Reinforced blockwork water storage tanks

One of the most important needs of any community development is a safe and adequate supply of potable water. Unfortunately, there is still a shortage of clean water supply in rural regions of many developing countries like, for example, in Tanzania. A large proportion of the rural population in such countries rely on the availability of man-made wells, natural springs and rivers, and recently on limited piped water supply schemes. The majority of such sources are not at economical distances from the dwellings. The effectiveness of piped water supply depends on the availability of water storage tanks. Reinforced blockwork tanks are used as water distribution and storage facilities in some rural areas in Tanzania. They consist of reinforced concrete roof and floor slabs while the walls are made of reinforced blockwork. The blockwork is made of concrete blocks that contain grooves into which reinforcing bars are laid and embedded in cement mortar. This paper will discuss matters related to design and construction of such tanks. Since severe cracking and leakage were observed physically to be the major problems, the authors intend to present, in view of research results, ways by which the tanks can be designed to minimise crack widths and water losses through them.