flagship course
Water Management and Conservation
Measure, save and manage water at home, farm, school or business, with leak checks, rainwater, reuse and fair sharing.
about this course
What you will be able to do
- Understand Explain the water cycle and local water risks.
- Apply Do a water audit and leak test.
- Analyse Find the biggest savings.
- Evaluate Judge quality, safety and cost of reuse.
- Create Write a water-saving plan with targets.
Task, condition and standard
Task
Audit water use at one site, plan savings, design a rainwater or reuse option and set a measurable target.
Condition
A real site or a practice case, a bucket and timer or meter, a spreadsheet, two peers and a mentor.
Standard
Audit lists all uses in litres; leak test is documented; savings and payback are calculated; water safety rules are stated; peers rate Meets or better.
Who it is for: Facility managers, farmers, school staff, residents, community groups. Requirements: none. Materials: lesson text, worked examples, templates, rubric, quiz, tracker.
lesson by lesson
8 modules with worked examples
Module 1 Water cycle and local risk 3 hUnderstand
Know where your water comes from and what could go wrong.
- Sources: rain, rivers, lakes, groundwater and storage.
- Risks: drought, flood, pollution and failing pipes.
- Know your supplier, tariff, quality report and any local limits.
- Storage can protect you during supply cuts.
Activity. Describe your water supply, its schedule and one risk with source.
Standard to meet. Name the sources, and explain the risk and storage size.
Module 2 Water audit 5 hApply
Measure before you save.
- Read the meter at the same time daily for a week.
- List uses: taps, toilets, showers, cleaning, laundry, irrigation and leaks.
- Convert to litres per person per day.
- Compare with a benchmark from your supplier or national guidance (litres per person per day).
Activity. Complete a one-week audit and split indoor and outdoor use.
Standard to meet. Complete the table and check that the totals match the meter.
Module 3 Finding and fixing leaks 4 hApply
Small leaks waste a lot.
- Night meter test: stop all use; if the meter moves, there is a leak.
- Dye test for toilets; check taps, hoses and float valves.
- A drip per second wastes thousands of litres per year.
- Measure flow by timing a bucket fill.
Activity. Run a leak test and record results and fixes.
Standard to meet. Record the result with the fix and saving.
Module 4 Saving at the tap 4 hAnalyse
Cheap measures give quick savings.
- Aerators, low-flow shower heads, efficient flushes and full loads.
- Behaviour: shorter showers, tap off while brushing, reuse of rinse water.
- Signs and feedback help.
- Rank measures by litres saved per INR spent.
Activity. Choose five measures and estimate savings.
Standard to meet. Estimate the savings with numbers.
Module 5 Rainwater harvesting 5 hCreate
Catch rain where it falls.
- Roof area x rainfall x efficiency = litres per year.
- Gutters, mesh, first-flush diverter, filter, covered tank and overflow route.
- Use for non-drinking unless treated.
- Clean the tank yearly.
Activity. Design a system with a calculation.
Standard to meet. Calculate correctly, and design for overflow and cleaning.
Module 6 Reuse and water quality 4 hEvaluate
Grey water and treated water can be reused with care.
- Grey water from basins and showers can irrigate non-edible plants where permitted.
- Never use untreated grey water on salad crops.
- A simple sand and gravel filter can help.
- Test and treat drinking water; boil or disinfect if unsure.
Activity. List safe and unsafe uses and a treatment step.
Standard to meet. Write clear rules, and note a test.
Module 7 Irrigation and farming 3 hApply
Grow more with less.
- Drip lines, mulching, timing and crop choice for local rain.
- Water early morning or evening.
- Check soil moisture with a finger or a simple sensor.
- Group plants by water need.
Activity. Plan a small plot with a watering timetable.
Standard to meet. Plan is complete and justified.
Module 8 Target, plan and progress 4 hCreate
Make saving a habit.
- Set targets such as 20 per cent less in a year.
- Assign owners and dates.
- Display progress where everyone can see.
- Report monthly and celebrate wins.
Activity. Present the plan and progress display.
Standard to meet. Set a measurable target, and make the display clear.
assessment
How you are checked
Your evidence: audit sheet, leak test record, plan, target. Two peers and one mentor mark it with this rubric. Pass: no criterion at 'Not yet'.
| Criterion | Not yet | Meets | Exceeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit | Incomplete | Complete | Complete with benchmarks |
| Savings plan | Vague | Numbers | Numbers with payback |
| Safety | Missing | Stated | Tested |
| Meter data | Savings guessed | Meter or bucket readings recorded for at least a week | Readings compared with a benchmark and the biggest use named |
| Water rights and health rules | Rules not checked | Abstraction, reuse and drinking-water rules for the place are written down | Rules checked with the local water body and a safe-use sign drafted |
Ten-question check, with model answers
Q1. Litres per person per day?
Model answer: Total use / people / days. (Covered in module 2: Water audit. To pass that module: Complete the table and check that the totals match the meter.)
Q2. Night meter test?
Model answer: No use but meter moves means a leak. (Covered in module 3: Finding and fixing leaks. To pass that module: Record the result with the fix and saving.)
Q3. Rainwater formula?
Model answer: Area x rain x efficiency. (Covered in module 5: Rainwater harvesting. To pass that module: Calculate correctly, and design for overflow and cleaning.)
Q4. Safe grey water use?
Model answer: Irrigation of non-edible plants. (Covered in module 6: Reuse and water quality. To pass that module: Write clear rules, and note a test.)
Q5. Aerator benefit?
Model answer: Reduces flow. (Covered in module 4: Saving at the tap. To pass that module: Estimate the savings with numbers.)
Q6. Why first flush?
Model answer: Removes dirt. (Covered in module 5: Rainwater harvesting. To pass that module: Calculate correctly, and design for overflow and cleaning.)
Q7. Mulch use?
Model answer: Keeps moisture. (Covered in module 7: Irrigation and farming. To pass that module: Plan is complete and justified.)
Q8. Drinking water rule?
Model answer: Treat and test. (Covered in module 6: Reuse and water quality. To pass that module: Write clear rules, and note a test.)
Q9. Why meters?
Model answer: To measure savings. (Covered in module 2: Water audit. To pass that module: Complete the table and check that the totals match the meter.)
Q10. Why share plan?
Model answer: Community buy-in. (Covered in module 8: Target, plan and progress. To pass that module: Set a measurable target, and make the display clear.)
levels L1 to L7
The ladder, slide by slide
Seven slides, one per level. Open each for the slide text and the speaker notes.
Slide 1 L1 Basic: Water cycle and local risk
L1: learner can name water sources. Focus module: Water cycle and local risk (Understand, 3 h). Know where your water comes from and what could go wrong. Key points: Sources: rain, rivers, lakes, groundwater and storage. Risks: drought, flood, pollution and failing pipes. Know your supplier, tariff, quality report and any local limits. Storage can protect you during supply cuts.
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A town cuts supply for three hours a day in summer. Households that store 150 litres per person cope; those that do not buy tanker water at five times the price. Then set the activity: Describe your water supply, its schedule and one risk with source. Mark against the standard: Name the sources, and explain the risk and storage size. Check at this level: Name one local water risk. Model answer: Drought, flood, pollution or failing pipes.
Slide 2 L2 Awareness: Water audit
L2: learner knows leak basics. Focus module: Water audit (Apply, 5 h). Measure before you save. Key points: Read the meter at the same time daily for a week. List uses: taps, toilets, showers, cleaning, laundry, irrigation and leaks. Convert to litres per person per day. Compare with a benchmark from your supplier or national guidance (litres per person per day).
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A household of five uses 900 litres a day: 180 per person. Garden use is 40 per cent in summer. Then set the activity: Complete a one-week audit and split indoor and outdoor use. Mark against the standard: Complete the table and check that the totals match the meter. Check at this level: Litres per person per day? Model answer: Total use / people / days.
Slide 3 L3 Foundation: Finding and fixing leaks
L3: learner can audit. Focus module: Finding and fixing leaks (Apply, 4 h). Small leaks waste a lot. Key points: Night meter test: stop all use; if the meter moves, there is a leak. Dye test for toilets; check taps, hoses and float valves. A drip per second wastes thousands of litres per year. Measure flow by timing a bucket fill.
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A toilet leak is found with food dye. A new valve saves about 20 litres a day. A float valve in a roof tank wasted 60 litres a day before it was adjusted. Then set the activity: Run a leak test and record results and fixes. Mark against the standard: Result recorded with fix and saving. Check at this level: Night meter test? Model answer: No use but meter moves means a leak.
Slide 4 L4 Practitioner: Saving at the tap
L4: learner can fix and save. Focus module: Saving at the tap (Analyse, 4 h). Cheap measures give quick savings. Key points: Aerators, low-flow shower heads, efficient flushes and full loads. Behaviour: shorter showers, tap off while brushing, reuse of rinse water. Signs and feedback help. Rank measures by litres saved per rupee spent.
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A low-flow shower head saves 6 litres per minute; an aerator cuts tap flow by 25 per cent. Then set the activity: Choose five measures and estimate savings. Mark against the standard: Savings are estimated with numbers. Check at this level: Aerator benefit? Model answer: Reduces flow.
Slide 5 L5 Specialist: Rainwater harvesting
L5: learner can design rainwater. Focus module: Rainwater harvesting (Create, 5 h). Catch rain where it falls. Key points: Roof area x rainfall x efficiency = litres per year. Gutters, mesh, first-flush diverter, filter, covered tank and overflow route. Use for non-drinking unless treated. Clean the tank yearly.
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A 100 m2 roof, 800 mm rain and 80 per cent efficiency give about 64,000 litres a year. A 5,000-litre tank fills after about 60 mm of rain. Then set the activity: Design a system with a calculation. Mark against the standard: Calculate correctly, and design for overflow and cleaning. Check at this level: Rainwater formula? Model answer: Area x rain x efficiency.
Slide 6 L6 Advanced: Irrigation and farming
L6: learner can lead a plan. Focus module: Irrigation and farming (Apply, 3 h). Grow more with less. Key points: Drip lines, mulching, timing and crop choice for local rain. Water early morning or evening. Check soil moisture with a finger or a simple sensor. Group plants by water need.
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Drip lines with mulch use about 40 per cent less water than flood irrigation and keep soil moist twice as long. Then set the activity: Plan a small plot with a watering timetable. Mark against the standard: Plan is complete and justified. Check at this level: Mulch use? Model answer: Keeps moisture.
Slide 7 L7 Super expert: Target, plan and progress
L7: learner can audit others. Focus module: Target, plan and progress (Create, 4 h). Make saving a habit. Key points: Set targets such as 20 per cent less in a year. Assign owners and dates. Display progress where everyone can see. Report monthly and celebrate wins.
Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A school sets a 20 per cent cut in one year. A notice board shows monthly litres saved by class and the school reaches 17 per cent in the first six months. Then set the activity: Present the plan and progress display. Mark against the standard: Set a measurable target, and make the display clear. Check at this level: Why share plan? Model answer: Community buy-in.
jobs this leads to
Where this takes you
- Water auditor assistant. Measures use.
- Plumbing helper trainee. Fixes leaks.
- Rainwater installer assistant. Builds systems.
- Facility sustainability officer. Leads targets.
- Farm water technician. Sets irrigation.
Next courses: plastic alternatives, greenhouse gas auditing, vertical farming.
ten locations and global
Your place
Water rights, rainwater and reuse rules differ by place.
India (Bengaluru)
Language: English, Hindi, Kannada. Write numbers in INR. Personal data rule: Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023. Skills frame to name in your evidence: National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and the national credit framework. Consumer rule: Consumer Protection Act 2019.
Netherlands (Eindhoven area)
Language: Dutch, English. Write numbers in EUR. Personal data rule: EU GDPR (Dutch: AVG), supervised by the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the Dutch qualification framework (NLQF) linked to the European Qualifications Framework. Consumer rule: EU and Dutch consumer rules (14-day cooling-off for online sales).
UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
Language: Arabic, English. Write numbers in AED. Personal data rule: Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 (personal data protection). Skills frame to name in your evidence: the emirate education and training regulators (for example KHDA in Dubai) and the national qualifications framework. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Brazil (Sao Paulo)
Language: Portuguese (Spanish and English support). Write numbers in BRL. Personal data rule: LGPD (Lei Geral de Protecao de Dados). Skills frame to name in your evidence: the national technical-education catalogue and the national S-system training bodies. Consumer rule: the Consumer Defence Code (CDC).
Canada (Toronto)
Language: English, French. Write numbers in CAD. Personal data rule: PIPEDA, with provincial rules where they apply. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the provincial colleges framework and the national credential-recognition guidance. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
United States
Language: English, Spanish. Write numbers in USD. Personal data rule: state privacy laws (for example California), and COPPA for children under 13. Skills frame to name in your evidence: state and community-college credit systems. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Singapore
Language: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil. Write numbers in SGD. Personal data rule: Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Skills frame to name in your evidence: the Singapore national skills frameworks and the national credit system. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Australia
Language: English. Write numbers in AUD. Personal data rule: the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Hong Kong (Eastern Asia)
Language: Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), English. Write numbers in HKD. Personal data rule: the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Georgia and Israel (Western Asia)
Language: Georgian, Hebrew, Arabic, English. Write numbers in GEL or ILS. Personal data rule: the personal data law of the country where the learner lives. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the national qualifications framework of that country. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Cayman Islands (Caribbean)
Language: English. Write numbers in KYD. Personal data rule: the Data Protection Act. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the local education and training framework. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Mexico
Language: Spanish, English. Write numbers in MXN. Personal data rule: the federal law on personal data held by private parties. Skills frame to name in your evidence: the national competency certification system and the education ministry levels. Consumer rule: local consumer-protection law.
Global
The global version uses plain English, metric units, and your own currency. Machine translation is available in every language; the English text is the official text. Before you act for real, check your local rules with an adviser. Currency: USD (or your own currency, written next to every number).
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Draft
Draft flagship. Written in our own words. Not live. Check local rules with an adviser before you act for real.