8 m Steel Water Tower 5,000 L
AOWIS Reference Implementation: 8 m Steel Water Tower with 5,000 L nylon tank. Designed for simple, locally-buildable construction using available materials.
This blueprint is non-normative and intended as a practical, low-tech reference for local water infrastructure.
Functional Purpose
- Store 5,000 L of water in a tank elevated ~8 m for gravity-fed irrigation
- Provide reliable water supply without requiring specialized equipment
- Integrate optionally with AOWIS Field Controllers for water level monitoring
Structural Concept
- 8 m high simple steel frame tower (e.g., prefabricated angles or trusses)
- Supports a standard 5,000 L nylon tank (locally available)
- Open-top tank for inspection and filling
- Integrated Ladder for maintenance
- Tank should be secured to the steel frame to resist tipping or lateral movement.
- Consider temporary ballast or partial filling if the tank will be left empty for extended periods.
- Site placement should minimize exposure to prevailing winds.
- Designed to be assembled with basic tools and local labor
Hydraulic Layout
- Tank outlet supplies outlets, homes, irrigation zones by gravity
- Minimum water level need to be maintained for stability, especially during strong winds
- Isolation valve allows manual control
- Optional integration with a small pump for secondary supply zones
Safety Considerations
- Keep steel frame connections tight and stable
- Ladder and hatch should be used carefully
- Ladder should be protected from being accessed by children
- Ensure the frame is level and anchored for basic stability
- Empty or near-empty tanks are more susceptible to wind forces; take care during strong wind events
- Ensure tank straps, brackets, or anchoring to the frame are installed and checked regularly
- Basic manual valve operations keeps it operational during brownouts
Manual Operation Pathways
- Tank filling and emptying can be done manually if electronics fail
- Simple paper-based logs or measurements supported
Controller Integration Points
- Optional water level sensor for Field Controller logging
- AOWIS control can read tank level for irrigation scheduling
- Controller can enforce a minimum water level to ensure the tank remains gravity-stable against wind forces
- Controller may connect to global weather forecasts when internet is available
- High wind or storm warnings trigger alerts to the operator
- Controller can temporarily fill or maintain tank level to prevent tipping during forecasted high winds
- Irrigation may be suspended or modified to reduce risk to infrastructure
- Manual bypass always available - water supply continues even if electronics are offline