Our cistern project

**bonnotsm9** · 04-18-2009, 07:09 PM

Dh set up the lid to our cistern today. It took a while to set up because he had to make a new lid for it. When we looked into drilling holes for the downspout pipe and the pump in the old lid, it would have cost more to rent the equipment to do that than pour the concrete for a whole new one.

Dh still needs to install the manual pump. We've already purchased it but need an adapter from a local plumbing supply place to enable us to hook up the the garden hose to it. It will be installed where the smaller white pipe is sticking out of the lid.

Now I need to work on landscaping around the pipe so that it isn't such an eyesore. I'd also like to build some sort of wooden structure over the concrete lid. Something that looks nicer... That's a project for later.

It will be nice to use the cistern to water our garden once it's full instead of paying for water. Usually our goes up quite a bit unless it's a very rainy summer.

**Durgan** · 04-18-2009, 07:23 PM

What happens in the Winter season with regards to freezing?

What is the capacity of the cistern?

A simple sump pump immersion type has a lot of capacity to pump water with reasonable pressure. I use one to empty my downspout barrels in some cases.

**Durgan** · 04-18-2009, 07:25 PM

I would like the details of the sealing of the round pipe to the downspout. Some close-up pictures and explanation of this junction would be appreciated.

**bonnotsm9** · 04-18-2009, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Durgan

What happens in the Winter season with regards to freezing?

What is the capacity of the cistern?

A simple sump pump immersion type has a lot of capacity to pump water with reasonable pressure. I use one to empty my downspout barrels in some cases.

We are in Missouri and live in a valley, so our winter's aren't below freezing enough days in a row for it to freeze. This is the cistern that was used when the house was originally built in 1885. When we first looked inside it, we could see the pipes that led to the kitchen from the cistern.

I'm not sure of the capacity of the cistern- it's octogonal shaped and at least 8 feet deep.

We decided against a sump pump because we didn't want anything too easy for our 6 year ds to use. He's been the source of several high water bills the past year or so. He likes to "water" things, then forgets to turn off the hose. A manual pump will be too hard for him to pump any significant of water out of the cistern.

I'll ask my husband to post the details of the downspout connector. He has an account here as well and he handled that part of the project.

**Durgan** · 04-18-2009, 08:58 PM

Your reply is most interesting. Cisterns were common until about 1950 particularly when people were on wells. Usually the cistern was in the basement of one's house.

How is the overflow handled with your system?

**bonnotsm10** · 04-18-2009, 10:13 PM

"How is the overflow handled with your system? "

I bet we find out when it gets full ;-)

"I would like the details of the sealing of the round pipe to the downspout. Some close-up pictures and explanation of this junction would be appreciated."

The long pipe from the cistern to the downspout is 3", and the elbow beneath the downspout is 3" on the bottom and 4" on top. The downspout is simply stuck in the 4" end. There is no seal. If I need one, I'll think of something.