A cistern is a storage tank that collects rainwater runoff from a roof through gutters and downspouts, holding it for irrigation, livestock, or other on-farm use.
Inputs
- Catchment: gutters and downspouts sized to the roof’s design storm (e.g. the peak flow from a 10-year, 5-minute rainfall event for general use, or a 25-year event where manure-contaminated runoff must be excluded), built from aluminum, galvanized steel, or UV-stabilized plastic.1
- Tank: set on a firm, level foundation, anchored or braced against wind, with a drain for maintenance and freeze protection, and an overflow routed to a stable outlet.1
Outputs
- Water — stored for evaporative cooling, irrigation, or livestock drinking after the first flush is bypassed and the water is treated.1