Plastic-lined tank
A low cost alternative to metal or ferro-cement tanks for storing of water are plastic-lined tanks. Several models have been developed, for example:
- A cylinder of sheet metal containing a large (eg. 1 500 liter) reinforced plastic bag
- a plastic liner reinforced with a 10 000 liter plastic bag, installed in a hole in the ground.
Open storage tanks can be made of earth. If clay is not available, a plastic lining is needed to stop water from leaking away. Linings can be made of standard plastic sheet glued together with the tar normally used to repair roofs. The plastic must be covered with earth to prevent it from being exposed to the sun.
History and social context
The organisation IDE in Asia is developing several models of plastic-lined tanks.
Low cost rehabilitation of impluvia with PVC liner in Madagascar by CRS and Practica, has very nice photographs of the process of installing these type of tanks.
Suitable conditions
Rainwater harvesting requires at least an annual rainfall of 100-200 mm. Depending on the size of the design; the tank has a capacity of 1 500 to 10 000 liter.
| Advantages | Disadvantages/limitations |
|---|---|
| - Low cost alternative to metal or ferro-cement tanks. |
Technical specification
Operation
Maintenance
Manufacturing
Material needed for a tank of 5 m3:
- 12 m2 of plastic sheet
- 3 m of PVC tube
Estimated Lifespan
Cost
Country experiences
Manuals
Movies
External Links
Footnotes