Many parts of Florida have limited supplies of groundwater. One method of conserving groundwater is to utilize a cistern water collection system. A cistern is any tank that collects water. Cistern water collection and storage systems have been used around the world for centuries but largely ignored in America’s large cities.
Cisterns are used to collect rainwater from a building’s roof and store that water for future use. Condensation from a building’s air conditioning system could also be routed to the cistern. The water could be used for anything that the city water supply is used for, depending on the cleanliness of the water, carrier pipe, and the cistern itself. With no treatment the water can be used for irrigation. If the water is of acceptable quality, it could be used for toilet flushing and household or building cleaning. With minor treatment and the addition of chlorine it can be used for showers and washing dishes and hands. Only if the water is of the highest quality and tested regularly could it be used for cooking and drinking.
Cisterns can be used in areas that experience long dry seasons, but more importantly, can be used as a means to supplement a building’s water supply. If it is used to collect water in an area with a prolonged dry season, then the tank needs to be large enough to meet the daily demands of that dry season. In either case it should be pumped through a filter and treated at least minimally. The filter and the tank itself should be cleaned periodically. The cistern should have a smooth internal surface and be watertight. They should also be made from materials that will not react with the water such as plastic or galvanized steel. The tank should have a tight fitting lid to keep debris from entering and to keep mosquitoes from spreading. Finally, it should be equipped with an overflow drain near the top of the cistern wall in case the cistern becomes too full. With the heavy rains and high humidity that is the norm in Florida, one could expect a full cistern from one’s air conditioning system’s condensate and from rain collection.
ConServ Building Services, LLC provides excellent commercial HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and general construction services to businesses across the Southeastern United States. To learn more about ConServ, visit www.conservonline.com.