Underground Water Tank

Living in an area with unpredictable rainfall, the ability to store water is essential for ensuring a reliable water supply throughout the year. At Eco Moyo, we have always collected rainwater from our classroom roofs, storing it in tanks ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 litres. This new project takes our water storage capacity to a completely different level: a 100,000-litre underground water tank. Being underground also protects the stored water from external elements and helps reduce evaporation.

The idea for this project began in 2022, when we hosted a group of master’s students from NTNU through the Master With Meaning programme, in collaboration with IUG (Engineers Without Borders Norway).

IUG-students getting help from Eco Moyo students, examining the soil and meeting Jonathan, our contractor, during their field trip in 2022.

Building on the work and ideas developed by Lukas and Iver through the Master med Mening programme, the project was led by Marin, who has worked with Eco Moyo's water systems for several years, together with our local contractor Jonathan.

As easy peasy as step 1, 2 and 3 😄

The project was made possible through generous support from our Dutch network, and we are incredibly grateful!! This is the kind of infrastructure that does not always look dramatic in photos once it is finished, but makes a huge difference in everyday life.

The tank collects rainwater from four nearby classroom roofs: PP1, PP2, Grade 1 and Grade 2. From there, the water is stored underground and can be pumped up to the top part of the school grounds, where we have installed an additional tank near the school garden. This will eventually support an irrigation system, helping us make better use of rainwater for growing food.

We have also installed another tank within the school area, which will work as extra storage in addition to our existing rainwater tanks. This gives us more flexibility and a stronger water system overall, especially during dry periods or when the municipal water supply is unreliable.

There has been a lot of digging, planning and problem-solving involved. Trenches had to be dug, pipes had to be laid and the new pump had to be connected to the nearest power source. To make that possible, we installed a new electrical outlet on the PP1 classroom wall, with electricity drawn from the staff quarters. It sounds simple when written in one sentence, but it took a lot of practical work on the ground to make everything connect properly.

This project brings together many things we care about at Eco Moyo: local knowledge, practical engineering, sustainable solutions and long-term planning. The design and academic work from the NTNU students, combined with Jonathan’s local experience and the support from our Dutch donors, has resulted in something that will serve the school for many years to come. Check out the video of how we did it on our Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Hrd21v8KE/