A farmer watering coffee plants at a farm in Vietnam’s central highlands near Buon Ma Thuot in Daklak province.
· The tank should be close to the area of cultivation to ensure ease of irrigation.
· The tank should not be in close proximity to the house or to paths /roadways as it is possible for children and even negligent adults to fall in. Construct a fence around the tank.
· The opening of the tank should be to the direction of the flow of rainfall.
· It is not advisable to obstruct patterns of natural flow of water as there is a possibility of mud and other waste getting into the tank. (The mud filters function only when the water flows directly through them).
· Clear the selected land thoroughly. Flattening the land is important for ease of taking measurements.
· Determine the quantity of water required for irrigation purposes
· The tank should not be more than 1.75 m in depth in order to withstand the pressure of the water. Low depth makes cleaning and use of the tank easier.
· The tank should have a slope of about one foot from the periphery to the middle of the tank. This helps absorb the water pressure.
· Various waste items are present in flowing water. Mud, sand and gravel deposits in the tank will lessen the quantity of water that can be stored in the tank. Therefore mud- filters are used as a simple method of reducing the flow of waste items into the tank. This system can last for as many as 10 years or more.
