Cistern irrigation systems collect water that would have otherwise ended up in storm drains.
Irrigation systems using a cistern make use of water that would have otherwise run off into the ground or storm sewers. They can be attached to gutters to collect rain water, or might be underground to collect ground runoff. Does this Spark an idea?
Types
Use an appropriately sized pump for the anticipated volume of water.
Two types of cistern irrigation systems exist: gravity-fed and pump-fed. Gravity-fed cisterns require no external power, but must be placed high enough above the area to be watered so the water can freely flow out of the cistern when needed. Pump-fed cisterns can be at ground level or below and require an electric or solar pump to draw out the water.
Applications
Rain water can be collected by anyone with a gutter and a barrel.
Cistern irrigation systems are gaining popularity at many universities and institutions in their efforts to achieve sustainable practices. They can, however, be used by homeowners to water their lawns and gardens by collecting the rain water from the gutters on houses, garages and other buildings. The common rain barrel is nothing more than a simplified cistern-based irrigation system.
Considerations
A screen placed at the opening of the downspout will help exclude leaves and debris.
When installing an irrigation system using a cistern, make sure that the water collected will be free from debris so that it does not clog. A filter may need to be installed to keep foreign material from the cistern. Also, select an appropriate-sized cistern. Improperly sized components will impede effective use of a cistern-based irrigation system.
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