Repair cistern or go to county water?

[LilyandBaron]

Our property has a large cistern that provides water to my max 4 horse barn. The air tank was running sporadically, so we had someone out, and it’s not the pump, but a leak underground. Our house is on county water, which is very inexpensive though not free. Cistern only serves the barns. But thinking about putting in new pipes, instead of locating/repairing leak (old property), and using cistern as a root cellar instead.

Costs of all scenarios barring a minor leak near the surface are about the same. I don’t water my outdoor arena - if it gets hard, I hack out or haul out. So just water for the horses long term.

Anyone convert from well or cistern/well system to public utilities, or vice versa? Experiences? Recommendations?

[JanM]

I would get estimates for both options. Find out how much cistern repair, or replacement would cost, and find out how much to run the lines for city water, and how much the hookup to the main line will cost.

If you ever intend to sell, then I would go with the city water option.

[poltroon]

With county water, you have someone else in charge of keeping the water clean and safe and you won’t lose water if the power goes out.

[HungarianHippo]

In the end, city water seems like the right long-term solution to me. If you try to keep the cistern going, I can picture repairing the existing leak only to quickly develop other problems elsewhere in the aging infrastructure. For example, what if the sudden increase in pressure (from repairing the leak) may stress the rest of the system.

I’ve heard of converting an old cistern to a tornado shelter, so if you don’t already have a good cellar, give it some thought :lol: But I actually really like the root cellar idea-- apples would keep for months in there! And you could also start curing meats–Mr. HH makes homemade pancetta in our 1880s farmhouse basement, and it’s the PERFECT environment for it. A bit of moisture, always cool, etc. So, so delicious.

[ChocoMare]

County water.

When I bought my place, the farm well supplied the house too. I knew that if I lost power, none of us had water.

I coughed up the money for the county to install the meter and then more $$$ to have it run to the house.

That peace of mind was worth every penny.

[LilyandBaron]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like county water and convert the cistern to something fun… Wine cellar!!!

[clanter]

might check your homeowners policy regarding fire protection, the cistern (or swimming pool) provides a ready reserve of water for a fire department and might give you some deduction on the homeowners policy.

For us we have a fire hydrant on an eight inch water line setting in the front yard

Many of the rural water company lines are undersized unable to support a fire hydrant

[Where_sMyWhite]

@clanter

might check your homeowners policy regarding fire protection, the cistern (or swimming pool) provides a ready reserve of water for a fire department and might give you some deduction on the homeowners policy.

For us we have a fire hydrant on an eight inch water line setting in the front yard

Many of the rural water company lines are undersized unable to support a fire hydrant

This was exacts what I was thinking… go to county water but use/replace the actual cistern and keep it filled in the event you/neighbor need water to fill up a pumper truck in a wildland fire situation.

Talk to your homeowner insurance company. Also talk to your fire department to get their feedback on what they’d like, will they help keep it filled/maintained, etc.