Pontyclun, Wales to Turkey
Deploy Tech
The destruction of buildings and infrastructure severely limited or entirely removed access to safe drinking water and sanitation after Turkey’s 2023 earthquakes. Bringing clean water to the relief facilities, including toilets, showers, mobile soup kitchens, and hospitals was paramount for the health of the survivors. The Deploy team quickly mobilized to assist in emergency relief efforts. Their flat-backed water storage units were folded, packaged, shipped, and once on the site, and assembled, they were ready for use in 24 hours. With the support and collaboration of the Turkish central government, the local municipalities, and NGOS, Deploy delivered and installed 15 tanks.
Fabrication and Shipping
Each Deploy unit is a flat-packed, inflatable, concrete water storage tank that fits on a standard pallet. Manufactured in Pontyclun, Wales, the units are made with a patented material of cement layered between fabric and a PVC liner, Concrete Canvas. The material is folded by a forklift and packed into wooden pallets for shipping at the factory. Each 2.5 meter-tall tank weights 256 kgs, has several fiberglass poles to support the structure, and can hold 14,000 liters of water. These tanks create 70% less C02 production compared to conventional tanks.
Install, Inflate + Hydrate
Once delivered to the intended site, it is assembled and installed on a concrete fabric slab which acts as a base for the tank. An electronic air pump is used to inflate the tank, and then the tank is sprayed with water from a hose until the material is fully hydrated. Once hydrated, it can be manipulated for a few hours before solidifying into a waterproof structure and is ready to be filled with drinking water in 24 hours.
Use + Maintenance
The tank is easy to repair with everyday tools without requiring additional support from the Deploy team members who may have initially installed the tank. Two of the key features are its detachable lid and the floor-level outlet valve. Together these allow for full water tank drainage and easier access to the tank interior, allowing for cleaning methods similar to that of a swimming pool. The concrete canvas layer is self-repairable from punctures, with the shape recovering once filled with water.
