The water tanks are one of the main aspects of being self sustainable. They are designed to collect rain water in the tanks and simultaneously treat grey water above the tanks. Rain water collected from the houses are collected in a sereis of 9 tanks that over flow from one tank to another.
The tanks have shell roof on top that supports the grey water treatment system. The grey water from the houses will be cleaned up by EM (Effective Micro organisms) that contain bacteria. These bacteria convert the dirt into nutrients. Plants like papaya and banana will absorb the nutrients, absorb water and also help in cleaning up grey water. This system is repeated at different levels and the left over water is collected in the tenth tank to be used for gardening purpose.
Construction of the water tanks:
Waste petrol pipes have been used for shuttering of the walls. The height of one shutter is approximately 3 feet. Petrol pipes are joined with waste shipping wood. It also acts as a stiffening member. The wood is placed at a distance of 3 ft c/c across the petrol pipes. It is then screwed to the petrol pipe, along its length.
The petrol pipe shuttering has the following advantages:
1. Recycling of land-filled material
2. The texture it creates on the walls are aesthetically appealing
3. Durable
4. Water proof
Loading team:
The loading team is responsible for:
1. Loading the materials required for earth-creting i.e., aggregates, earth and cement in the appropriate ratios into the mixer machine. Ratios used for Earthcrete mix (Cement: Earth: Aggregates from rubble): 1:9:18, 1:6:12, ¾:5:14. The ratio is changed according to the type of Earth, size of Aggregates and the kind of structural material it goes into.
2. Adding water in right quantities to the mix in the mixer machine.
3. Checking the consistency of the mix once prepared and altering the ratio if required.
Passing team:
The passing team takes care of:
1. Pouring the earth-crete mix from the mixer machine into the empty bands.
2. Passing the bands to the site of construction up to the wall that is being earth-creted.
3. Passing the empty bands back to the mixer machine.
Pouring team:
This team is responsible for:
1. Pouring the earth-crete passed into the shuttering.
2. Ramming/compacting the poured earth-crete with a stick or rod.
3. Checking the horizontal and vertical levels of the poured Earth-crete mix.
