Does anyone have a cistern?

**bonnotsm9** · 03-13-2009, 12:57 AM

We own an older home built ~1885. It has a cistern for holding rainwater, but we have never used it. A previous owner put a concrete lid over the hole were it is. I have been thinking of using it to collect rainwater, then using that water on our garden this summer. We have children and I would want to keep it covered so that no can get into it and hurt themselves. It's located next to the house and I wondered if it's possible to put an extension on the gutter downspot and have it drain into the cistern? If we do use the cistern, how do we get the water back out? Would we need to buy a pump of some sort?

I'd like to keep my water bill down this summer despite having a garden, but don't know much about cisterns and how they work.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

**annymoll** · 03-13-2009, 07:25 AM

Our home was built in the same era, and it has a cistern. You can divert rainwater into it.We have always used a bucket to pull the water out.(The house has an old cistern pump )You can order a pump chamber if you would like, but if you are just using it for the garden I would dip it out.You might remove the slab(Is there a hole in the top of the slab?) and check the condition. Some people fill these with debris over the years.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 03-13-2009, 07:41 AM

We have a self made rain water collection system, it emtpy now because of our lack of rain. DH is planning on giving it a good cleaning this weekend. As our rainy season should start soon. Ours is graviety fed and still runs slow. From a slower time. We love it as when its full it saves a ton of money. We raise tropical plants and they take alot of water.
For more information go to www.motherearthnews.com and see what old articles they've got. I'm sure they will have several. You might also take a look at the Gamble Plantation site there is a cistren next to this home the size of a school bus.

Laurie in Bradenton

**YankeeMom** · 03-13-2009, 09:08 AM

Wish I could help. We have a cistern, but in 1900 the previous owners built the mudroom over top of it.

**Grainlady** · 03-13-2009, 09:39 AM

I'd give your local Cooperative Extension Service (County Extension Office) a call and see if they have any information that could be helpful; or a resource for you to contact. There are a lot of cautions and precautions you need to be aware of for cisterns and bacteria. My sister had one and they had it tested periodically and were always dumping bleach in it and they would also buy water from "town" and have it pumped into the cistern to recharge it.

**pinetree** · 03-13-2009, 05:03 PM

I have one too, its up by the back door with a plywood cover. I have been thinking about using this one, but we havent even looked inside to see what is there. This is suppose to be 500 gallons. Guess thats not much help to you either.

I'm interested to see what you come up with, maybe I can get this one going.

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-13-2009, 05:44 PM

We also have a cistern, however in our city, they are calling it a code violation (dont know why) they are making us fill it and close it up. I wish I could use it for something else ... maybe a hiding space for stuff but dont think the city will allow us to just fill it.

**MoonMommy** · 03-13-2009, 06:52 PM

I would like to get one. I need to check the codes in our "city" to see if they are allowed.

**nuisance26** · 03-14-2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by FrugalMomof3

We also have a cistern, however in our city, they are calling it a code violation (dont know why) they are making us fill it and close it up. I wish I could use it for something else ... maybe a hiding space for stuff but dont think the city will allow us to just fill it.

~I wonder if it's a code violation because of it being potentially unsafe to drink(non-potable) or that it's grouped with the swimming pool rule. You may be able to put a fence around it to keep it.~

**bonnotsm9** · 03-14-2009, 03:12 PM

Thanks everyone. We opened the lid and looked inside the cistern today. It's empty and huge with about a foot of water in it right now. Dh is pretty enthusiatic about getting it set up to work!