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Concrete Water Tower

By th3_jungle_inv3ntor (/member/th3_jungle_inv3ntor/) in Workshop (/workshop/) > Home Improvement (/workshop
/home-improvement/projects/)

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Step 1: Tons of Materials - Literally

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Step 2: Planning - Dimensions - Concrete

(https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FON/37PL/HK1DF3F8/FON37PLHK1DF3F8.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&
width=1024&fit=bounds&md=44f5fa132103dcef038c4f181b4b5153)
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Step 3: Footing
(https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FXF/1LDV/HK46G61P/FXF1LDVHK46G61P.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&
width=1024&fit=bounds&md=d080e87d31f5b90d9a1a6e54a406a262)

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 Step 4: Steel for Footing
height=1024&fit=bounds&md=48379043f1a27f748d39a3354b4e186c)
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Step 5: Pouring the Base
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 Step 6: Forming the Columns
height=1024&fit=bounds&md=2469da037ecef01611017cb6a8ef5088)
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Step 7: Pouring the Columns

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Step 8: Frame Top Platform

(https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FJJ/A682/HK6XAKB7/FJJA682HK6XAKB7.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&
width=1024&height=1024&fit=bounds&md=cbc37c46e9e99f5a3b01a8dd5263c9c9)
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Step 9: Add Steel to Top Platform

(https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/FNG/QQIF/HK6XHZJ1/FNGQQIFHK6XHZJ1.jpg?auto=webp&frame=1&
width=1024&height=1024&fit=bounds&md=80f9710e6f83c8e2e2a090562a5e6c64)
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Step 10: Final Pour!

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Step 11: Finish It All Off!

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Step 12: Finished!!
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Finalist in the
Concrete and Casting Contest (/contest View Contest
/concrete2013/)

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60 Comments
 Reply Upvote
(/member/NeoLong/) NeoLong (/member/NeoLong/) 1 year ago

You truly deserve a commendation for your initiative and hardwork. However, the two posts of
the tower supports MORE THAN 6,700 lbs of weight (the weights of the water, tank, and the
concrete platform and its cantilever supports), and, looking at its dimensions and the amount of
rebars, it is flimsy and may collapse at the slightest earthquake.

Reply Upvote
(/member/ShuhasJ/) ShuhasJ (/member/ShuhasJ/) 4 years ago

I found your blog to be very informative and interesting. On similar lines you can also check out
at crb tech blog which is also a very good blog on this very topic. Request you to continue writing
on varied topics as we would like to read.

(/member/joefreezy70/) joefreezy70 (/member/joefreezy70/) 8 years ago

Reply Upvote

congratulations on your ingenuity and hard labor. I don't think a lot of your contributors have tried
to build something in a 3rd world country before so they may not get that simpler is better. I used
to inspect concrete and reinforcing steel in the U.S. on anything from fountains to office
buildings. I can't see the minor details on how you prepared the steel or what the dimensions of
the foundation really are, but it looks for the most part stable as long as you aren't subject to high
winds that would increase the loading at the top. they are right however, it would never pass
code here in the US because it was not professionally engineered and we have too many
lawyers. do you mind if I ask how much this cost to build in labor and materials?
1 reply

(/member/JakeBlanton/) JakeBlanton (/member/JakeBlanton/) 8 years ago on Step 12

Reply Upvote

The maximum water pressure that this sort of gravity fed system will generate is around 7.35 psi.
That would be at absolute ground level -- the water pressure at sinks would be less since they
are a couple of feet higher. Here in the US, water pressure is usually at least 40 psi and in some
areas, it can even be as high as 100 psi. I live in an area that is subject to infrequent high winds
(thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes), so i would not trust that particular pedestal design. At
the very least, I would add some guy wire cables from the top of it to various well anchored
positions in the yard to make it more secure.
 (/member/veeguy/) veeguy (/member/veeguy/) 8 years ago on Introduction

Reply Upvote

When I lived in Kenya I saw similar 2 post designs made of concrete. To eliminate the need for
sawn wood forms, the constructors would dig the forms horizontally in the ground and line them
with visqueen (plastic sheeting). After curing, the columns were dug free and erected.
2 replies

(/member/poofrabbit/) poofrabbit (/member/poofrabbit/) 8 years ago on Introduction

Reply Upvote

Just wanted to say congratulations on being a finalists in the Concrete & Casting Contest! This
was a fantastic instructable! Good luck!
1 reply

(/member/shawnlambert/) shawnlambert (/member/shawnlambert/) 8 years ago on Step 12

Reply Upvote

I think lucjoker is correct... and correct me if i am wrong, but isn't pouring concrete in sections
like that without adding adhesives to the layers create a weak point? I didn't concrete adhered
well after it dried.

In addition the barrels on top do not seem to be secured in any way... hurricane, or strong winds
could blow a tank on to your home. You should at least strap them down with something, but
railings embedded in the upper part of the concrete would provide more of a catch for those
behemoths.

I did vote for you... mixing concrete by hand sucks..just promise you'll shore that thing up when
you get the mixer.
1 reply

(/member/LancasterPA/) LancasterPA (/member/LancasterPA/) 8 years ago on Introduction

Reply Upvote

Nice Job. I hope to do this sometime soon too. I am in the Philippines and our water pressure
from morning to night is about 10 psi or less. I take a shower at night because not only does the
pressure go up to 40 psi but the water is cooler. The water is so hot during the day I can't even
 take a refreshing rinse. Our water lines are 2 or 3 inches from the surface of the road and the
sun baking it really heats up the water. Good for you, great instructionable.
1 reply

(/member/howgoodisit/) howgoodisit (/member/howgoodisit/) 8 years ago on Introduction

Reply Upvote

I hope like hell you do not get earthquakes there!

Next project you should do is "Turn house into concrete bomb shelter to protect from falling
water towers"
1 reply

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