José Luis Muñoz, Construction and Maintenance Coordinator, toils on this construction project–one of five new rainwater holding tanks.
Our gardening team recently finished construction of five new rainwater holding tanks. Now there is one rainwater tank at each site of our gardens throughout the town of Puerto Palomas.
These rainwater tanks are found in our gardens located:
- near the library. This tank supports the garden that provides fresh produce for our senior meals.
- at the preparatory high school, Ramon Espinoza school,
- at the local secondary school, and
- at the Ford primary school.
The school tanks will support crops that feed the school children.
Rainwater Tank Benefits
These tanks can each hold 4,700 gallons (17,700 Liters) of water. Each one is outfitted with mechanisms so that any excess water flows to the gardens. “Harvesting” the water is obviously cost-effective. In addition, it provides better water for growing vegetables than the city water we currently use. Municipal water is too salty and contains excess arsenic and fluoride. As of last week, 2.3 inches of rainfall has fallen so far in 2024. This fills the new tanks with rainwater. They’re all in use: saving water, reducing costs, and enriching plant life in each of these locations.
The fruit trees we’ve planted in town will also benefit. They’re especially sensitive to the salts in the city water and die earlier than normal when watered from the municipal water system.
Benefits of Home-made Tanks
Rather than purchasing water holding tanks pre-made, our construction and gardening team labored intensely on this project, saving considerable expense. Our crew used a building method which combines the use of chicken wire and some mesh with a cement coating. Because this method uses less cement, it is significantly less expensive. Modeling this cost-saving method offers an example to residents in this low-income community. This increases the likelihood that they, too, could one day afford to build one for themselves.
An additional advantage this construction design offers is environmental. Cement production is a major contributor to industrial air pollution and climate change. By minimizing cement in the construction of these five large tanks, we promote a healthier environment. This aligns with our goal to promote more environmentally-friendly methods of operation.
This project lasted throughout the in the extreme summer heat Northern Mexico is experiencing these last few weeks. These Border Partners staffers committed themselves to the toil required to complete a difficult and extensive project. Not constructed from a prefabricated or commercial kit, the construction workers fabricated the rainwater tanks from the ground up by hand, using local materials.
We’re happy to implement this sustainable solution. It will have long-term benefits for our garden produce yields. In addition, the tanks will positively affect public health and wellness in Puerto Palomas.
Click the photo below to see a rainwater tank construction process album. Watch the tank appear from foundation to finished product:
