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Homesteading & Survival · Homesteading & Survival Courses

Safe Water at Home

Store, treat and protect drinking water, and keep a household clean when the taps or sewer stop working.

Level
Beginner
Estimated study
About 10 hours
Lessons
10 lessons in 2 modules
Format
Online, self-paced
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About this course

For any household that wants a water plan it can actually use. You will calculate a reserve, judge sources, boil and disinfect water with CDC's exact steps and bleach doses, store and rotate containers, set up handwashing and an emergency toilet, and combine it all into a one-page plan. About 10 hours, with real practice at the stove and the sink.

What you will be able to do

  • Calculate a starting water reserve for your household and list the needs it leaves out.
  • Boil water correctly and disinfect it with household bleach at the CDC dose for its concentration.
  • Recognize contamination that boiling, filters and bleach cannot fix, and switch to a safe supply.
  • Set up handwashing, dish cleaning and an emergency bagged toilet that keep waste away from water and food.
  • Write a layered water plan with confirmed backups and a review date.

Course outline

Module 1: Water needs, sources and treatment

5 lessons · 5 h

Calculate how much water you need, judge where it comes from, and treat it by boiling, filtering and disinfecting with bleach.

  1. Calculate household water needs1 h
  2. Assess sources and chemical contamination1 h
  3. Collect rainwater safely and legally1 h
  4. Treat water by boiling1 h
  5. Use filters and disinfectants correctly1 h

Module 2: Storage, wells and sanitation

5 lessons · 5 h

Store and rotate water, plan wells and springs with professionals, and keep handwashing, dishes and toilets working during a disruption.

  1. Store and rotate potable water1 h
  2. Plan lawful well and spring systems1 h
  3. Set up handwashing and dish sanitation1 h
  4. Manage toilets, waste and greywater1 h
  5. Build a layered water continuity plan1 h
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