EUSSM3 Restore sewerage or drainage assets to a serviceable condition

Overview

This Standard is about restoring the function of sewerage or drainage assets either on a planned basis or in response to notification of a system failure. Sewerage and drainage assets could be in public networks or privately owned. Activities could include making repairs or clearing blockages. Methods of remedial action could include rodding, water-jetting, cleaning, reporting of condition causing failure or disinfection of surrounding areas.

It includes identifying the right method and tools to carry out the work, carrying out the maintenance and verifying and testing the restored sewerage or drainage assets.

This Standard is aimed at operatives who restore sewerage or drainage assets to a serviceable condition including those working in sewerage pumping stations.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

  1. locate the position of sewerage or drainage assets requiring remedial action in accordance with organisational procedures
  2. select an appropriate water supply in accordance with organisational procedures
  3. identify remedial action requirements in accordance with relevant technical procedures
  4. protect work zones in line with legislative requirements for signing, lighting and guarding
  5. select information, plant, tools and equipment that are appropriate for remedial action or repairs
  6. notify individuals and organisations affected by remedial action in accordance with relevant organisational procedures
  7. identify and report defects, deficiencies, faults or damage outside the scope of your job in accordance with relevant organisational procedures
  8. identify and report external factors which prevent the job being carried out when required to appropriate people
  9. identify the risks associated with confined spaces, and the associated control measures
  10. prepare tools and equipment in accordance with organisational procedures , reporting any defects and deficiencies to appropriate people
  11. dispose of waste materials in accordance with organisational procedures
  12. verify and test repaired sewerage or drainage assets in accordance with organisational procedures
  13. ensure the surface area is left in a safe and clean condition, and meets environmental requirements
  14. record and report work activities and outcomes in accordance with relevant organisational procedures
  15. report faults and damage in accordance with relevant organisational procedures
  16. recommend temporary arrangements when required to protect the operation and condition of sewers, drains and ancillaries, properties and the environment in accordance with organisational procedures
  17. ensure records of faults and damage are accurate and legible, and are reported in accordance with relevant organisational procedures

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. regulatory and organisational procedures relevant to the sewerage or drainage maintenance you are undertaking including those relating to health, safety and the environment
  2. the risk of disease or injury and associated procedures and control measures for working in confined spaces, at height, in excavations, lone working, on public highways, in dangerous atmospheres, in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with tidal flows or increasing water levels, with industrial waste or trade effluent, uncontrolled discharges into the system, manual handling, vermin
  3. types of sewers, drains and ancillaries including off network systems and electrically isolated ancillaries, foul drainage, surface water drainage, combined drainage, culverted watercourse, land drainage, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), rising mains, pumped systems, septic tanks, flow variations
  4. sources of information relevant to the activity and how to interpret it
  5. the correct procedures for obtaining and using a water supply
  6. how to distinguish between public and private sewerage and drainage assets
  7. requirements for safe work zones and predetermined actions to take in instances of safe zone infringements
  8. remedial action required to deal with structural defects and service condition defects including major structural damage, serious blockage, flooding, danger to public health, pollution
  9. how to clear soft and hard blockages including fat, oil and grease (FOG), silt, roots, 3rd party obstructions and common sewer and drain debris
  10. the most suitable choice of materials, tools and equipment given the nature of the work activity, and its potential impact on the environment
  11. alternative methods of remedial action including rodding, water jetting, cleaning and disinfecting localised areas and when it is appropriate to use them
  12. the likely impact of work activities on others and the environment
  13. external factors that may affect the work including weather, traffic, access, safety, working environment, environmental issues, general public
  14. methods of verifying and testing repaired sewerage or drainage assets including CCTV report recognition and performance testing
  15. the types of sewers, drains and ancillaries including un-powered and electrically isolated ancillaries
  16. organisational reporting procedures for defects to tools and equipment
  17. implications of inadequate remedial action
  18. problems that may be encountered during remedial action and ways in which they can be mitigated
  19. faults and damage including major structural damage, serious blockage, flooding, danger to public health, pollution and how to identify and rectify them
  20. recording and reporting procedures
  21. types of temporary arrangements including flow diversion, temporary pumping, isolation to protect work areas and how to obtain them
  22. effects of influents on sewerage and drainage conditions
  23. implications of flooding and pollution for occupiers and the wider environment