Why do old houses have cisterns?

Cisterns, an ancient technology for the collection of rain water, were quite common at homes throughout the 19th century. They can also be found at a few 18th century homes and some built as late as the early 1940s. Using the roof as a rain collection surface, gutters and downspouts delivered water to the cistern.

Can you use an old cistern?

Old water cisterns need maintenance and repair. A cistern is a water storage tank buried in the ground, under houses or above ground. Older cisterns are usually made of materials such as cement, wood or metal. Uses for cistern water include showering, household cleaning, irrigating gardens and landscaping.

What is a brick cistern?

Cisterns are generally circular structures made of brick or wood. Ranging from 6 to 10 feet in diameter and 7 to 12 feet deep, some were built and then lowered into the ground, while others were constructed in the ground itself.

Is a cistern the same as a well?

Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings. Modern cisterns range in capacity from a few litres to thousands of cubic metres, effectively forming covered reservoirs.

Can you fill an old cistern with dirt?

Filling the cistern. Sand, gravel, or other clean, inert, granular material may be used. This material must be carefully placed in far comers before finally filling near the opening. The whole interior must be filled and compacted so it will not settle and leave voids.

What’s the purpose of a cistern?

Water storage tanks, also known as cisterns, are primarily used to store water for domestic and consumptive purposes in households or buildings. Home and business owners that collect rainwater in a cistern for the purpose of watering gardens and lawns should not drink the water.

What is the purpose of a cistern?

How does a cistern work?

Water from a cistern is typically pumped out by hand, drained by gravity, or it may be pumped by an electric pump such as a one line jet pump. Cisterns to store water for drinking or agricultural purposes are widely used in dry areas where rainwater runoff may be stored for future use.

Are cisterns legal?

There are rules in place for private water systems that use cisterns for collecting rainwater for domestic use, including family dwellings, small businesses, barns, and campgrounds. Only roof surfaces can be used to collect water, and the water is allowed for drinking with the proper filtration system in place.

How long will water last in a cistern?

The length of time potable water can be stored safely ranges anywhere from a single day to indefinitely depending on how you are storing the water and the purity level of the water, to begin with. Clean water that is left in an open cup outside is likely to go bad (become contaminated) within 1-3 days.

Can I fill in my cistern?

Instead of ignoring your old cistern, it is a wise idea to fill it in. Luckily, this process is not difficult; it just takes the right equipment and some suitable filling material. Don’t let people fall into your old cistern — fill it in!

How much does it cost to fill a cistern?

One fill costs us $45, and lasts a family of four, 2.5 months.

What kind of materials are used for cisterns?

Cisterns can be constructed from a variety of materials including cast-in-place reinforced concrete, cinderblock and concrete, brick or stone set with mortar and plastered with cement on the inside, ready-made steel tanks, precast concrete tanks, redwood tanks, and fiberglass.

How are water cisterns used for convservation?

Some cisterns are divided into two or more chambers encouraging debris to settle and finer particles were filtered out as the water passed through porous brick or stone partitions. Some partitions were made with an interior cavity and animal charcoal, also called “bone black” filled the space, further purifying the collected water.

When was the first house with a cistern built?

They can also be found at a few 18th century homes and some built as late as the early 1940s. Using the roof as a rain collection surface, gutters and downspouts delivered water to the cistern.

Where does the water come from in a cistern?

There’s often still a trap door to access the cistern – a good place to lose kids or pets. Most were built against the home’s foundation and water was drawn from a tap located low on the basement wall. Some delivered the water with a hand pump.