permaculture

100 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Field activity : Create a safe water storage system

Method : Participatory construction of safe water storage system

Tools : See below

References : PC Book MOD 3 – Houses, Water, and Waste Management

Objective : Participants create an integrated, well managed water source

Prior to running this exercise the facilitator should identify an appropriate water source

exercise (i.e. a water tank, well, water pump, etc), which can be as outlined in this

exercise.

This site should have the following criteria:

• Be prone to mosquito breeding.


• Have overflow/stagnant water problems.

Prepare the following tools and materials

• Trellis materials (bamboo, wood, rope, nails, etc).


• Vines for planting the trellis.


• Wire mesh screen.


• Water loving productive plants.


• Rocks, gravel, and sand.


• Materials for creating a cover (if the water source is a well).


• Tools and materials needed for implementing each of the following steps.

Running this exercise

Water source needs to be shaded to keep the water cool and to provide shade for those

who use the water source.

Step 1

Create cooler water

Work with the participants to build a trellis over a water source. Planted the trellis with

various types of vine plants (that will simultaneously provide shade and food production).

Types of plants that are suitable for this include:

• Passion fruit.


• Choko.


• Climbing beans.


• Ask the participants to suggest others.

Note: Suggest to the participants that until the vines grow, coconut leaves can be used to

cover the top of the terrace and provide shade. Drinking water that is contaminated with

mosquito larvae can cause serious diseases. To protect the community, water sources

and storage tanks need to be screened off from mosquitoes and have secure lids.

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