Water Infra-Structure

Also known as Water Tanks, Water Systems.

No. 17 · 1965 / 1998

Poly Canyon’s water infrastructure has its roots in 1965, when two Mechanical Engineering students partnered with Cal Poly’s Agriculture Department to tap a hillside spring and create a rudimentary catch basin. This early system used redwood planks to channel water to the Shell House, showcasing the canyon’s ethos of integrating natural resources with functional design.

By 1969, a concrete tank expanded the system’s capacity, redirecting water to new experimental structures like the Bridge House and Modular House.

The 1998 expansion marked the water system’s most ambitious phase. Designed by Architectural Engineering students, the project introduced the polyvinyl tanks that still stand today, encased in corrugated metal and supported by reinforced foundations to withstand shifting terrain. The tanks featured innovations like continuous footings, interlocking rings, and an overflow catch basin, reflecting both technical ingenuity and the canyon’s experimental aesthetic. Despite these advancements, the project also faced challenges, such as incomplete documentation and environmental unpredictability.

Over the decades, the water system expanded to support various needs, including restrooms, additional pipelines, and storage. A 1987 user guide noted four septic tanks and seven toilets servicing the canyon, underscoring the system’s role in supporting the canyon's growing experimental community. Though the tanks and pipelines are no longer active, recent efforts to repair the system highlight its enduring importance as part of the canyon’s infrastructure.

Now, the “Water Infra-Structure” stands as a testament to adaptive engineering and resourceful design. From the humble redwood catch basin to the iconic 1998 tanks, the system encapsulates a bold experiment in sustainable living.

sustainable water system, hillside spring source, reinforced concrete tanks, polyvinyl replacements, gravity-fed flow, environmental adaptation, overflow catch basin

Photographs