"Pop" wrote in message
news:3ZPwg.11587$V41.7410@trndny08...
In news Jimmie D typed:
I m trying to find out about the care and feeding of a cistern. Its
about 15 ft across and looks like it was suppose to be about 3 ft
deep, guessing 2000 gal.. There is a 3 inch pipe flush with the
bottom and I assume this was for draining it and two other pipes ,one
about a third of the way from the bottom and the other about a third
the way from the top. I figure one is the gozinta pipe and the other
is the gozouta pipe but dont know which is which. I know it was built
in 1974 and used for about 10 years before the owner decided to try
other ways to treat his well water. Water is fairly alkaline ph8.5
has a lot of calcium iron and sulphurand sediment. I know the cistern
was used for aeration, chlorination and ph adjustment. Chemicals were
added to the cistern daily for this. The owner got tired of the daily
regime and started trying various filters, auto chlorinators and
maybe RO but the water was never as good as when he used the cistern.
Any ifo on using the cistern would be greatly appreciated.

A reliable, "good" cistern is fairly expensive to run these days. You
can't have the old open types that used to exist. Where is it getting its
water from? JUST the well, or other place, too, like roof water?
IMportant ot check.

I"d opt for a good water treatment system if it's that important to you.
That would be either upgrading the cistern (not a big business anymore,
IMO) or installing the right more modern equipment.

As I understand it, anyway - I'm no expert by any means.

Pop`



This cistern was fed by a well an will continue to be. The biggest purpose
of having the cistern was to treat the water for sulfur and iron through
aeration and remove sediment(blue mud). As I have been told the pump feeding
the cistern only ran once a day about 1AM giving solids a chance to settle
out. I know every morning the Ph and Chlorine was checked and adjusted. This
doesnt sound expensive but a bit aggravating. Im not very fond of relentless
repetitive task either. I am thinking of automatically adding chlorine on
the well side of the cistern as I understand this helps in removing the
sulfur and iron. The water is very hard, I dont have any numbers but it is
almsot impossible to use it to wash your hair without softening. Is there a
chemical I can add to the cistern to soften the water or is using a water
softener my only option? The cistern is basically a big masonry tank with a
roof over it . Space between the tank and roof is screened with copper
screen. I guess that is why it is still in good shape. There are also two
other cisterns(3500 gal each) on the property. These are made of fiberglass
and were feed by water from the workshop roof and used to water the garden.
I m beginning to think these would be more useful if cleaned and disinfected
and fed from the well.