Cistern – Underground Brick Stone or Concrete Rainwater

Last crawled date: 10 months ago

Model shown with filter that is above ground for regular maintenance. Ideally both filter and cistern reservoir would be built on a slant, at 100 feet elevated level to maximize gravity flow and the avoid the expense of a pump. The model also can be built in a round shape. Providing adequate water for a family off-grid, or during a drought or emergency can be solved with an underground cistern. Many farmers use bulk water storage, such as ponds. Some cisterns may have been in use since 2500 BC, for over 4500 years. Cistern water can be used on an off-grid homestead for housecleaning, showering, handwashing, for cooking and drinking when properly filtered, dish washing, toilets flushing, to irrigate gardens and crops, and to water livestock. CISTERN OPTIONS Capacity hold •61,440 gallons = 9075 cu-ft = 232,575 liters Rain water collection •3200 square foot roof total -- 61,440 gallons per year •terracotta pipes inlet channels •fullness diverter on inlet Size •154 ft x 183 ft (extra large) •24 ft x 36 ft x 6 ft (medium) Construction substructure •overflow outlet •brick, stone, iron, steel, or wood •can be carved out of solid rock •lined with large stones •sand filter divider - made with hollow/cellular/cavity bricks stuffed on side with gravel, grate holes, rebar, etc •22 ft diameter structures •staircase with simple hand-holds descending to bottom •watertight sealant - hydraulic cement or clay •vaulted/cupola cisterns •outside plastered with brick or tile powder and lime mortar Roof/ superstructure •buried reinforced cross support •3 ft domed roof •high gable roofs If you use this model for actual building instead of just reference you will need to re-measure to ensure placements. Underground cisterns can be built by hand although they should be kept debris free, with the sand filter completed emptied and shifted when rain water gets low, a few times a year. A trench (with the whole model built an little lower) or piping is used to send/collect the rain water to the filter, with a door at the stairs installed to avoid water evaporation. I will be updating the model as soon as possible. The Earth-Built Homestead Information Library features content on Earth Building, Homesteading, Gardening and Landscaping, Sustainability, Permaculture, Natural Construction, Recycles, Biotecture, Solar/Wind Energy, and Off-Grid Self-Sufficiency. Model made by Donna Toone, Hand-Crafter @ Morris Crafts, and Real Estate Investor PEI.