Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 12:55 AM AWST
22/07/2026 12:55 AM 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.
Design gravity sewerage systems
Design gravity sewerage systems
Unit of competency
National Code
NWP602
NWP602
State Code
WD483
WD483
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/11/2014
Field of Education
030907 - Water And Sanitary Engineering
Original Release Date
06/11/2014
Nominal Hours
60
Description
This unit of competency sets out the knowledge and skills required to apply principles of design for a gravity sewerage system using appropriate design standards.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Clarify and confirm design requirements
- 1.1 Review concept proposal to identify system requirements.
- 1.2 Identify constraints and parts of the concept proposal requiring clarification or with design problems.
- 1.3 Identify stakeholders and evaluate and negotiate alternative options to resolve problems.
- 1.4 Confirm design standards and specifications relevant to the wastewater collection system.
- 1.5 Define and document detailed design requirements.
- 1.6 Identify and apply initial data to the design.
2 Prepare collection system design
- 2.1 Review project design requirements prior to proceeding with detailed design.
- 2.2 Determine upstream catchment control
- 2.3 Prepare designs forgravity sewer collection systems to meet project design requirements and design standards, codes and specifications.
- 2.4 Design to allow for land use, i.e. residential, industrial.
- 2.5 Determine pipe sizes, grades and requirements for self cleaning for varied weather flows.
- 2.6 Finalise horizontal and vertical pipeline alignment in accordance with project design requirements and design standards and specifications.
- 2.7 Determine appropriate pipe materials.
- 2.8 Prepare structural design of pipelines.
- 2.9 Determine the number, types, configurations and locations of maintenance structures.
- 2.10 Design property connections to meet project design requirements and design standards and specifications.
- 2.11 Design to make allowance for OHS during construction and in service life.
- 2.12 Prepare design drawings in accordance with design standards, codes and Water Agency requirements.
3 Manage documentation
- 3.1 Prepare supporting documentation in accordance with legislative and organisation requirements.
- 3.2 Maintain engineering and project records in accordance with legislative and organisation requirements.
4 Evaluate design
- 4.1 Review design to ensure objectives and specifications have been met.
- 4.2 Identify and evaluate compliance with environmental standards and impacts of the design.
- 4.3 Identify and evaluate compliance with legislation, codes and standards including OHS.
- 4.4 Conduct consultations with parties with an interest in the design and report on adjustments and proposed design changes.
- 4.5 Investigate and assess alternative design options.
- 4.6 Recommend the most appropriate design proposal for adoption.
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.
Initial data may include:
costs
existing and future flows
hydraulic planning
input and output quality
customer requirements
locations
catchments
demographics
land use
easements
topographic information.
Project design requirements may include:
gravity sewer sizes, grades and locations
land use, i.e. residential, industrial
pipe material
staging of developments
preliminary reticulation main layouts
future development
system configuration
catchment boundaries
hydraulic requirements, including self cleansing and scouring velocities
pumping stations
detention tanks
emergency relief structures
odour control
operational requirements, including access
future system expansion options
temporary disposal, e.g. temporary pumping stations
environment
OHS
construction methods
Designs forgravity sewer collection systems may include:
community cost
interfaces with pumping stations, detention tanks, emergency relief structures, siphons, etc
land use including residential, industrial
environmental considerations
clearances from other services (gas, telecommunications, electricity)
location of pipeline and access
risks / consequences of failure
corrosion protection
operational access
easements
topography
Maintenance structures may include:
maintenance holes
maintenance shafts
inspection shafts
other maintenance structures as approved by the water agency
Property connectionsdesign may include:
location of boundary traps and water sealed maintenance holes
limitations of connections
methods of connections
depth of connections
locations of connections
types of connections
type of development including residential, industrial
pipe material
access
Supporting documentation may include:
records of:
construction
installation
commissioning
production
operation
maintenance
training
OHS
customer contact
environment, culture, heritage
design proposals
design changes
quality assurance
estimates of cost
approval
Legislative and organisation requirements may include:
federal and state legislation
national guidelines
codes and standards
OHS
environmental protection agencies
Initial data may include:
costs
existing and future flows
hydraulic planning
input and output quality
customer requirements
locations
catchments
demographics
land use
easements
topographic information.
Project design requirements may include:
gravity sewer sizes, grades and locations
land use, i.e. residential, industrial
pipe material
staging of developments
preliminary reticulation main layouts
future development
system configuration
catchment boundaries
hydraulic requirements, including self cleansing and scouring velocities
pumping stations
detention tanks
emergency relief structures
odour control
operational requirements, including access
future system expansion options
temporary disposal, e.g. temporary pumping stations
environment
OHS
construction methods
Designs forgravity sewer collection systems may include:
community cost
interfaces with pumping stations, detention tanks, emergency relief structures, siphons, etc
land use including residential, industrial
environmental considerations
clearances from other services (gas, telecommunications, electricity)
location of pipeline and access
risks / consequences of failure
corrosion protection
operational access
easements
topography
Maintenance structures may include:
maintenance holes
maintenance shafts
inspection shafts
other maintenance structures as approved by the water agency
Property connectionsdesign may include:
location of boundary traps and water sealed maintenance holes
limitations of connections
methods of connections
depth of connections
locations of connections
types of connections
type of development including residential, industrial
pipe material
access
Supporting documentation may include:
records of:
construction
installation
commissioning
production
operation
maintenance
training
OHS
customer contact
environment, culture, heritage
design proposals
design changes
quality assurance
estimates of cost
approval
Legislative and organisation requirements may include:
federal and state legislation
national guidelines
codes and standards
OHS
environmental protection agencies
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
The candidate should:
perform each task outlined in the elements consistently and in a representative range of contexts
meet the performance criteria associated with each element by employing the techniques, procedures, information and resources available in the workplace from those listed in the range statement
demonstrate an understanding of the underpinning knowledge and the application of skills as described in the required skills and knowledge section.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The candidate should demonstrate the ability to design wastewater collection systems including:
identifying, analysing and defining wastewater collections systems and conditions and constraints
identifying and interpreting legislative, environmental, business and project management requirements
identifying and interpreting standards, codes and specifications
analysing a range of factors to determine hydraulic and system design components
evaluating and clarifying system plans and options for system design
managing and securing documentation to support and report project management
evaluating design process and outcomes
managing, recording, reporting and information management
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Access to the workplace and resources including:
documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation
workplace specific equipment and technology
supervision and experienced team members to provide observations, feedback and third party reports
enterprise operating procedures and work allocation
relevant codes, standards and government regulations.
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.
Method of assessment
The following methods are suggested:
assessment in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions
assessment should also be conducted in conjunction with aspects of technical competencies that are consistent with the work environment
techniques for gathering evidence of competency may include:
observation of performance
written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding
completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of routine work activities
third-party reports from experienced practitioners
completion of performance feedback from supervisors and colleagues
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence require that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice
a decision of competence only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person’s competence over time and in various contexts
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence
where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time
assessment can be through simulated projectbased activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.
In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator and cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.
Overview of assessment
The candidate should:
perform each task outlined in the elements consistently and in a representative range of contexts
meet the performance criteria associated with each element by employing the techniques, procedures, information and resources available in the workplace from those listed in the range statement
demonstrate an understanding of the underpinning knowledge and the application of skills as described in the required skills and knowledge section.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The candidate should demonstrate the ability to design wastewater collection systems including:
identifying, analysing and defining wastewater collections systems and conditions and constraints
identifying and interpreting legislative, environmental, business and project management requirements
identifying and interpreting standards, codes and specifications
analysing a range of factors to determine hydraulic and system design components
evaluating and clarifying system plans and options for system design
managing and securing documentation to support and report project management
evaluating design process and outcomes
managing, recording, reporting and information management
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Access to the workplace and resources including:
documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation
workplace specific equipment and technology
supervision and experienced team members to provide observations, feedback and third party reports
enterprise operating procedures and work allocation
relevant codes, standards and government regulations.
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.
Method of assessment
The following methods are suggested:
assessment in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions
assessment should also be conducted in conjunction with aspects of technical competencies that are consistent with the work environment
techniques for gathering evidence of competency may include:
observation of performance
written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding
completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of routine work activities
third-party reports from experienced practitioners
completion of performance feedback from supervisors and colleagues
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence require that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice
a decision of competence only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person’s competence over time and in various contexts
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence
where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time
assessment can be through simulated projectbased activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.
In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator and cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.
No information
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J127 | NWP60112 | Advanced Diploma of Water Engineering Design | Qualification |