of water management systems

implementation of procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient establishing and maintenance of water management systems

the identification of the relevant information and scope of the work required to meet the required outcomes

the identification of viable program options and the selection of options that best meet the required outcomes

working with others to undertake and complete the establishing and maintenance of water management systems

consistent and timely establishing and maintenance of water management systems

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.

Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a civil works environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

implementation of appropriate procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of the required outcomes

identification of the relevant information and scope of the work required

identification of viable options and the selection of options that best meet the required outcomes

consistently achieving the required outcomes

first hand testimonial and documentary evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to undertake and complete the establishing and maintenance of water management systems

consistent and timely gaining of approval of water management systems

provision of clear, timely required support and advice on the implementation of water management systems

Guidance information for assessment

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.


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.

Relevant compliance documentation

may include:

legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

code of practice

Employment and workplace relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Water management system includes:

all actions to obtain, introduce and distribute the water required for operations (both potable and process water). It also includes the treatment of water and the disposal of excess, unwanted and/or wastewater from the site

Water management system parameters may include:

objectives

system boundaries

hazard and consequence types

methods

team processes

timings

venue/locations

consultation processes

Water management systems and measures may include those focused on:

organisational goals, objectives and strategies

resources

internal and external stakeholders

environmental factors

Research may include:

geological

climate

hydrology

topography

environmental factor

cultural and biological environments

monitoring water/equipment for leaching

water runoff monitoring for contaminants

establishing bore fields

knowledge of local rainfall

measuring of water usage

cost of water

water treatment requirements

predictions on water quantity, quality

water wastage

Stakeholders may include:

regulatory authorities

tenderers

operating managers

project managers

contractors

employees

scientists

community

suppliers

customers

Quality may include:

total dissolved solids

turbidity

heavy metals

organics

salinity

acidity/alkalinity

suspended solids

hydrocarbons

temperature

Site plans may include:

mine development plans

layout of water reticulation system

amenities

culverts and drains

topography

controls

reservoirs and dam sites

treatment ponds

pumping stations

Surface drainage and total reticulation network may include:

storage areas

table drains

culverts

channels

pipe works

trenches

manhole and gully pits

pumps

Engineering principles may include:

water flow

reticulation techniques

drain design principles and standards

rural road design principles and standards

earthwork activities

Waters pumping may be from:

settlement ponds

holding or tailing dams

sump sites

Maintenance work for the drainage scheme may include:

pit works

roadways

administration areas

boundary conditions

Regulatory requirements may include:

boundaries, leases, tenements and licence conditions

contamination precautions

emergency response

council

environmental - noise/air/water and conditions of licence

mine safety and health

rehabilitation

wildlife corridors

Regulatory bodies may include:

mineral resources or appropriate body

safety and health authority

environmental authority/EPA

local government

harbours and marine

port authority

tenement authority

company policy and procedures


Sectors

Water Management


Competency Field

Refer to Unit Sector(s).


Co-Requisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor.