Replies

1. 
   DanH | Apr 17, 2010 10:20pm | #1

   A lot depends on precisely where the cistern is and how it's constructed.  It's probably worth it to hire someone to inspect it (and clean it out, if the initial inspection is OK).  If the cistern has been there since 1901 then it's likely that it's well-built and worth a modest investment.

   And of course, the merits of having irrigation water depends on the general water situation there, and how much you might want to irrigate.  If you just water the lawn occasionally and maybe keep a small garden that gets similarly watered only when the weather's dry, then the irrigation water probably isn't a big deal.  But if you're going to have a sprinkler system and/or a large garden then you may want the water, especially if city water prices are high.

   Do be aware that maintaining a cistern is a minor PITA.  You have to keep the gutters cleaner, & should have a diverter setup on the gutters to divert the first bit of rainwater away, then switch to fill the cistern after the rain has washed all the carp off.  I've seen screen/filter setups, but never one that worked more than a few weeks.