I have a country house with no municipal water supply and I need to install an elevated water tank. What height should it be? Do I need permission from the municipality or can I just go ahead and do it?
The minimum recommended height is about 5-6 meters so you have enough pressure in the pipes below, though if you have two stories or need more pressure, 8-10 meters is safer. That'll give you between 0.5 and 1 kg/cm² of pressure, which is normal for a house. If you're going to install the tank on an elevated structure, make sure the base is properly leveled and the structure (whether it's concrete, steel, or whatever you use) can handle the full weight of the tank plus a safety margin.
About the municipal permit, that really depends on your town hall. In a lot of small towns there's no strict control, but the right thing to do is check first with the local government, because some require a technical plan or at least notification. If your house is in a remote rural area you'll probably get no hassle, but if it's closer to the urban center it's better not to risk it. Plus, if you ever sell the property, having everything properly documented saves you headaches.
As for the actual installation, you'll need a well or cistern in the ground so a pump can push water up to the elevated tank, then pipes running down to the house with a float valve in the tank so it fills automatically. It's basic but it's important to seal all the connections properly to avoid leaks and contamination, and insulate the tank from the sun so the water doesn't get too hot. If you don't have plumbing experience, better call someone who knows what they're doing.
The ideal height is between 6 and 10 meters so the water pressure is good throughout the house, but it depends on how many floors you have and how far the tank is from the house. Before you install anything, check with your municipality because even though it's your land, many places require permits for elevated structures for safety reasons and building regulations. If the tank is very tall or close to property lines, you'll almost certainly need authorization. The best thing to do is go to the municipal building office with a basic plan of your project so they can tell you exactly what permits you need.
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