Things You Will Need
Make water storage boxes for easy delivery systems using pipes, cement/rock dams with spring boxes hooked by pipe to a holding tank. The best situation occurs when your water source is higher than your delivery location. In this case, pumps and electricity are unnecessary for low cost water delivery. A minimum flow of one liter per minute is needed for a tapable water source.
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Dig a trench across the slope or run-source above the spring-box so no surface water can enter the system to prevent contamination. Pit latrines, dumps, defecating animals and other sources of contamination should not be located above the source of your spring. Dig the spring hole at least five to six feet deep.
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Dig a hole just below the mouth of the spring. Leave it open at the bottom, or open in back if it is on a steep hill. Dig this spring-box to measure one-by-one square yard. Add gravel in the bottom of the spring box to help with filtration, especially if water-flow comes up through the bottom. Cement poured into wall forms, with rocks mortared up the walls provides a commonly-used method.
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Drain off the water during construction of the box using a large pipe. Use a smaller pipe, as needed, to handle any overflow coming from the spring. Construct the box by framing a wood wall. Make walls for the form from sheets of plywood inside the square hole, sealing the wall ends with framing wood so cement can be poured into this wall mold.
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Mix quick cement in a wheelbarrow, using a hoe. Thoroughly stir the cement adding any lime by the part . Mix one-part cement powder to one equal-part gravel or sand, and one equal-part quick-lime for strong, low-cost walls. Pour the mixed cement into the frame. Insert many large rocks as you go to help these four walls go up quicker.
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Add one equal-part soil to the cement powder and quick lime, and form the stiffly mixed material to make a lid, or pour it into a form in the proper shape to fit as a lid, then allow this to set. Form or embed a handle for lifting and replacing the lid. Use any water-safe tank if it inserts easily into the spring hole.
