Concrete Cisterns

A cistern is a large, waterproof tank that stores water for domestic use or consumption. They are commonly used to collect rainwater from impervious surfaces, such as roofs made of asphalt shingle, slate, or sheet metal. They can also be filled by a water delivery truck.

Cisterns can be used for a variety of purposes, including: Flushing toilets, Watering gardens and lawns, and Supplementing water from wells. Cisterns can be a good option for rural homes without access to a municipal water supply. However, there are some things to consider when using a cistern, such as:

Water treatment
If you plan to use the water for drinking, you should install a disinfectant system. You can also install filters to clean the water before it reaches your home.
Maintenance
Cisterns should be cleaned annually. This involves draining the water, removing any dirt, scrubbing the walls, and refilling the tank. You should also check the cistern for cracks or erosion while it's empty.
Roofing materials
Some roofing materials, such as painted surfaces, some wood shingles, and some asphalt shingles, may impart an objectionable taste, colour, or contamination to the collected rainwater.

If used efficiently, cistern owners will still consume an average of approximately 30 gallons daily per person. The average individual can use up to 55 gallons daily. Using this math, a family of four being conservative with their water will use at least 120 gallons daily, or 3600 gallons monthly.

Property size
For large homes and properties with extensive landscaping, you might need a cistern of at least 10,000 gallons. For most homes, 1,500–3,000 gallons is usually enough.
Annual precipitation
If your area has an average of 36 inches of rain per year, you can use a guide to calculate the size of your tank. If your area's rainfall varies a lot by month, you can multiply your roof's square footage by 0.6, then by the highest monthly precipitation.
Water delivery
Consider how often a water delivery truck will need to refill your cistern. A family of four with a 3,000 gallon tank will require a delivery roughly every three weeks.

Depending on your water usage, number of people in your household, and if you have a secondary water source such as rainwater collection, you may be able to use a smaller tank. Water can become stale if stored for too long, so having it filled frequently will create a more enjoyable experience.

There are some traditional methods available of measuring the water level of a cistern tank, however, they tend to be much less accurate that modern technological options. The stick method consists of dipping a long stick or pole into your tank to see how deep the water level is. Others simply guess based on time and familiarity with their usage.

Our recommendation would be the PTLevel which can accurately measure your water level and be tracked on your phone. This allows to you access real-time measurements, and order the exact quantity of water you need.