For homes that cannot access piped water systems, rain water collection and storage is the only option, besides walking 1-3 hours a day to collect and carry water from a local source. A newer community we are working with, el Salitre, has no options for piped water. As a stop gap measure, we have introduced a home-made gutter and 55 gallon drum for rainwater storage. This helps during the rainy season, but does little during the 5 month long dry season. We estimate most homes would need about 4,000 gallons of water storage to get through the dry season, assuming they are very careful with their water use. A water tank of this size costs close to $2,000 to build. We are exploring other lower cost water storage options, including an in-ground plastic-lined hole. We have helped almost every home in Salitre get the barrel and gutter option.
What is Involved
- 10 foot length of 4 inch PVC pipe converted into a gutter using a hack saw blade and the heat from a fire to bend the PVC pipe
- 55 gallon plastic drum/barrel
- Recipients are charged $6 for about $60 worth of materials
Barrel and PVC pipe for small scale rain water collection 
Rebar for ferro-cement tank floor 
Assembling form for ferro-cement tank walls 
forms and wall wires before plastering 
Completed 4,000 gallon ferro-cement water tank