In order to keep your cistern operating properly, follow these simple steps throughout the year.
Print a PDF to have at home, available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Watch a video to learn how to take these easy steps, available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Before the rainy autumn months, prepare your cistern to allow water to flow freely through your cistern to a rain garden or side sewer. Later, in spring, you can use your cistern to capture rainwater to use when watering your garden.
When your cistern is almost empty, check inside to see if you need to remove any sediment or algae.
Let rain flow slowly into your garden or side sewer by opening the valve (f) to the low-flow orifice.
Open it by turning the valve parallel to the pipe.
Leaves that fall onto your roof will collect in your gutters and get stuck in your cistern screen. Be sure to check your gutters and cistern at least once a year.
When your cistern is almost empty, check inside to see if you need to remove any sediment or algae.
Close the valve (f) to the low-flow orifice in May to save water for the dry season.
Close it by turning the valve perpendicular to the pipe.
Connect a hose to the spigot (e) to use the water you have saved in your cistern.
Please keep your gutters clean year round.
Leaves, dirt, and so much more land on your roof all year long. If you have a composite roof, the grit on the shingles may slowly come off, making its way into your gutters. Eventually, all this debris collects in your gutters until rain washes it down your downspouts. Without knowing it, you may have a clogged cistern.