Appropedia Underground Rainwater Storage Facilities (Practical Action Guide)¶
Rainwater & Storage • Est. CapEx: $80 USD • Lifespan: 7–15 Years
Technical Overview¶
A traditional low-tech underground cistern design for rainwater harvesting, particularly suited for semi-arid regions. Provides detailed construction guidance for cement-soil plastered tanks for agricultural water storage.
Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Rainwater & Storage |
| Capital Cost (CapEx) | $80 USD |
| Power / Energy | 100% Gravity / Zero Power |
| Target Scale | Community Scale |
| Standard Lifespan | 7–15 Years |
| Technology Maturity | Commercially Available |
| Primary Mechanism | Rainwater is collected from roofs or catchments and conveyed to an underground storage tank. The tank is constructed with cement-soil plaster (ratios 1:8 for anthill soil, 1:3 for sandy soil) over a reinforced excavation. Water is extracted via a pump or bucket, with minimal evaporative loss due to underground placement. |
Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶
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