DIY Ferrocement Water Storage Tank¶
Rainwater & Storage • Est. CapEx: Low-cost / Locally fabricated
Technical Overview¶
A low-cost, durable rainwater and potable water storage vessel built by hand-applying cement mortar over a layered wire-mesh armature. It is designed for off-grid homesteaders, rural households, and emergency/resilience planners seeking long-term water security using locally sourced materials.
Key Specifications & Engineering Parameters¶
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Rainwater & Storage |
| Capital Cost | Low-cost / Locally fabricated |
| Primary Mechanism | The tank is formed around an armature of rebar and multiple layers of galvanized chicken wire and electro-welded mesh (typically 2 layers chicken wire, 1 welded mesh, 2 layers chicken wire). Portland cement mortar is slapped onto both sides of the mesh and cured under tension—often with perimeter tie wires to prevent buckling—creating a thin-shell (~2 in / 5 cm), crack-resistant composite. A domed roof can be added using wooden forms to create a fully enclosed cistern. |
| Target Scale | Household / Village Cluster |
| Standard Lifespan | 10 - 20 Years |
Engineering Trade-Offs¶
- ★
- I
- n
- c
- l
- u
- d
- e
- s
- s
- t
- e
- p
- -
- b
- y
- -
- s
- t
- e
- p
- D
- I
- Y
- c
- o
- n
- s
- t
- r
- u
- c
- t
- i
- o
- n
- g
- u
- i
- d
- e
- /
- m
- a
- n
- u
- a
- l
- f
- r
- o
- m
- R
- W
- S
- N
- a
- n
- d
- A
- k
- v
- o
- p
- e
- d
- i
- a
- Requires periodic community maintenance
- Site-specific hydrogeological constraints
Cross-Reference & Interactive Tools¶
Need to evaluate this technology for your specific field site? Run the WhatWater.info Selector Engine to compare it against 100+ alternative solutions.