Cisterns

Trashy · Sep 23, 2018

Good Day,
We are thinking about abandoning our well and going to a cistern next spring, after the frost comes out.
Started to look and seen there are concrete and fibreglass, we are thinking around 3000 gal. Also thinking about doing it ourselves, to save some beer money

We are in SE Calgary and need to know, any recommendations, con or fibre, diy or pay, you know..... the usual questions.
Thanks :beer:

S.W.A.T. · Sep 23, 2018

Trashy said:
Good Day,
We are thinking about abandoning our well and going to a cistern next spring, after the frost comes out.
Started to look and seen there are concrete and fibreglass, we are thinking around 3000 gal. Also thinking about doing it ourselves, to save some beer money
We are in SE Calgary and need to know, any recommendations, con or fibre, diy or pay, you know..... the usual questions.
Thanks

Is your water no good? Seems odd to want to pay for what you already get for free....

Dazzler · Sep 23, 2018

I would stay with concrete, by the time you are done backfilling and compacting the fibre glass tank with pea gravel or similar material it can cost as much or more. Also I have seen a lot of the fibre glass tanks with a bow inside (obviously from poor installation) and one would be reluctant to go inside to clean it properly. Also depending on water table, the fibre glass are more likely to float.
We install 3300 gallon cement Cistern's mostly. I can Help you with diy, or install. PM me if you like or have any questions trashy.

gunner3006 · Sep 23, 2018

Concrete all the way. Piped one in last week. It was dug out an installed in 1 day. Easy. New install too.

Tchetek · Sep 23, 2018

I would go bigger tank. Most trucks will haul aprox 3000 gallon. You would have to be completely empty to accept a full load. Price is the same to get a full load or 3/4 delivered.

If you go submersible pump in your the tank. Install it in a Long hose and Long wiring so you can pull the pump up the man hole without draining the tank if you need to service it. Build a small stand to keep off the bottom with pvc pipe and fittings.

RXN · Sep 23, 2018

Our last house had a Cistern. I hated it. So glad to be on a well.
The only positive to the cistern was it was drinkable. (Not that our well isn't but city folk won't drink well water). And it seems well water can leave stains where as city water does not.

TDR · Sep 23, 2018

Concrete and submersible pump with constant flow controller. Keeps pressure and flow steady so no burn or freeze in the shower. Excellent system.

busted2x · Sep 23, 2018

Concrete 100% and 5000 gallons for sure. If you let it get too low it will freeze, we get a 3000gal load every 3 weeks, 5000gal tank, 500gal fire stand, have your domestic intake a foot off the floor, keeps anything that gets in the tank, sediment, whatever, from getting in the house system. Drop a fire stand into the bottom so there’s always a reserve in case. I don’t like submersible pumps, but if you are willing to pay for it grundfos makes a pump that has its own pressure tank bladder built in, all automatic with almost no pressure fluctuation. I recommend it 100%

Plastic and fiber tanks suck.

Just get a basement company to come pour you one. Mine is 5000gal, with an 8”thick top and flush mount lid (so I can park on it) was 5000$ turn key done.

busted2x · Sep 23, 2018

Also, 1000gal a week is a lot of water for normal people, but I have 3 girls at home. They use more than any reasonable person would.

JayT · Sep 23, 2018

busted2x said:
Concrete 100% and 5000 gallons for sure. If you let it get too low it will freeze, we get a 3000gal load every 3 weeks, 5000gal tank, 500gal fire stand, have your domestic intake a foot off the floor, keeps anything that gets in the tank, sediment, whatever, from getting in the house system. Drop a fire stand into the bottom so there’s always a reserve in case. I don’t like submersible pumps, but if you are willing to pay for it grundfos makes a pump that has its own pressure tank bladder built in, all automatic with almost no pressure fluctuation. I recommend it 100%

Plastic and fiber tanks suck.

Just get a basement company to come pour you one. Mine is 5000gal, with an 8”thick top and flush mount lid (so I can park on it) was 5000$ turn key done.

Who did you have pour yours? I was just quoted 16000 for a 3300 gallon cistern plumbed in with pressure tank and pump. Was hoping I could get it done for less than that...

busted2x · Sep 23, 2018

JayT said:
Who did you have pour yours? I was just quoted 16000 for a 3300 gallon cistern plumbed in with pressure tank and pump. Was hoping I could get it done for less than that...

Bridge city basements in Lethbridge. Smaller companies are more willing to work with you, and companies in smaller cities usually have significantly more experience with this stuff.

They did mine in 3 pours over the course of a week. They also cut me a bit of a break because I backfilled and graded myself. Had to reshape that area anyways.

busted2x · Sep 23, 2018

One of Hank chaparral’s companies. He’s good to deal with

rebel · Sep 23, 2018

Trashy said:
Good Day,
We are thinking about abandoning our well and going to a cistern next spring, after the frost comes out.
Started to look and seen there are concrete and fibreglass, we are thinking around 3000 gal. Also thinking about doing it ourselves, to save some beer money
We are in SE Calgary and need to know, any recommendations, con or fibre, diy or pay, you know..... the usual questions.
Thanks

Why would you do such a thing?

rebel · Sep 23, 2018

RXN said:
Our last house had a Cistern. I hated it. So glad to be on a well.
The only positive to the cistern was it was drinkable. (Not that our well isn't but city folk won't drink well water). And it seems well water can leave stains where as city water does not.

I've never understood why city folk wouldn't drink well water. I don't trust city water lol. Test your well yearly and enjoy.

busted2x · Sep 23, 2018

rebel said:
I've never understood why city folk wouldn't drink well water. I don't trust city water lol. Test your well yearly and enjoy.

I have a filter, softener, and RO system on my cistern water, I’m kinda water picky. But in a perfect world I’d have both, have toilets, etc plumbed to well and my rain shower and drinking water on the hauled water. But wells are nearly impossible where I am, have to go stuuuupid deep. Would cost almost as much as bringing in a trickle system from the county line. If I was able to have a well I would, and dual plumb the house.

Trashy · Sep 23, 2018

S.W.A.T. said:
Is your water no good? Seems odd to want to pay for what you already get for free....

rebel said:
Why would you do such a thing?

My water is high in calcium and sodium, I have lived with it for 9 years. Jacky moved in 2 years ago and we just started talking about this. I am for it, as the water through filtration is still corrosive.
I have completed redone my house plumbing, new shut offs, outside taps, new hot water tank(every 8 years I was told this will happen), bathroom faucets every 5 years, kitchen sink and taps every 4 years, I have replaced my pitless adaptor in January 201?, well pump in 2017, RO filters regularly, charcoal filter every 3 years (I think?), leaves water stain on the house when washed every spring, not good for the grass, plant, trees, can't wash any vehicles or toys.
Every thing that has been replaced, has been done by me and I'm tired of it!!!

So in a nutshell, this is why we want to go to a cistern

rebel · Sep 23, 2018

Well there ya go.
Have you tried reverse osmosis?

rebel · Sep 23, 2018

Or is that what you meant by RO filters.....

Mach1 · Sep 23, 2018

When I was in country I had two concrete ones 1-1500 and 1-2000 and in winter we would go half and half and in summer one was taking rain water from roof and would do toilets and garden hose and added 2 weeks to our delivery time, so more for thoughts. Good luck

hdkawi · Sep 24, 2018

Mach1 said:
When I was in country I had two concrete ones 1-1500 and 1-2000 and in winter we would go half and half and in summer one was taking rain water from roof and would do toilets and garden hose and added 2 weeks to our delivery time, so more for thoughts. Good luck

Did you have separate tank for rain water.im thinking about doing the same thing

Cisterns

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