Construction of Ponds

volume of water required.
Three meters is the common depth for numbers of structures with 60m3
volume constructed in the region.
2
V   R 3 Where, V = storage capacity, m3; R= radius &П = 3.142
3
0.70m
3m
Fig.10. .Plan view of hemispherical water harvesting pond (BOA, 2003)
4. Construction of Ponds
Construction Plan should be prepared including technical specification of the construction works, dimension
of the structure, construction schedule, responsibility of each stakeholder in the construction period and
lists of construction materials &technical procedures.
At present, the price of construction materials (cement, sand, and stone) and labor is very high
further increasing the cost of the system. There is a wide concern that all types of WHS are not
replicable at such high prices and they are not affordable by the Ethiopian farmers. Therefore, we
have to look for low cost and easily available materials for scaling up the system in the country.
Among the low cost lining materials, geo membrane plastic sheet is easily available in most of the
woreda or zone office of Agriculture; or otherwise the excavated earthen pond with a soil texture of
low seepage can serve as storage pond. The most common and recommended construction
materials to reduce seepage, evaporation and sedimentation are the following.
a) For Seepage losses: red clay, termite mound, cement mortar, concrete, stone or brick with
cement mortar and geo membrane plastic sheet (thickness not less than 0.5mm).
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b) For Evaporation losses:The storage tank should be covered with appropriate roofing materials
that inhibit vaporization; and surface area of the storage tank should be minimum to reduce the cost
of tank roofing.
c) Sedimentation:To reduce the problem of sedimentation in a water tank, select suitable water
source (catchment) area with minimum sediment load; treat the water source (the catchments
area); and provide appropriate silt trap with filter mesh.
4.1. Trapezoidal Pond lined with GPS
Following the steps below, the trapezoidal shaped pond can be constructed:
 Select appropriate site as per design

 The construction site should be cleared of all vegetation, loose soil and rocks, and mark the
required dimensions (8 8)m
 Ponds should be located away from big trees, or the cut down trees
 At the four corner of the storage site, hammer wooden peg
 Tie a rope to the four pegs and check the degree of the four corners are at 900
 Excavate the soil at 3meter depth
 Transport the excavated soil & place on marginal land or can be used for making the guide bund
on the ground catchments.
 Shape and make smooth the sidewall considering the slope of 1: 0.5 and the bottom width
should be 5 by 5 meter at 3-meter depth with 129m3 storage volume. Or by considering the
slope of 1: 1 and the bottom width should be 2 by 2 meter with 84m3 storage volume in case
there is shortage of land and the formation of the excavated soil is susceptible to sliding.
 The surface of the ponds should be free of large clods, sharp rocks, sticks and other objects.
 Compact the surface of the tank and plaster it with soil (soil + straw). Put straws, grass or similar
materials on the floor to soak up the load at the time of inflow & protect the sheet from tearing.
 Cover material (plastic) should be placed beginning at the bottom, proceeding towards the top.
Before placing it, look over the plastic liner to verify absence of any opening.
 One-meter length of excess plastic (13.5m x 13.5m) is extended on which stones will be placed
at mouth of the storage tank in order to fix it with the ground.
 Construct 30 by 30 cm size wall (dry stone) around the storage for fixing the roof and plastic
sheet. The wall can also protect the runoff coming from other direction.
 The top edge of the lining should be anchored.
 Construct inlet channel and open channel spillway by placing plastic sheet on the surface
Fig.11. Excavation of a PondFig.11. GPS lined pond
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4.2. HHWH cylindrical shape pond lined withstone masonry
All materials and tools required should be transported to the site before construction starts. At
site the following procedures will be followed. Assuming 6m diameter and 3m water depth
 Draw a circle with radius 3.40m.

 Dig the inside circle with a depth of 3.30m put the soil at least 3m away for easy
construction.
 Build the masonry wall with thickness of 40cm height of 3.30m, include 30cm wall above the
ground. Don’t forget to leave opening for the inlet.
 Water the bottom of the cylinder and fill with 15cm thick concrete (1:2:4).
 Water the wall of the cylinder body and plaster with 1:3 cement mortars with 1.5cm
thickness finish it in one day.
 The next day Plaster 1:3 cement mortar with 1.5cm thickness.
 Plaster with 1:3 cement mortar with 2cm thickness smoothen the finishing. To seal the
openings use cement slurry.
 Plaster the bottom of the cylinder with 1:3 cement mortar with 3cm thickness
 Curing must be carried out for at least three weeks.
 Put wooden beams and truss for roofing of tank and tie it with the wire
 Cover the roof with geo- plastic membrane sheet and bamboo and provide manhole of
6060cm size
 To prevent the wall from collapsing, construct masonry ring wall, 30 cm high and 30cm thick
on the surface of the storage.
 At the masonry ring (at the surface) fix steel bar at different interval to enable tie roofing
materials (wooden beams & truss)
 Damp the structure for about 21 days
Table.2. Bill of Quantity and Cost
No Description Unit Amount Unit price Total Price

I Material
1 Cement Quintal 28
2 Sand M3 7
3 Gravel M3 1.75
4 Stone M3 4
5 Steel 4mm Kg 10
6 Wooden pole20-30cm No 2
7 Wooden pole No
8 Water Lit 7000
9 Plastic sheet M2
10 Mesh wire M2 70
11 Nail Kg 10
II Labor
12 Excavation M3 85
13 Mason Pd
14 Assistant mason Pd
5. Operation and Maintenance; and Management
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Construction of Ponds

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volume of water required.

Fig.10. .Plan view of hemispherical water harvesting pond (BOA, 2003)

 Select appropriate site as per design

Fig.11. Excavation of a PondFig.11. GPS lined pond

 Draw a circle with radius 3.40m.

No Description Unit Amount Unit price Total Price

5. Operation and Maintenance; and Management

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