Globally First 3D‐Printed Concrete Drinking Water Tank in Barczewko, Poland (2025-09)¶

Drinking water tanks are typically produced of steel or reinforced concrete in order to ensure proper structural performance and durability. Standard cylindrical water tanks, intended for storing liquids, are typically designed to ensure that tensile stress in concrete does not exceed the permissible limit. Such requirements result from the load (stored liquid), which is evenly distributed in the vertical cross-section of the wall and decreasing proportionally along the structure's height. Cylindrical tanks are the perfect objects for applying additive manufacturing technology to accelerate construction. Their form is simple, easy to print, and does not require complicated geometry. At the same time, due to their structural properties, fiber-reinforced concrete is well-suited for automated construction processes. It enables the use of standard mixing and pumping systems combined with a 3D printer, eliminating the need for conventional steel reinforcement and formwork (Figure 1).