Resources
WIOA welcomes contributions from any persons or organsiations which can be used as a resource by operational people in the water industry to improve their efficiency, knowledge or skills.
Value of Operator Competency
A study to demonstrate the value of developing, building and continually growing a competent operator workforce.
The Value of Operator Competency project aimed to identify and communicate the value and benefits of an appropriately trained and competent frontline operator workforce. The ability of a frontline operator to capably and competently manage water quality safety risks is extremely important to public health and safety, and environmental outcomes.
Guide to the measurement and use of Ct
Disinfection of water (potable or recycled) with a chemical disinfectant (chlorine or chloramine) requires time for the chemical to react with and kill the target microbial pathogens. Ideally the time for the reaction is provided in a purpose-built reactor or contact tank as this is specifically designed for this purpose and provides a controllable process. The reality however is quite different. Most water supplies rely on disinfection to occur in clear water tanks and reservoirs of various size, with various arrangements of inlet and outlet structures and varying levels of short circuiting. The effective contact time is often less than is assumed.
Many water utilities use a target free or total chlorine residual in their treatment systems to achieve a level of disinfection that they understand to be adequate. This approach to disinfection can be improved in most cases.
Water Industry Technical Competency Handbook
The Technical Competency Handbook has been developed to assist water utilities to develop processes and practices designed to deliver a technically competent water industry operational workforce. Approaches for planning and delivery of learning and development (L&D) programs to achieve technical competency, as well as to manage ongoing professional development along with examples and case studies are presented.
This handbook is primarily aimed at the quality & risk management, as well as technical knowledge and skill requirements of water industry operations staff. Together, these two areas form the basis of key technical competency requirements for operations. This is beyond the fundamental business systems knowledge and workplace health and safety training and skills, which are essential for all staff working in the water industry.
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) have been developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and undergo rolling revision to ensure they represent the latest scientific evidence on good quality drinking water. As sections of the Guidelines continue to be reviewed, this page will be updated to provide the latest information.
The guidelines have been developed after consideration of the best available scientific evidence and provide a framework for good management of drinking water supplies to ensure safety at point of use. They address both the health and aesthetic quality aspects of supplying good quality drinking water.
Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling
Managing Health and Environmental Risks
The Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1) provides a generic ‘framework for the management of recycled water quality and use’ that applies to all combinations of recycled water and end uses. It also provides specific guidance on the use of treated sewage and greywater for purposes other than drinking and environmental flows.
Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 1)
Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies
The Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies (Phase 2) extends the guidance given in Phase on the planned use of recycled water (treated sewage and stormwater) to augment drinking water supplies.
The document focuses on the source of water, initial treatment processes and blending of recycled water with drinking water sources.
Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies (Phase 2)
Protect our Waters, Protect our Health Brochure
The Victorian Department of Health have developed a brochure Protect our Waters, Protect our Health highlighting the importance of preventing stock access to natural waterways. Protecting the environment, including our waterways (rivers and streams), is a responsibility shared by government, industry, businesses, communities and individuals. Landholders, in particular, have a responsibility to manage their activities to avoid polluting waterways.
Careers
The Water Industry covers a wide variety of job roles with careers available for both tertiary and trade qualified people working in fields such as operations, engineering, financial, administration and IT. Employers range from government, semi-government to private businesses with positions available from capital cities through to small rural towns right across Australia.
The Water Industry
The Water Industry – Make it your Future
Water Distribution Operator
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Operations & Maintenance Technician
Hydrographer
Tools & Resources
Management of Distribution System Mains Breaks (Water RF 2014)
Microbial control for mains breaks and depressurisation – Report (469kb)
Microbial control for mains breaks and depressurisation – Appendices (3.6mb)
Preventing microbial contamination of water mains – Pocket Field Guide (271kb)
Revision of – the Water Main Disinfection Standard
Revision of AWWA C651-14: The Water Main Disinfection Standard (316kb)
Flushing Velocity Calculator
Excel calculator for pipe diameter, flushing rate and flushing time.
Flushing Velocity Calculator – Spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet)
Pump Tips
Troubleshooting tips for wastewater pumps (99kb)
White paper on variable speed wastewater pumping (2.3mb)
Water Treatment Analyser Tools
Water Treatment Analyser Article from Operator Newsletter (96kb)
The Water Treatment Alliance and the Water Services Association, with support from the Victorian Department of Health, have developed some Excel based software tools to allow Water Utilities and Water Treatment Plant (WTP) operators to assess the performance of their plants at the two key control points for pathogen control, namely media filtration and chlorine-based disinfection.
Instructions for use:
- Select the Analyser from the links below
- Select “Save” and navigate to your preferred folder location, and select Save.
Do not change the workbook name. - Close MS Excel.
- The tools must be opened from MS Excel and not from file manager.
- Start Excel. Go to File/Open, navigate to the saved file location and select the file. Click on open.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to use the tools.
The WTAnalyser allows you to download and extract data from SCADA trends for detailed analysis. Since the trending system samples at short time intervals, very large amounts of data make up the trends. The first step is to extract a subset of the data for further analysis.
Water Treatment Analyser Disinfection – Spreadsheet (v3.0 Excel Spreadsheet)
This tool has been developed to assist you in analysing the performance of filters at your plant. It extracts data from other MS Excel or csv files. Once data is selected it is automatically processed into a graphical and statistical format that will tell you how your filters are performing.
Water Treatment Analyser Filtration – Spreadsheet (v3.2 Excel Spreadsheet)
H2Ea – Spreadsheet for Water Treatment Operators V2.0
Knowing water cation and anion analyses, pH, EC and temperature, this spreadsheet calculates various water quality parameters including: hardness, ALK/(Cl+SO4) & SO4/(Cl+SO4) ratios (used in some corrosivity assessment models), Sodium Adsorption Ration (SAR), TDS (as mg/L & meq/L), Ionic Strength (by two methods), Acidity, Corrosivity Indices (Langelier Saturation Index [LSI], Aggressiveness Index, Larson Index & Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Potential [CCPP] by graphical method [see paper by P.Gebbie presented at 2000 AWWOA Conference, Warrnambool]) & estimated coagulant doses for surface water treatment. Please direct any queries &/or comments you may have about this resource to George Wall at info@wioa.org.au.
H2Eau Spreadsheet for water treatment operators (Excel Spreadsheet. Version 2.0 Nov 2012- 3MB)
The new version updated in November 2012 has fixed the error in the previous version, as well as several enhancements:
- Calculates different forms of alkalinity and carbon dioxide: OH, CO3, HCO3 and CO2
- Can be used for wastewater treatment as NH3, PO4 and NO3 analytes
- Can be used for RO/demineralisation modelling as Ba, Sr and silica
- Fluoride added
Convert
Conversion program for various units of distance, temperature, volume, time, speed, mass, power, density, pressure, energy and many others, including the ability to create custom conversions.
Convert 4.10 (ZIP 168k)
Note: The download is ZIPped to save space and time. You will need to unZIP it once it has been downloaded. If you don’t have a ZIP utility, you can get one from WinZip.
Measuring Alkalinity – Gran Plot Technique
Gran Plot Spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet. Version 5.0-95. 62 KB)
Water Balance Model Spreadsheets
Blank Balance Model 5.0-95.xls (Excel Spreadsheet. Version 5.0-95. 19 KB)
Blank Balance Model 97-2000.xls (Excel Spreadsheet. Version 97-2000. 20 KB)
Web Tools
The Water Research Foundation – Web and software-based applications that help professionals understand and apply research results.
The Smart Water Networks Forum – The SWAN Interactive Architecture Tool allows you to navigate through smart water solution diagrams according to your specific business drives and challenge areas.
Intelligent Water Networks – The IWN investigates new technologies and innovations to meet common challenges such as population growth, ageing infrastructure and climate variability in a more efficient manner.
Videos
Aqualift Inspections Bucket of Water Test
Safe Water – Water Main Repair
United Nations – High Level Panel on Water
Tasting Transparency
| Director: Jack Morrow Cinematographer: Jordan Medic Sound Recordist: Alex Cann & Hamish Viney Sound Design: Alex Cann Colourist: Jordan Medic Drone Operator: Jack Morrow |
Producer: Lucy Demuth Editor: Chloe White & Jack Morrow Composer: Jenny Hanson Sound Mixer: Karl Fee B Camera Operator: Ryan Bell & Jayden DeOliveira Photographer: Dianne Lesson-Vale & Nic Palich |
South Burnett RC – Kingaroy WWTP Recycled Water
Short Version
South Burnett RC – Kingaroy WWTP Recycled Water
Version aimed at School Kids
Training Providers & Courses
AMS Training & Solutions
AMS Training & Solutions offers high tech water treatment training, primarily for advanced membrane systems, through its collaboration with David H Paul Inc. (US) and Membrane Consultancy Associates (Dr Graeme Pearce, UK).
DHPaul training is internationally recognised for its quality classroom training and practical hands-on components. This training is available across the country at different times or to your company onsite. Contact us to register your interest and be waitlisted for future events, ensuring you get first access to places, or to begin a discussion about hosting an event.
Dr Graeme Pearce is renowned for his expertise and experience in the area of UF/MF Membrane Water Treatment. His training is offered at an Intermediate and Advanced level and covers all the principles and design elements of this rapidly changing technology. This training is offered once a year at different locations across the country and is designed for engineers, academics, senior staff and operators, procurement and design specialists.
Both DHPaul and Membrane Associates offer specialist consulting, expert witness and bid-review services which are facilitated through AMS.
Contact us today to be included on our mailing list and receive updates for upcoming events.
For more information visit www.amsts.com.au
Contact: training@amsts.com.au or 0431 666 534 (AWST)
Chisholm
Chisholm
Chisholm offers a range of qualifications from Certificate II, III, and IV right through to the Diploma of Water Operations with the flexibility of on campus or workplace training. The Water Operations team at Chisholm has partnered with industry to successfully deliver training nationally across a range of qualifications within the Water Operations training package.
Experienced trainers who are experts in their respective fields and with extensive industry links are able to customise training and assessment to ensure it is relevant, practical and applicable to participant job roles as well as meeting specific identified business needs.
Chisholm Institute has a purpose built training facility for the water industry at our Cranbourne Campus in Victoria where students get an opportunity to be involved in a ‘hands on’ water treatment process. At the Cranbourne Campus, students get the opportunity to work in a live plant environment focusing on Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange, Media Filtration and Clarifiers. A dedicated laboratory for the water industry is also available for training and industry projects.
In addition to Water Operations training, Chisholm also offers over 330 certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and graduate certificate courses as well as conducting over 300 short courses for industry compliance and skills development. For more information visit www.chisholm.edu.au
National Water Centre Dam Operations Training Course – 26th February – 2 March or 16-20 April
Ice Warm
International Centre of Excellence in Water Resources Management (ICE WaRM)
ICEWaRM convenes a range of 1 to 3 day water management courses in capital cities around Australia.
Topics include the Australian Water School, Groundwater Essentials, Water in Mining, Hydrology and Hydraulics for Non Engineers, Unconventional Gas and Water Management, Surfacewater Groundwater Interactions and Water Essentials amongst others.
ICE WaRM offers 5% discount for WIOA Members on ICE WaRM short courses.
For more information visit www.icewarm.com.au
Contact Joel Voortman on 08 8236 5208 or email lvoortman@icewarm.com.au
International Water Centre
IWC is currently offering a range of scholarships for professionals interested in joining either the Master of Integrated Water Management or Water Leadership Program next year. These industry-relevant programs equip participants with the technical, leadership and managerial skills they need to tackle complex water management challenges in a more effective and integrated way.
Master of Integrated Water Management – Scholarships
Water Leadership Program – Scholarships
For more information visit www.watercentre.org
Ixom
Ixom a Registered Training Organisation (RTO ID 41586) provides accredited training courses the water industry.
The training is complemented with our 80 years’ experience of manufacturing and supplying chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite and other water treatment chemicals including dangerous goods.
Our nationally recognised training courses are compliant with the Australian Qualification Training Framework (AQTF) along with relevant Australian standards and regulations.
The benefit and aim of our training programs is to:
• Reduce customer risk profiles by ensuring your personnel work from a “Knowledge Base” rather than “No Knowledge base.”
• Provide training that is competency based where required.
• Know how chemicals behave under certain conditions and how to use them safely.
• Meet your work environment applications.
• Meet your regulatory obligations and needs.
The courses we deliver are both Nationally Accredited Training Courses and “Refresher Awareness Courses” to allow for your training needs:
Nationally Accredited Training
NWPTRT013 – Operate and Control Liquefied Chlorine Gas Disinfection
NWPTRT001 – Operate and Control Water Treatment Processes
NWPNET025 – Coordinate and manage maintenance and repair of network assets
NWPTRT052 – Operate and control hypochlorite disinfection processes
AHCCHM101 – Follow Basic Chemical Safety Rules
Awareness and Refresher Programs
Chlorine Awareness Program – Face to Face
Chlorine Awareness Program – On-Line
Chlorine Emergency Capping Equipment Training Module
Corrosives Awareness Training Module
Fluoride Chemicals Awareness Training Module
Sodium Hypochlorite Awareness Module
Sulphuric Acid Awareness Module
If you wish to find out more detail regarding the programs, please click here to contact our training administrator for more information.
National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training
The NCGRT is the leading specialist provider of groundwater industry training in Australia. We are an independent not-for-profit organisation that is firmly committed to supporting groundwater professionals in gaining and developing the knowledge and skills they require.
For more information visit www.groundwater.com.au
NSW Office of Water
The NSW Office of Water offers a number of training courses to help local water utilities and councils comply with best practice guidelines and provide efficient water supply and sewerage services.
For more about the courses on offer go to the NSW Office of Water training courses website
RMIT
SAGE Didactic, in association with RMIT University is offering you the opportunity to gain the Certificate IV in Electrical – Instrumentation UEE40407. This industry based training program enables you to gain a nationally accredited qualification and essential workplace skills and knowledge that are increasingly high in demand.
For further information Contact: Bruce Kendall Senior Educator-Business Development,
Innovation & Projects Group School of Engineering (TAFE)
Simmonds & Bristow
Simmonds & Bristow has been providing training to the Water & Wastewater Industry and the Laboratory Services Industry for more than 15 years. The training team takes a hands-on approach to teaching, with an emphasis on practical learning and on-site delivery. Training courses are either held at the client’s facility, or at S&B’s dedicated training facility in Rocklea, Brisbane.
For more information visit: www.simmondsbristow.com.au
Streamline Learning
Streamline Learning provides specialised training and assessment for the water industry across Australia in accordance with the National Water Training Package.
Streamline Learning also offer a course on CCTV conduit inspection and reporting for operators, supervisors and managers
For more information visit www.streamlinelearning.com.au
TAFE NSW Riverina Institute
Would you like to tailor your water operations course?
With Riverina Institute you can select the electives relevant to you with our Certificate II, III and IV in Water Operations.
TAFE NSW Riverina Institute is the largest provider of vocational education and training in the Riverina-Murray, and has served the Australian water industry for over eight years.
For more information visit Riverina Institute Water Operations or call us on 1300 TAFE RI (1300 823 374).
TAFE Queensland
More than 24 million Australians access clean water and sewerage services daily. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators maintain the stringent quality standards that help make this possible.
Career opportunities are available across a broad range of water operations from construction and installation through to various treatment processes, including wastewater and drinking-water plants.
Developed in collaboration with the sector, our water industry treatment and operations courses range from entry-level certificate II courses through to high-level certificate IV qualifications. Our specialisations in drinking water, network operations, trade waste, treatment, and wastewater will open up a range of career options within the water operations industry.
With over 40 years’ experience in water training, TAFE Queensland delivers training solutions tailored for the needs of the water industry. Our state-of-the-art labs provide our students with current training in laboratory techniques including sampling, testing and treatment.
For more information visit tafeqld.edu.au
Contact 1300 308 233
TAFE SA
TAFE SA Water Operations recognise that workforce skills and expertise are shaped by an ebb and flow between business needs: flexible delivery and assessment options; the financial and time resources available to invest in training; and quality outcomes from both training and a business perspective. Our value proposition is: Critical skills for a vital water workforce
Our Services to You extend beyond traditional training methodologies to incorporate:
• Upfront Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment
• Use of industry job profiles
• Professional interviews to assess competency
• Engaging water industry experts
• Qualifications with specialisations that meet industry needs
For more information contact us on 08 8207 2800 or visit www.tafesa.edu.au
TRILITY
TRILITY
At TRILITY we use our expertise in water treatment and the application of the Australian Standards to develop the following training courses:
All our courses have been updated to include the recommendations from the new Australian Standard AS 2927:2019 The storage and handling of liquefied chlorine gas
Nationally Recognised Training
NWPTRT013 – Operate and Control Liquefied Chlorine Gas Disinfection
Operate and control liquefied chlorine gas disinfection refresher training
Chlorine maintenance training
Sodium hypochlorite training
Contact: training@trility.com.au
Water Industry Training Consultants
The Water Industry Training Consultants are located at Deakin University’s Geelong Campus, Victoria. It maintains comprehensive training facilities which are used for in centre training and off-campus training at customer locations.
For more information visit www.witc.com.au
To book places in any of these courses please call (03) 5227 2301
Water Training Australia
Water Training Australia is a Registered Training Organisation delivering qualifications in the Water Industry, Management and Business sectors.
Water Training Australia is committed to providing high quality training that has a real impact on people management and operational efficiency. Water Training Australia works closely with clients to assess their needs and deliver customised training solutions.
For more information visit www.watertrainingaustralia.com.au
Contact 0447 877 391 or email adminwta@bigpond.com
WTPO Helper
As a water treatment operator Michael Fawcett from South Gippsland Water identified the need for an app to assist with dosing room calculations, either when changing the dose rate mg/L or working out the dose rate from the mL/min taken from the drop test. The idea was driven by his desire to do away with pens and paper and have the timer and the calculator right in his pocket.
The WTPO Helper app includes 15 calculations and 4 useful data loggers used in the day to day data collection operations of Water and to a lesser degree wastewater plant. Our jobs require a large amount of data to be recorded and the WTPO Helper has some useful tools to make this easier for operators.
The Calculations
• Chlorine Gas Feed Rate
• Solution Chemical Feed Rate
• Chloramination Ratio
• Dry Chemical Feed
• Dosing Solution Strengths
• Jar Test Solution Make Up
• Detention/CT Times
• Total Suspended Solids
• Total Dissolved Solids
• Maintenance Mains Volume Calculations
The Data Loggers
• Drop Test Timer and Logger
• Meter Logger
• Flushing Timer and Logger
• Dam Surveillance Timer and Data Logger
Download the free app for Android on Googleplay and from the Apple store for the iPhone or iPad.
H2Optimiser
Burjen Pty Ltd is making H2Optimiser water treatment plant optimisation tool available for water industry to use.
This is a free program and includes an assessment tool for Health Based Targets. The Health Based Target page can be accessed through the ‘disinfection’ section of the H2Optimiser tool.