SCIENTIFIC VASTU | WATER TANKS | An Architect Explains

There are two Water Tanks that are required in a House:

The Underground Water tank also known as the Sump. The municipal water pipe is connected to the Sump. Hence this tank has to be close to the road as the water lines run along the road. Usually it is located below the Car Porch/Garage.

The Overhead Water Tank. The water from the sump or Well/Borewell has to be pumped into the Overhead tank in order for it to be able to flow down into the house.

sump
An underground (sump) tank placed below the ground

Here, I have explained the Vastu Guidelines for Water Tanks. Since Vastu is a science, every guideline is based on logic and scientific reasoning. As an Architect, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, under the following headings, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.

What is the best position for a sump or underground water tank?
What is the best position for an overhead water tank?
What are the practical remedies for for the overhead water tank in the North-east defect?
What are the Vastu guidelines for the design of an overhead water tank?
What is the best position of a solar geyser?

 


WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR A SUMP OR UNDERGROUND WATER TAN, ACCORDING TO VASTU?
The Sump should be located in the North-East corner : The Logic -Since Vastu recommends that the North-East corner of a site be left open, to allow the useful morning sunrays to enter the House,  it makes sense to have both the Water source as well as the Sump close to each other in this corner (since they are anyway under the ground and will not obstruct the light). However, if the sump is used for storing the municipal water, it makes  sense to have it in the  front, as you will need a shorter connection to the municipal water lines.
The Sump should not touch the compound walls or the building walls: The Logic -The sump should be a separate structure and should be kept a little away from the compound and building walls, to prevent any kind of dampness from seeping up the  walls.


 


 WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION FOR AN OVERHEAD WATER TANK ACCORDING TO VASTU?

The Overhead water tank should be in the West or South-West of the building: The Reasoning – The South-West corner should be the heaviest, to create a balance of positive energies in the house/building.

water-tanks-roof
Overhead water tanks placed on the terrace.

Avoid the Overhead tank in the North-East corner of the House: The Reasoning – Though the North-East corner represents Water, avoid a tank here because the North-East has to be the lightest and lowest part of the house for a balance of positive energies. The NE corner should always be the lowest to allow the morning sunlight which strikes the North-East, to permeate the rest of the house. If there is an obstruction like a water tank, the useful morning light will be blocked. But if by chance the overhead water tank is located in the wrong position, there are remedies which you can read about in my post Remedies for North-East defects.

Avoid the Overhead water tank in the South-East corner. Also, avoid the Overhead water tank in the North-West corner (if possible). However if it can be located only in the North-West, then it should be small in size, of less height, and situated at a distance of at least two feet from the North-West corner. The Scientific Reason – The basic rule in Vastu is that the building should be higher in the South and West sides and should be much lower in the North and East sides. By keeping the North and East sides much lower, constant sunlight from the North and morning sunlight from the East can reach all parts of the house, whereas  by raising the building on the South and West sides, the hot evening sun will be prevented from heating up the rest of the house.

Avoid the Overhead tank in the centre of the building (Bramhasthan) –  as  it is a load on Bramha, the supreme one. The Scientific Reason –  Structurally it is not safe to have a water tank in the middle of the house roof, unless it is a column-beam structure.


 



 


WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL REMEDIES FOR OVERHEAD WATER TANK IN THE NORTH EAST DEFECT?

Overhead water tank in the North-East corner of the house is considered a defect. The Overhead water tank should be in the West or South-West of the building: The Reasoning – Though the North-East corner represents Water, avoid a tank here because the North-East has to be the lightest and the lowest part of the house for a balance of positive energies. The NE corner should always be the lowest to allow the morning sunlight which strikes the North-East, to permeate the rest of the house. If there is an obstruction like a water tank, the useful morning light will be blocked.

Remedy for Overhead water tank in the North-East: In case the overhead water tank cannot be avoided in the North-East, here are some useful remedies to solve the Vastu problem:

  • Shift the tank to the South-West part of the NE corner.
  • Paint the tank red.
WHAT ARE THE VASTU GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN OF AN OVERHEAD WATER TANK?

The Overhead tank should not directly rest on the roof slab: The Scientific Reason – In case there is a leak in the tank, the dampness can seep into the building causing structural damage and fungus growth which is not good for the health of the family.

The overhead tank should not directly rest on the roof slab

The Overhead tank should be at least 2′ (60cm) above the topmost roof slab: The Reason -The higher the water tank is above the building, the greater will be the pressure of water, thus enabling the water to flow in full force in all the taps.

The Overhead water tank can be lined with light coloured tiles: The Logic – This will ensure cleanliness of the tank, as it is easy to maintain and there is less likelihood of growth of fungus. Moreover, the white tiles allow one to see all the dirt while cleaning.

Avoid plastic water tanks as far as possible: The Scientific Reason – We are still not sure about the health hazards of storing water in plastic containers. But today because of the convenience of plastic tanks and the inevitable leakage of concrete tanks, we are seeing more and more plastic water tanks.

SINTEX-WATER-TANK
Plastic water tanks are available in different sizes and capacities

In case you use plastic water tanks, use black or dark blue coloured ones: The Scientific Reason – Dark colours prevent the sun’s rays from entering the tank unlike light-coloured or transparent tanks. The sunlight that enters will encourage algal growth. (Thanks to Manoj for the correction).

Two separate Overhead water tanks are preferred – One , for storing water for drinking, cooking etc and the other, for storing water for bathrooms, gardens etc: The Logic – Nowadays, due to the shortage of piped water, it is advisable to use this water only for cooking and drinking purposes, as it is generally chlorinated, purified water. The water from an additional water source, like Well or Borewell within the site can be used for Bathrooms and Toilets as you may not be sure of the purity. Naturally the water from theses two sources should not mix and so it is better to have two separate tanks.


 


WHAT IS THE BEST POSITION OF THE SOLAR GEYSER?

The Solar geyser should be above the level of the overhead water tank: to ensure proper flow of water, and all the equipment attached to the same should be installed in the South-East of the roof. The Scientific Reason – Since the South East is considered the corner representing Fire, ‘Vastu pundits’ generally recommend that all electrical and heat related appliances be placed in the South-East. That is the only scientific explanation!

The Overhead tanks are located on top of the roof and are accessed by the Staircase. Read the Vastu Guidelines for a Staircase here:



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170 thoughts on “SCIENTIFIC VASTU | WATER TANKS | An Architect Explains

  • April 30, 2021 at 4:09 am
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    Please advise vastu remedy for overhead water tank falling in Eastern section of house.

    Hi Shalini,
    Make sure there are no other tall structures near the tank in the East and NE parts.
    Admin

    Reply
  • April 30, 2021 at 4:08 am
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    I am getting a house constructed.
    The overhead water tank is falling in the east section
    Pl advise vastu remedy

    Hi Shalini,
    As long as it is not in the NE corner, it should be okay according to me.
    Admin

    Reply
  • November 28, 2020 at 5:25 am
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    Dear Sir,
    I am having a south facing plot with an old property on it. I intend to demolish the old house and build a new house on this plot. I understood NE is most advisable for a water sump. However, the main road is on the south of the plot and the municipal water connectivity is available exactly on the south west of this property ( since its always been located here on the old house ). It would be practical to make a sump on the south west or should i create a huge pipe connection around the property towards the NE. Kindly advise.

    Reply
  • October 7, 2020 at 11:48 pm
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    Hello ?
    Can we use space under water tank roof as office space.
    Thank you in advance

    Reply
  • April 24, 2020 at 10:50 pm
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    Hi Sir, i need a clarification on the vastu for under ground water sump .I have a South facing site with East facing enterence . Initially i had a 2BHK house in the ground floor .I have one sump in North East corner . Now i had extended my house 2 more floors . Now i need to expand the sump .The only space i have is my parking area ie in south side .can you please suggest is there any vastu remedy for having second sump in south .Please help me sir

    Reply
  • December 13, 2019 at 5:42 pm
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    can we have a borewell located inside the underground water sump.. It is considered due to space constraint as well towards safety of the borewell.

    Reply
  • September 8, 2019 at 3:54 am
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    Hello, I treat vastu as a science rather than following it illogically and superstitiously. Kindly give solution to my query. I have overhead tank in the southwest corner placed 6feet high on a platform total height coming to about 10feet and on the northwest corner I have lift room and stair case rounding the lift it’s height is about 10feet. Now I would like to move my overhead tanks to above the lift room and build a canopy sitout or pargola in south west corner, can I do it, any harm by not placing weight in SW corner and placinh overhead tanks in SW?

    Reply
  • September 8, 2019 at 3:54 am
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    Hello, I treat vastu as a science rather than following it illogically and superstitiously. Kindly give solution to my query. I have overhead tank in the southwest corner placed 6feet high on a platform total height coming to about 10feet and on the northwest corner I have lift room and stair case rounding the lift it’s height is about 10feet. Now I would like to move my overhead tanks to above the lift room and build a canopy sitout or pargola in south west corner, can I do it, any harm by not placing weight in SW corner and placinh overhead tanks in SW?

    Reply
  • August 9, 2019 at 4:36 am
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    Sir I have to built water tank in West side of my house but one room is to be build above this, can it is suitable as per vastu, I don’t have any other options.
    Please reply.

    Reply
  • July 8, 2019 at 11:22 am
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    Sir. Bought a south east facing house. Three underground tanks are there in north west( more towards north) I am very particular about health n finance of my family. Should I do any remedy. I m yet to shift

    Reply
  • June 23, 2019 at 6:37 am
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    Hi sir,
    I am constructing a west faced house and sump is on north east corner.where is the best place for overhead tank. South west side is not practical for our house.Kindly help me.

    Reply
  • June 15, 2019 at 10:50 pm
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    Dear Ravi and Minu,
    I stay in a flat, Navi Mumbai, which had a main door North facing, I have covered outside passage and put metal safety door east facing. Is it ok? Now due to water supply shortage I would like to put water tank in my flat, what is recommended? I have space in SW , South inside toilet, ES balcony upper space. Due to power cuts I would like to put inverter as well kindly suggest place n direction.

    Reply
  • April 8, 2019 at 1:20 am
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    We wish to make a new gate in order to park our car from this proposed 3rd gate. Please note that there is a well, which will fall exactly in front of the new proposed gate.
    Moreover, can I keep this as the first entrance gate to the house?
    Is it okay to park the car right over the well? Is it okay to have the well right in front of what will be the main gate? Can you please guide me on the same?
    Regards,
    Shreesh

    Reply
  • March 18, 2019 at 8:39 am
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    Respected Sir,

    I am planning to move to a new house as a tenant.

    The house is east facing and there is large colony water tank out side the colony in North east direction which is far from the house by 50 feet.

    Will it be a concern?
    Request you to share your vluable feedback if that will be a problem,
    appreciate a quicky help as I need to confirm the owner and pay advance.

    Sai

    Reply
  • January 25, 2019 at 3:28 pm
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    I am planning to buy a apartment,
    Main apartment enterance is south facing and total 4floor, 8 houses, all houses are east facing and planning purchase 3rd floor, east facing, inside house vastu looks good, but I have observed, lift placed in the east and top of that builder placed overhead tank, is it ok, please advise

    Reply
  • October 23, 2018 at 2:03 am
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    Sir iam buying west facing main door house they built water tank or sump inside the hall it is suitable to buy the house

    Reply
  • September 5, 2018 at 1:21 am
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    My house is south facing and my overhead water tank is located at the northwest side of the building? Is it the good direction for my house. And the tank is placed on the slab . is give me suggestions and remedies.

    Reply
  • August 4, 2018 at 12:14 am
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    My residence faces north east and the entrnce is facing south east. our underground reservoir is towards south as per local muncipality rules. what can be an alternate remedy for not having the underground reservoir in northeast direction? Please suggest.

    Reply
  • May 1, 2018 at 5:16 pm
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    Our sump is under the hall In North East corner and opens out side the main door facing North we have left three feet passage in north and 1 feet passage in East as there is no space for building a sump elsewhere is it okay or will we face problems

    Reply
  • April 22, 2018 at 8:09 pm
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    Can we construct water sump infront of North West gate

    Reply
  • April 22, 2018 at 1:01 pm
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    Greetings :The main door of my independent house opens in west direction. The sump is currently around 6 feet away from South East direction and the overhead tank is in North East direction. Facing water leakage issues due to the roots crawling into my sump from the adjacent neighborhood. Planning to close the sump in the current area and dig up the same under the car garage in North West. Is this site ok for digging the sump as it is closer to the municipal water pipe and also will prevent water leakage issue. Also, planning to shift over head tank from north east direction to south west direction. Mainly concerned about the sump that we are planning to dig in north west direction due to availability of space and other benefits mentioned. Request your kind guidance, please.

    Many thanks in advance.

    Reply
  • April 8, 2018 at 10:02 pm
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    Sir our house is west facing. The main gate is in the south-west corner. So is it preferable to have a overtank in south-west corner ? just above the main entrance ?

    Reply
  • February 24, 2018 at 7:07 am
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    Hello Sir – This is a very useful site. Thanks a lot for providing practical guidance. I have two questions and will be grateful for a feedback.
    1) I am constructing an underground sump in the NE part of the North facing site. I just thought it should be in NE part and that’s it. I was told that it has to be located at a particular spot by drawing a line from farthest point of NE compound wall to the starting point of the house. My tank will fall in that line for sure.
    2) I have a borewell on the North side, but towards west. Closer to the road in the North. Again, I hear some major issues because of this.

    Kindly provide your suggestion. I am really worried for the above two points.

    Reply
  • January 20, 2018 at 1:12 pm
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    Sir,
    My site is in West facing I am unable to construct under ground water sump in north east corner, suggest me the best place to construct water sump

    Reply
  • October 9, 2017 at 9:24 am
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    Sir I want put a plastic tank at my basement/cellar above the floor level please say me the best place. My house is West facing I have a main gate at northwest corner.

    Reply
  • October 7, 2017 at 1:59 am
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    Hi i recently purchasd a flat on the 14th floor but recently came to know that the area under my flat which i thought is a refugee area is but a water tank. But there is a gap of 3feet and than the tank. It means pratically over the 12th floor…but it does not touch my flat due to the distance. And the entry of my flat starts from south east and has one bedroom in northe east , 2nd in west n second in north west and kitchen in east and hall spread through south west. The water tank is spread through all the area i mentioned.Is it harm full will it affect my prosperity or anyones health…any suggestions.

    Reply
  • September 8, 2017 at 8:00 am
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    I have constructed three rooms. fourth room at North East is left for parking. Under ground tank is at middle part of the north east portion of land and front of main entrance of both rooms is it okay or we have to place doors on opposite side of tank without facing tank directly

    Reply
  • August 11, 2017 at 9:47 am
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    I built a house west facing and sump is at the entrance gate.is it ok.

    Reply
  • August 2, 2017 at 8:28 am
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    Dear sir, my plot is south facing please guide me to construct overhead tank

    Reply
  • June 19, 2017 at 11:53 am
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    Dear Sir,

    My home is facing North. My sump pump in the basement is just to remove the rain water collected from around the basement floor, may be used only in rainy season. Considering the slope of the land, the sump pump is placed in the South West corner of the home . Please advise if this should be remedied.

    The basement floor is close to 4 feet below the ground level in the backyard of the house.

    Reply
  • June 18, 2017 at 8:29 am
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    In purchased house, water tank has been put on south Corner. Is OK as per vastu

    Reply
  • June 11, 2017 at 11:45 pm
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    Hi ca we place overhead watertank in the corner of bwdroom that is south west corner in our bunglor or cn v place at south east corner that is above bathroom

    Reply
  • June 7, 2017 at 1:56 am
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    Dear Sir

    I have plot (335 ft x 135 ft) having slope from south to north. Wants to build in small house at South West corner.(15ft x 10ft)Farming water tank near house so that natural slope of south to north can be utilise for water flow. Pl suggest position of water tank?

    Reply
  • June 2, 2017 at 11:20 pm
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    Hai sir, I am having West facing house. Municipal main pipe is infront of gate at west. Water storage sump is at backside of house at East. As it is 76feet long. I am unable to identify whether municipal water is coming or not. So I request to suggest whether it is OK to have a tap infront of gate beside gate to know easily whether water is coming or not.

    Reply
  • May 30, 2017 at 4:29 am
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    sir my house in facing in the west direction and i have a water tank in the south east corner, any problem… sir ? if yes pls tell me remedy.

    Reply
  • May 23, 2017 at 11:28 pm
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    I have a south west corner plot with a basement. there is very less space at the back [ NE part ] for the underground tank. Is it okay to get the water tank in NW part or west [ facing ] of the house under the lawn area. Also need to know where to have the septic tank. located

    Reply
  • May 7, 2017 at 11:39 pm
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    hi,
    I am constructing a preschool on south facing plot. The entrance gate will be on east side. The north is allowed for construction and south is open for play area. I want to construct underground water tank.my options are-
    east,just after entrance gate or west side. The south wall will be raised high. Since south ,south-east and south west are open for play area,do you have any suggestions for that.

    Reply
  • May 1, 2017 at 5:13 am
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    Dear Sir,
    We have a east facing plot of size 36X50 ft. 36 towards east. We are constructing parking plus 3 floors. We dont have option to construct underground tank outside the plinth (parking) (as we have only 3 feet open space in the north and 5 ft in the east. So we are planning to construct the underground tank inside the plinth area in the north side. Tank will be at (before 25 feet from the east side) and just after 3 ft (set back / open space) from north. Kindly advice. or else which is the best option for us. Kindly suggest

    Reply
  • April 20, 2017 at 10:26 pm
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    Dear Sir,
    Have seen an house for rent, the site is west facing, main door north facing, the sump is in the nort-east corner, but a par of the sump is inside the Hall area of the house. i,e a hall has been constructed on top of the sump, but the opening of the sump is outside the house. Please suggest will there be any negativity or dosha.

    Reply
  • April 15, 2017 at 4:34 am
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    Sir I hve 15/40 east facing house where in 1st room is hall (NE main door) and 2 room is master bedroom. Having staircase from hall,I hve kitchen on 1st floor with east facing kitchen floor and 2nd room again master bedroom. Now
    1) as it’s 15′ what size of underwater tank should I built in NE zone and just below entrance main door without crossing the tank to Agni Stan.
    2) Pooja room in kitchen in NE along with kitchen floor and sink on south direction
    3) both bed room attached toilets are in NW direction .
    Kindly help on above 3 points

    Reply

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