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Spotted: Water availability is one of the most vital components of agriculture. And many farmers around the world depend on rainwater. But even those who have access to regular irrigation also use water storage systems to save money, to use as a backup in the event of drought, and for other uses, such as firefighting.

After studying the use of water storage by farmers, startup Deploy realised that medium-sized water tanks (ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 litres) can be difficult to manage and “often cause headaches for those responsible for water management”. To solve this problem, the company has developed a novel water tank, made from a concrete-filled fabric.

Deploy’s tanks are highly portable as they can be folded up for shipment and delivered to site in a crate measuring just 2.5 metres by 1.2 metres. They can then be deployed by just two people using a compressor to inflate the structure before the outer surface is hydrated and left to cure. Once installed, the tanks are used for drinking water supply, farming, rainwater harvesting, and other uses.

Co-founder and CEO Paul Mendieta explains that, “The Deploy project itself was born after interacting with close to 200 communities in Ecuador and analysing their water-related issues; from which we realised that water storage is an essential component for any water supply system. At the same time, it is the most expensive feature of the system due to its magnitude.”

As climate change makes rainfall and water availability more unpredictable, there is a need for innovations that can help us to use water more efficiently. Luckily, we have seen a number of these, including a device that saves water by watering plants at their roots and a unique approach to regenerating desert lands.

Written By: Lisa Magloff