Water storage cisterns:

This article series describes the use of cisterns as a drinking water supply source including rooftop cisterns, attic cisterns, ground-level and below-ground-level water storage cisterns.

We describe rainwater collection systems and the diversion of rawinwater into a storage cistern. We also discuss the acceptability of cistern water supply for HUD financed properties.

Cisterns and How to use them for Drinking Water Storage

These questions and answers were posted originally

at CISTERNS, WATER STORAGE - topic home, be sure to review that article.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2018-10-18 by (mod) - does the color of my plastic cistern matter?

Terry,

My general opinion is no, the color of a plastic cistern is not critical to its use.

There are a few more subtle considerations:

1 The plastic color might tell you something about its chemistry, thus addressing questions about leaching chemicals into your drinking water, and also telling you about the plastic's resistance to UV deterioration when exposed to sunlight - thus the tank life.

See details at PLASTIC RECYCLING CODES, TANKS, TYPES - plastic recycling codes, contaminants, and water storage concerns, including BPA Bisphenol-A, PET, etc.

2 The plastic color affects the solar heat gain for an above-ground or rooftop plastic cistern. Black or other dark colors tend to warm the water more than light or white colors - if anyone cares.

3. The plastic color (actually its composition) could be important to compare with its intended use.

For example there may be specific plastics designed for underground use and others designed for above ground and sunlight-exposed use. Factors include strength, resistance to cave-in (below ground) vs. UV resistance and again, tank life.

Shown below my comment is a Norwesco underground cistern.

On 2018-10-18 by Terry

Does it matter what color the plastic is for a cistern? I hAVE A WHITE ONE THAT IS ABOVE GROUND. Any problems with that?

On 2018-07-05 by (mod) - What happens to cistern water that causes you to cough and sneeze

Herb

that's pretty interesting although it sounds unlikely. You would have to assume that some fine droplets of water are being airborne and you would look for the cause of that.

And you might have your sister and inspected for algae or mold or other contaminants.

Although I almost never see people following the instructions from the manufacturer, many cistern manufacturers recommend that the cistern be emptied and cleaned and sanitized every year.

On 2018-07-05 by Herb

What happens to cistern water that causes you to cough and sneeze if you use it in a closed area?

On 2017-10-07 by Heather

We are moving into a house that has a well and a cistern. We know the well is not working but don't know anything about the cistern.

Is there any info that you can give me in what to do to see if the cistern works and how I go about checking it. That will be our main source of water cause the well is going to cost 1500 to have fixed.

On 2017-04-28 by (mod) - Where do we want to install the filters? What do they need to filter?

Where do we want to install the filters? What do they need to filter?

Russell please try the InspectApedia search box just above to find our article series on WATER FILTERS, HOME USE to see details.

You need to first define what's being filtered and whether that's adequate, then define where the filters get placed - then any plumbing supplier has the cartridges and filter canisters.

On 2017-04-28 by Russell

Where can I get filter for cistern

On 2017-01-23 by (mod) -

Please see your question and our reply at
https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water-Information.php

Help me out if you can by posting questions in just one place. I agree that this page is a better one, but ...

On 2017-01-23 by pk88@juno.com

We share a cistern with another home on our street in Vermont. Both of our homes are 2nd homes. Our neighbors had a very old toilet that apparently ran continuously for a week and drained our spring's cistern dry. It has yet to recover.

I. Wondering if it could be struggling to refill because the temps have been below freezing. Is there anything that can be done to assist in its recovery?

This has been an active spring for over 50 years supplying these two houses as well as a third full timer ( they dug a well for their water after a drought 3 + years ago ) the spring bounced back from the summer drought and has been fine till now. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks

On 2017-01-23 by (mod) - why the pump keeps doing the off and on?

Dan Please see WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - home

for the diagnosis and repair of a pump that keeps going on and off.

On 2016-10-02 by Dan

I have a 7000 gal cistern for the house that i haul water to fill. It just started but the pump comes on and goes off in quick sessions. Maybe runs for about 5 secs then goes off then immediately comes back on.

The tank is still pressurized around 40 psi, the pump isnt getting hot, and the tank is full. I did take the little hose that runs to the pressure switch at power point off and the pump comes on till i replace hose. To me that tell me it is working there.

Would like to know why the pump keeps doing the off and on? I know thats not working properly. Any suggestions?

On 2016-06-29 by (mod) - "Tip Bucket" is a device for receiving and dumping the first quantity of roof runoff that would otherwise run directly into a cistern

Garry

(and for other readers) as you use it here, "Tip Bucket" is a device for receiving and dumping the first quantity of roof runoff that would otherwise run directly into a cistern to be used to store domestic water for washing, bathing, and perhaps drinking.

In the article above at "Traditional Traditional Water Storage Cistern, Rainwater Collection & Graywater Re-Use", we refer to text and photographs now found in a separate article
at CISTERN CONSTRUCTION GUIDE (live link at the end of this page) where we describe a rooftop rainwater collection system that sends clean roof runoff into a very large masonry cistern built below a home in Guanajuato, Mexico.

IN both CISTERNS, WATER STORAGE and at the live link at the end of this page going to CISTERN CONSTRUCTION GUIDE you'll see an elegantly simple tip bucket concept: the first roof runoff can run into the first of a pair of barrels; when that unit is filled water continues into the second barrell; when that unit is filled remaining water runs out of the top of those collectors into the actual cistern.

The water in the barrells contains the dust and debris from the roof and is used for watering plants around the house. That watering operation also empties the tip bucket barrels before the next rain.

A still simpler approach requires human intervention that may be worthwhile depending on water scarcity: baffles at the roof drain opening shunt intial roof runoff onto the ground until the roof has been rinsed; then those baffles are closed to allow water to enter the piping that sends it into the cistern. A simple plastic sink or shower drain cover can even be used for that purpose.

Please take a look at CISTERN CONSTRUCTION GUIDE at https://inspectapedia.com/water/Cistern_Construction.php because there in addition to the article on how to construct a cistern there are many references to books and articles offering details about various rainwater collection systems and cisterns of different designs that meet different needs.

Finally, the OAS has also published rainwater catchment system designs. That material is linked-to in the article above and I'll give the link to you again here.

https://inspectapedia.com/water/Rainwater_Cistern_Designs_OAS.pdf

On 2016-06-29 0 by Garry Lewis

How to make tip bucket for cistern

On 2016-03-21 by (mod) -

Delbert: look for a water-logged pressure tank - or search InspectApedia.com for WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING to read details.

On 2016-03-21 by (mod) -

re-posting
AUTHOR:Delbert (no email)

:My cistern has a pump and small tank with bladder. I lose pressure so pumps cycles on every 3 minutes. There are no leaks and a new check valve was installed. Do not know where to go from here.

On 2016-01-09 by (mod) -

I'm unclear: is the cistern in use? If not and if the foundation is intact you may not mind that it's damaged.

On 2016-01-07 by Buck

I forgot to mention that, with a flashlight an

d a very small dowel, I can see and feel another wall behind the cracked one. From what I can tell, this wall seems in fine shape. This is a block wall in a 1916 house and yes the cistern is empty. There's been no leakage here.

We've lived here 20 years and discovered this when we pulled up some of the top floor boards on the cistern. The other wall seems to be touching the cracked one.

On 2016-01-06 by (mod) - Usually cisterns were built independent of the structure

Buck,

Usually cisterns were built independent of the structure but it certainly would not be surprising if one side of a cistern might have incorporated a bearing foundation wall of the home.

If the cistern in your case is cracked it must be a cistern that's no longer in use as it'd have leaked out into the basement by now. I'd focus on diagnosing the cause of foundation movement and then repairing the foundation as needed.

On 2016-01-06 by Buck

My cistern is in the basement. One of the walls of the cistern is cracking badly and this cistern wall sure looks like it's the load bearing wall of the house. Was this type of construction normal?

On 2015-11-07 by (mod) - cistern and piping freeze risk

Water

Any piping left containing water and left above the frost line in your area is likely to freeze; particularly metal piping is then likely to burst and valves could be be damaged to

If you can drain all above-frost-line piping you may be ok

See detailed advice on freeze-proofing at WINTERIZE A BUILDING

On 2015-11-04 by watergal

i have 3 outdoor covered concrete water cisterns fed by a year round spring

. they drain from the bottom with a series of valves and lines that feed my irrigation system, how do i have winterize it or do I just leave the lines open? will it be ok if i leave the valves and lines open?

On 2015-10-13 by (mod) - Do you need to keep your plastic cistern filled at all times?

In my opinion it makes sense to occasionally deplete and then sanitize the cistern before re-filling it; but if that's not practical, such as with large rainwater collection systems, an alternative is to disinfect the water in the cistern or at the point of use.

On 2015-10-13 by Anonymous

Do6 eed to keep your plastic cistern filled at all times? Or is it best to let it run low and then fill it.? We haul our water and a we keep our cistern full could that be the cause of having stinky water?

On 2015-09-18 by Olive Window

By the way, the lid is too small to get into it and I live off the grid, so do not have access to a hose to clean it out.

On 2015-09-18 by (mod) - The water in it is turning pink.

Olive,

I suggest having a water sample tested before consuming it yourselves or giving it to pets.

The pink could be anything as I don't know what fell into or entered your container nor what the water you collected has passed over or through.

It may be a simple algae, bacteria, or chemical. Can't say.

Even on plants I'd not use uncertain water if the plants were producing things I eat.

You need to clean and sanitize your cistern.

See WATER TANK CLEANING CODES STANDARDS - home

On 2015-09-18 by Olive Window

We have a food grade 300 gal plastic rainwater collection cistern outdoors.

The water in it is turning pink. Is this dangerous for dog water and/or plants? We don't use it for drinking, but I wonder what is causing this and what can I do about it if it is a potential problem.

On 2015-08-06 by (mod) - I have air in my house water lines.

Ann

Please search InspectApedia for AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES to read the causes and cures for this problem. Let me know if questions remain.

On 2015-08-05 by Ann

I have air in my house water lines. I have a cistern. Right now I have 2500 gallons in the tank.

How do I diagnose the reason? Or what are some things I might try to eliminate it?

On 2015-06-14 by (mod) - we now have a suffer smell when the water comes in to the house

Sounds as if there is a sulphur odor - if it's due to bacterial contamination, you need to clean and sanitize the cistern.

See the advice on curing odors in water at ODORS IN WATER.

See the procedures and concentrations of bleach needed at WELL CHLORINATION SHOCKING PROCEDURE

On 2015-06-14 by J

I have a plastic liner its 2years old , we now have a suffer smell when the water comes in to the house .
The hot water is worse .
What do I need to do ?

Question: is cistern water safe for bathing

(Nov 7, 2011) Liz said:

Can one safely bathe with filtered attic cistern water?

Reply:

Liz, generally cistern water will be safe for bathing, but we can't know what' s in your attic cistern.

For example if bats invaed the attic and pooped or peed into an open cistern that water would be unsanitary. I suggest inspecting the attic cistern for cleanliness, a safe cover, for identification of its water source, and if in doubt, have the water tested for bacteria contamination.

See ODORS IN WATER.

Question: bad smells coming from a basement cistern

(Dec 9, 2011) Nora said:

We bought a house built in 1925 and because of a smell we found a cistern that is adjacent to the house and accessed through a door high on the basement wall.

We had intermittent bad odors coming from it so we drained the crystal clear water that was in it and tried to air it out.

After a few days the smell became worse than ever! We do not know what is causing the horrible smell or what to do about it. We have sealed it up at this point-but don't know if that is a long term solution. HELP!

Reply:

Nora you'll want to open and inspect the cistern to see if there is a dead animal inside or nearby; inspect the rest of the basement and building foundation and crawl areas for the same purpose.

Question:

(May 31, 2014) nancy said:

we are looking to rent a house with a cistern outside and underground. my concern is, is this water safe for drinking, bathing,
washing dish, cloth, ect

Reply:

Nancy I have to give more than one answer:

1. usually water stored in cisterns is safe to use for washing and bathing and it may be safe for drinking

2. water stored in a cistern can be contaminated depending on its source: you'd want to test the water for potability and possibly other contaminants and you 'd want to know where the water comes from to form a more reliable opinion

3. Water that smells horrible and is getting worse may be UNSAFE TO DRINK - possibly, e.g. if an animal died in the cistern.

Question:

(Oct 28, 2014) concerned buyer said:
Looking to buy a house with an old cistern in the basement. It's no longer a source of water for the house. Will it be an issue for financing?

Reply:

Concerned:

Your bank has to answer that question, but in my opinion if there are safety hazards you need to address them immediately in any case. An example would be an unsafe cover over any pit or opening on the property, including the cistern you mention.

...

Continue reading at CISTERNS, WATER STORAGE - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CAULKS, NONTOXIC
• CISTERNS, WATER STORAGE
  • ATTIC CISTERNS
  • BASEMENT CISTERNS
  • CISTERN & RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS
  • CISTERN USE ADVICE
  • GRAVITY FEED TANKS
  • FREESTANDING WATER TANKS
  • LARGE CAPACITY WATER STORAGE TANKS
  • ODORS IN WATER
  • PLASTIC RECYCLING CODES, TANKS, TYPES
  • RAINWATER STORAGE CISTERNS
  • HUD FINANCE & CISTERNS
  • ROOFTOP WATER TANKS
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  • WATER TANK DRAIN VALVE
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  • WATER TOWERS

...

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