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Scenario · Catchment, Dams and Storages

Manage a blue-green algae alert and complete the spring dam surveillance inspection

You are the catchment and storages officer reporting to the Catchment and Storages Manager.

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The situation

What has happened

The raw water storage sample from the offtake tower has returned 14,000 cells per millilitre of Microcystis, placing the storage at the alert level of the blue-green algae response framework, with warm weather forecast. The offtake has been moved to the lower level and the Kialla plant is running enhanced coagulation with powdered activated carbon on standby. At the same time the spring surveillance inspection of the embankment dam is due, including piezometer and seepage weir readings, and the last inspection noted a wet patch at the downstream toe near the left abutment. The Catchment and Storages Manager wants both matters managed and documented this week.

Your brief. Run the blue-green algae alert response, including confirmation sampling, offtake and treatment liaison, control centre briefing and a draft notification for the health regulator, and carry out and report the spring embankment dam surveillance inspection with instrumentation readings and any dam safety actions.
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Tasks

Deliverables

  • Algae alert action record with sampling entries and treatment liaison notes
  • Control centre briefing and updated public notice
  • Draft health regulator notification
  • Dam surveillance inspection report with instrumentation readings
  • Any hazard entries raised in the incident register

Documents to use

Systems to use

Water Quality Sampling Register

Records operational and verification samples, laboratory results and the result status for drinking water, recycled water, effluent and raw water.

Permit to Work Register

Records every confined space entry, excavation, hot work and isolation permit with the permit holder, controls, gas readings and close-out.

WHS and Environmental Incident Register

Records injuries, near misses, hazards, chemical releases, sewage spills, water quality incidents and vehicle events with investigation and actions.

Network Work Orders

Tracks every reactive and planned job on the water and sewer networks, plants, storages and channels from dispatch to completion.

For trainers and assessors

Units of competency

Current on training.gov.au for the National Water Training Package as at 10 September 2026.

NWPCAD003Identify and confirm blue-green algae outbreaks
NWPCAD001Respond to blue-green algae outbreaks
NWPCAD011Inspect and report on embankment dam safety
NWPCAD013Conduct and report dam safety instrumentation monitoring
NWPCAD005Monitor, inspect and report catchment areas

Qualifications

NWP40120Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations
NWP50126Diploma of Water Industry Operations
Assessor notes

What to look for

Evidence guide

Look for the algae response following defined alert levels with confirmation sampling before escalation and clear liaison with treatment. The regulator notification must be factual and complete. The dam inspection must cover every element of the embankment with observations rather than ticks, instrumentation readings compared with trends, and a considered assessment of the wet patch with an action and urgency. Safety controls for work near water must be evident.

The student's evidence summary lists every record they created or changed in the systems named above, their notes and the tasks they ticked. Verify it against the deliverables and your own assessment tool.