Anyone out who needs tips on how to harness rain water for your home use? I recently completed two projects and happy that all my water needs are sorted out and no one will ever bill me for water!

Would be happy to share tips with anyone interested on how to do it right and avoid being conned my masons!

@subzero

i have 2 tanks each with a volume of 50,000 litres. They are made of normal machine cuts stones well done by a tanks fundi. They are sub-underground ( 60% under and 40% above ground) The following tips would help,

1. Avoid using fundis who build houses to do for you a water tank.
2. Get a water tank fundi with good references. Most good ones have references from Kenya Rain water association.
3. Avoid myths like hard stones are the best, use water proof cement etc. All that is important is the building technique and the skills used.
4. Ensure a good gutter system is done to both ensure first rains water is drained away and only clean water gets to your tank.

Hope this helps

@Gathige Thanks for this useful info.However I have 2 main concerns which has been a challenge to me.
1 How to clean and drain the afterwash
2 which roof material did you use coz I am told not all are healthy for domestic use.
some enlightment.I want to reduce my bills too.

@ Gathige. Thank you boss for this. You also need to put water-bars when using water-proof cement.

I used the same fundi who build my house and my tank is good 3 years later. For the gutter though, l used the supplier. I cant complain. Used to pay private water supplier 2k a month; now l mostly pay him the 2k only once or maximum twice a month! I wish l build a bigger tank!

@jjred. It cost me roughly 350k for the 2 tanks. My estimate is it will payback in 7-8yrs based on the cost of water previously bought. Other benefits includes clean water, enviromentally friendly and the one i like most i no longer get home to be told " Hakuna Maji leo"

@Gathige,
Are your tanks cylindical,rect or oblong?And what assures you that there is no sippage that can contaminate your water?.Why did you decide on two tanks at 50 k litres and not one at 100 K litres and other than Mfuko,what would limit the size of your tank?

Good stuff @Gathige. Am financially challenged.... If my bill is currently Ksh 1,200/=, how long will be my payback?

Where do I get fundis with the references you talk about?

@Njunge,

The tanks are cylindrical ( circular). Purely good workmanship ( skilled fundi, plastering and quality of materials used) and location ( at least away from would be pollutants) ensures no seepage. I did 2 purely due to finances as i did one first and after 5 years did the other one. Size would depend on the roof catchment to harvest the water from and of course finances.

@ GGK

If ur water bills are low like 1.2k it would be better to invest in a good plastic tank as the cost of a concrete tank would far outweigh the benefits. But if you plan to do some kidogo back-yard farming and live in a water scarce region then you could invest in a tank.

If you decide on a concrete tank, i can introduce u to a good fundi.

@ MatataMingi.

Any JuaKali artisan can fabricate the mabati-type gutters. Mine are Jua Kali. There is some company dealing with plastic ones which i hear are long-lasting and easy to clean but i never considered them as i heard they are pricey.

To clean the system, a corked-pipe from the gutter system is fixed to let the first rains just drain away. This is good if all the water drains to the tank from the roof level. If some water is collected through underground pipes, then a man-hole trap just before the water gets to the tank is used collect water from the first rains and then drained.


Hope this helps!

@Kensaf,

My tank is stand-alone and not underground. Send me ur email address and i will send you the photos of my tank then we follow up from there.

@Gathige, quite insightful, a few questions...and I wouldn't mind having your contacts, yangu ni nostoppingthis@gmail.com

1. On one of the posts above, someone has asked the roofing material you are using for catchment? you realize that some of the mabati components are not good. I'm informed that zinc should be excluded as part of the mabati material....
2. Is concrete underground tanks better that rot plastic underground tanks? Some people build the concrete and then place the plastic container therein(i think to avoid seepage)

On matters conserving water, some persons allow the kitchen effluent to go under the lawn...this is to keep the grass green, any comments?