DP2: Hexatank
The design prompt for this project was to design a better solution for rainwater catchment and storage in Orissa, India. Although Orissa is one of the most fertile regions in India and receives monsoon rains every year, these rains only last for 3 months, leaving the region in drought for 9 months of the year. Conventional catchment and storage is typically a dug out pond or trench that suffers from contamination and evaporation loss. Alternatives, such as above ground cement tanks and smaller vessels like 55 Gallon drums are too small to contain adequate water for the dry season, and generally too expensive for the average user. As a result, a need exists for a modular, scaleable design with a low barrier to entry that is capable of storing large quantities of rain water.
The hexatank system is sold as two blow-molded "caps" rf welded to a polypropylene tarpaulin skin. The user supplies the structural support in the form of bamboo lengths that are fitted into the base. Each base is capable of attaching to other tanks, providing the user with a scalable system and a low investment on a per year basis. This design emphasizes vertical volume and conforms to available storage geometries to minimize impact on the user's living space. Additional attachments that serve as icons of upward mobility, such as a hose for running water and a turbine for charging a mobile phone, will further encourage adoption and usage. The design takes advantage of abundant bamboo supply in the region to reduce financial cost, and uses readily available materials to facilitate repair and upkeep of the system.
The hexatank system is sold as two blow-molded "caps" rf welded to a polypropylene tarpaulin skin. The user supplies the structural support in the form of bamboo lengths that are fitted into the base. Each base is capable of attaching to other tanks, providing the user with a scalable system and a low investment on a per year basis. This design emphasizes vertical volume and conforms to available storage geometries to minimize impact on the user's living space. Additional attachments that serve as icons of upward mobility, such as a hose for running water and a turbine for charging a mobile phone, will further encourage adoption and usage. The design takes advantage of abundant bamboo supply in the region to reduce financial cost, and uses readily available materials to facilitate repair and upkeep of the system.