Water quality is an essential element of our lives and that of our communities. Learn expert-level field sampling skills for water bodies, how to correctly interpret water data and safety guidelines, and how to apply data to assess water quality for human and aquatic ecosystem health.

About this microcredential

Best practice water quality testing can provide valuable data on the condition of a particular body of water and whether it may require management intervention. Understanding the health of a waterbody is also critical in enabling managers to create and maintain appropriate water management plans for the future.

This micro credential teaches field skills and conceptual knowledge focused on the following topics: Water quality guidelines for industry, monitoring water quality, cyanobacterial guidelines and risks, bacterial pollution, trace metals and other toxicants, ecotoxicology and bioindicators, issues related to reservoir management and water quality issues associated with mining and other human developments. The field-based learning is completed in a block-mode activity, complemented with online learning on the core content with recorded lectures.

Key benefits of this microcredential

This microcredential has been designed to:

Equip you with the essential skills and expertise needed to sample real-world water systems
Develop your skills in interpreting water quality data and provide appropriate management advice for improving water health
Provide real-world experience in industry and government-standard water assessment and monitoring techniques
Provide you with in-depth knowledge of the current guidelines and standards required for assessing water health for humans and ecosystems.

This microcredential aligns with the 4-credit point subject, Water Quality: Issues, Indicators and Safety Guidelines (99028) in the Master of Science Environmental Consultancy and Conservation (C04241). This microcredential may qualify for recognition of prior learning at this and other institutions.

Who should do this microcredential?

This microcredential is suitable for a wide range of professionals looking to enhance their skill set for careers in environmental sciences. Effective application of skills in field assessments of water quality are relied upon by a wide range of end-users including:

Sydney Water
Water NSW
Department of Planning and Environment
State and Territory Environmental Protection Agencies
Local councils
Catchment authorities
Fisheries groups and the aquaculture industries.

At the same time, non-professionals with an eye to expanding their knowledge of aquatic ecosystem pollution and health will find this course highly informative. Beginners will also find this course welcoming as very little prior knowledge in water quality health and guidelines are required.

Price

Full price: $2,815 (GST-free)*

Special price: $1,895 (GST-free)*

*Price subject to change. Please check price at time of purchase.

Enrolment conditions

Course purchase is subject to UTS Open Terms and Conditions.

COVID-19 response

UTS complies with latest Government health advice. Delivery of all courses complies with the UTS response to COVID-19.

Additional course information

Course outline

Online activities provide comprehensive information of the current knowledge in the subject area to support your learning in this microcredential and prepare you for working in field locations.

Field-based learning provides you with the opportunity to experience real world situations and develop the expertise in skills sought after by government agencies and industry groups.

As part of your training, you will attend a field trip to a waterway site in New South Wales and learn sampling techniques to measure the water quality and indicators of biological health in aquatic systems from a leading Australian expert. The samples collected on the field trip will be analysed and this data will form the basis of your report assessing the water quality risks at the site using guidelines and suggest management recommendations.

All information and professional experience are synthesised, so you are able to professionally assess the water quality of the site and then communicate their findings in the form of a written report following current professional standards.

Course learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:

Understand the risks associated with water quality and the guidelines for protecting human and ecosystem health
Identify and perform correct water quality sampling techniques and analyse samples collected
Interpret water quality data based on guidelines used to evaluate the ecological condition of aquatic environments
Effectively communicate water quality information and make recommendations.

Assessment

In order to pass this course, participants must achieve a 50% pass rate and complete all activities. The final mark for this course will be based on three assessment tasks, as below. The weighting for each assessment type is indicated in brackets.

Assessment task 1: Knowledge Quizzes (30%)
Assessment task 2: Field Trip Sampling Techniques (30%)
Assessment task 3: Report on Water Quality (40%)

This course has a competency-based assessment conducted in-person during the field trip.

Requirements

To complete this online course, you will need a personal computer with adequate internet access and sufficient software and bandwidth to support web conferencing. You will also require an operating system with a web browser compatible with Canvas, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Participants will need to bring long pants, closed footwear, long-sleeved shirts, and raincoats for the field trip workshop. Please also bring food and water for a day’s activity
Attendance and participation at the field trip is also required to demonstrate field competency and pass this course.

Contact us

For any questions on enrolment or payment, please email UTS Open Support at support@open.uts.edu.au 
For any questions about course content, delivery, or progression, please email Simon Mitrovic at Simon.Mitrovic@uts.edu.au

$2,815.00

START DATE	Unscheduled
MODE	Online
DURATION	7 wks
COMMITMENT	Avg 16 hrs/wk

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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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Water Quality: Issues, Indicators and Safety Guidelines

Water quality is an essential element of our lives and that of our communities. Learn expert-level field sampling skills for water bodies, how to correctly interpret water data and safety guidelines, and how to apply data to assess water quality for human and aquatic ecosystem health.

About this microcredential

Key benefits of this microcredential

Who should do this microcredential?

Price

Enrolment conditions

Additional course information

Course outline

Course learning objectives

Assessment

Requirements

Contact us

Join Waitlist

Related Courses

Wildlife Field Techniques: Animal Handling and Survey Methods

Vegetation Surveys and Plant Identification

Analyse: Evaluation and Assessment in Learning Design

Water Quality: Issues, Indicators and Safety Guidelines

Acknowledgement of Country