Water Infrastructure Manager

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Water Infrastructure Manager. A Water Infrastructure Manager manages physical assets throughout its lifecycle to ensure optimal return on investment by planning, developing and controlling over the acquisition, operations and maintenance of water infrastructure assets to minimise their related risks and costs over their entire life-cycle. A qualified learner will be able to: • Update or develop a Water Services Development Plan using the approved system. • Identify, design and develop water infrastructure programmes and projects. • Coordinate, monitor and control of operational tasks relating water infrastructure. • Develop and manage the water infrastructure operations and maintenance programme. • Monitor, update and maintain the management information system.

Water is an essential resource that is increasingly in demand to sustain life. Many countries including South Africa are facing challenges relating to ineffective water infrastructure management on existing infrastructure, poor planning for new infrastructure, and poor infrastructure asset management (life-cycle management). Adequate and well-maintained water and sanitation infrastructure is an essential component for economic growth to improve the quality of life and poverty reduction. Municipalities are mandated by the constitution to provide all South Africans with effective, affordable, safe water supply services and therefore remain as the custodians of water services infrastructure assets in the water sector. Infrastructure has a lifespan in which the age, physical condition, and efficiency of the existing infrastructure require continuous inspection and maintenance to ensure that water is supplied adequately and efficiently without disruption. The South African municipalities are working hard to move towards greater infrastructure sustainability thus investing and reinvesting in water infrastructure. Generally, water infrastructure systems are out-of-sight and sometimes out-of-mind which make them subject to neglect. Managing the asset throughout its lifecycle effectively from both a financial and operational perspective will help the government to achieve the best return on the asset, maintain asset condition and service level, and reduce or avoid unnecessary service interruptions. Water infrastructure managers should play a key role in asset management throughout an asset life cycle and need to be trained to deal with ongoing considerations of planning for the costs of ongoing asset management, optimising maintenance and renewal expenditures, coordinating renovation projects, and sustaining long-term asset performance to ensure proper planning and development, managing the operations and maintenance of the water infrastructure for efficient and sustainable water and sanitation services to all consumers as well as the minimisation of water loss and improve hygiene. The need to develop the capacity for effective and sustainable water infrastructure management is crucial to provide a high quality, adequate and reliable water services. This qualification has been identified as a priority for skills development to provide learners with requisite knowledge and skills in both technical and management facets to manage the water infrastructure in the workplace. Learners who have successfully completed this qualification will provide an acceptable level of water infrastructure service to meet the needs of the customers by applying water infrastructure management principles and practices. The qualification is aimed at people who are already working or intend to work in the water sector at national, provincial and local spheres of government including the private sector. The qualification will provide access to a recognised career path within the water sector.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • National Diploma: Engineering.

• Evaluate, consolidate information and populate a Water Services Development Plan.
• Manage water consumption and demand to achieve a sustainable water supply to end-users.
• Manage the operations and maintenance of the water infrastructure system.
• Use various information management systems to monitor, update and maintain sustainable water supply to the end-users.
• Plan and implement water infrastructure project.