Design of Water Tank

Ferrocement Tank

The ferrocement tank provides an affordable solution to water storage while also allowing the community to get involved. It requires not much more than chicken wire, a wire frame, cement, and some support beams.

Materials required:

• Chicken wire

• 1:3 cement to sand ratio

• ~1:0.45 cement to water ratio 

• Large pvc pipe equal to desired height of tank

Process for Construction

1. Create foundation for tank (need soil info) 

2. Lay wire frame on the floor with PVC pipe in the center

3. Position support beams around center pipe if needed

4. Chicken wire forms a cylinder inside a sturdy wire framework.

5. Lay sheet of mesh and wire on top for the roof

6. Zip Tie ends of the sheet together to create a cylinder with tension in the chicken wire and secure to the wire frame.

7. Create placeholders for necessary pipes (inlet, outlet)

8. Cement applied onto the tank while a plastering trowel or sheet is held from the other side (helps compact the concrete)

9. Plaster cement onto the interior side. (Ladder used to climb between sides)

10. Repeat plastering until walls are 3-7cm thick

11. Smooth out cement

12. Cover with white cement if needed

13. Cure cement for two weeks with wet towels and water