CISTERN SYSTEMS

The homeowner will be bring the finish grades up and then we will install the Poly plastic tank in the fall to further assist with rain water harvesting and adding to the system.

These pictures demonstrate a cistern system using a 2100IMPG concrete tank for the cistern. The homeowners well does not provide sufficient volume within the dry seasons so utilizing a cistern allows for slow and periodic filling to gain capacity while not taxing the well. The water is then passed through a series of filters and ready for home and yard use.

A rain water collection system will also be added to this system in the future catching gutter and downspout water from the building next to the well and cistern.

We proceed by marking the area and establishing grades to install the cistern, from there plumbing follows from the well to the cistern and fed back to the home using two pumps and a control system. A concrete well riser was installed to assure no ground water seepage was entering the well system as can pose potential bacteria and water contamination.

They may be out of sight…but should not be out of mind!

More and more home owners are installing cisterns as a preventative measure. The flow from the well may be adequate at first, but if there was to be a change in flow rate, or a higher demand, they would be prepared; for example, selling their home to a larger family and increasing the daily load requirements placed on the well. These system are fantastic for assuring adequate gallonage even from a low producing well.

If you are experiencing water shortages due to a low producing well give a cistern some consideration, this can really make the difference for home and building supply and removes the worry of running out of sufficient water requirements.Some acreages produce little or no water, in which case the water would have to be transported by truck and stored in the cistern.

EVERY WATER STORAGE FACILITY NEEDS MAINTENANCE. Cistern water should be tested and the cisterns cleaned and sanitized regularly (at least annually) to prevent bacteria, insects and animals from contaminating your drinking water.

Even if your water is tested fit to drink, over time there will be build-up of material on the floor and sides of the cistern this is unavaidable. This material is drawn into the pump and into the home. PARTICULARLY CISTERNS THAT ARE SUPPLIED BY WATER WELLS NEED REGULAR MAINTENANCE. Most homes will have a treatment or filter system to remove the impurities from the well water, but the cistern receives raw water directly from the well and stores it, waiting for demand of water from the house. This “holding time” allows the sediment and other impurities from the well to settle on the bottom and side walls of the cistern. Even cisterns that store hauled city water still require servicing; they can accumulate a sediment build-up over time, which is abrasive for the pump.

Most importantly, the cleaning process allows for a thorough inspection of the interior of your cistern. Cracks or flaws would be repaired immediately, preventing ground water from entering the cistern and contaminating the water supply this can be common with aging concrete cisterns. The two most common sources of contamination are from surface water and and ground water entering the cistern. Treatment is always recommended for well and cistern systems serving your potable water requirements.

We take before and after pictures of your cistern during the cleaning and sanitizing process as reference.

We inspect for visual problems and give a detailed report, we can monitor draw down and calculate volume loss.

This is really site specific. BC guidelines suggest an annual cleaning. For the most part it depends on the water the well is delivering to the cistern. You may or may not notice a change in odor or taste over time. If it has been three years or more since the cistern was last serviced, we recommend you give us a call. Vortech can service your cistern in a timely manner and put you on a maintenance schedule to offer peace of mind, we have many clients on annual and bi-annual servicing, we call you days in advance.

In order for a cistern to be properly maintained, it must be entered or often we use our pipe cameras to closely identify and inspect for deficiencies, surface water and groundwater inflow, or any other potential risks.

A cistern must never be entered until the cistern’s air quality is tested and deemed safe. No cistern should be entered unless the person entering the tank has been trained in confined space entry and follows the appropriate safety procedures. Often times however entry will not be required, primarily for residential application.

Our trained professionals have the experience, equipment and certification to properly and safely clean and disinfect your cistern and also inspect for imperfections or deficiencies.

With 4 decades of water harvesting, wells and cistern installation experience and maintenance your in good hands with Vortech.

Below demonstrates a system we recently installed.

In this application the homeowner was experiencing water shortages in the dry months so a 2100G concrete cistern was installed to allow for additional gallonage