cisterns

In tearing of and replacing a family room in our 1865 home we discovered a large (8 ft deep x 6 ft diameter) cistern. We are routing the rain water from the downspouts into the cistern to water the back yard and garden. I need to now the best type of pump to use in bringing the water out of the cistern and the best faucet set-up so that the pump and water flow can be turned on and off from outside the house rather than going down to the basement.

You are going to use it so little that it is not worth investing in an expensive pump or setup. The following is a minimum.

Get a 1/2 HP plastic-body jet pump (which will include a pressure switch); a couple of lengths of PVC pipe and fittings that fit the pump, a foot valve to go in the cistern, and a modest pressure tank. Connect the pump to an outside faucet; and plug it into a convenient outlet.

You can run 1" PVC to the outside faucet. That is larger than you need but I like the fact that it is more rugged than 3/4". If there are code issues you can use CPVC but most people would not use it as long as it isn't going to flood a living area if the pipe breaks.

The pump will run when you use water and will shut off when you stop.

Rather than a cistern, it could be a hand dug well, it's the right dimensions. If it was mine it would be backfilled and closed up. If there was water in it when you found it, I wouldn't want any humidity problems it could cause and if it had no water in it, you don't know if it will hold water if you put any in it. And if it doesn't, you could be adding humidity under the house or effecting the foundation eventually but you could be accused of polluting the ground water and if you have a well, over time it could effect the quality of that water.

I am on my third pump setup from a large rain barrel. From help on this forum I ended up not using a pressure switch or pressure tank on the last two I did. I just run a small line back to the rain barrel and let the pump run continuously. You have to remember to turn if off is the only shortcoming. This return line has a ball valve so you can adjust the return flow so you have good pressure and not to much pump gavitation. Here is a parts list that is a little old, as prices have risen. But it gets you in the ballpark. And a picture of the setup. I would run a switch from your garden area to the pump to turn it on.

- Northern Tool Clear Water Pump, 109955, $49.99 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7738_7738
- Home Depot/Lowes 1" Foot Valve, http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=14066-15649-PPFV100-B&lpage=none
- 10 foot PVC 1"
-PVC connectors: (3) 1" 45, (1) 1" Female to 1" Male thread for foot valve, (1) 1" Female to 3/4" Male thread to hose connector, 1" PVC Union, 1" PVC Ball Valve, 1" PVC T with 1/2 thread connector on T for return to tank
- 3/4" brass thread female to hose bib connector, Watts A-669, 3/4" MH x 3/4" FIP http://www.watts.com/pro/_productsFull_tree.asp?catId=68&parCat=2680&pid=6509&ref=2
- 1/2" brass male thread both ends, connect from T to PVC Valve http://www.watts.com/pro/_productsFull_tree.asp?catId=68&parCat=2676&pid=6474&ref=2
- 1/2" brass male thread to 3/8 nipple, connect other side of PVC valve to 3/8 plastic tubing back to tank
http://www.watts.com/pro/_productsFull_tree.asp?catId=68&parCat=2679&pid=6496&ref=2
- 10 foot 3/8 clear plastic tubing

http://chrisandcarey.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=17378

Hello, I'm new here.
I'm in the process of putting an old cistern back into service for irrigation purposes. In the basement is the inlet pipe from the cistern, with a shut off valve on it. I've determined that there is no foot valve in the cistern, I did so by connecting a hose from a portable air tank to the inlet pipe and observing the air bubbling up into the water in the cistern which is almost full. I'm assuming by what I've read here so far, that I'll need a check valve in the inlet pipe before the pump, correct?
The old pump & tank are long gone, so I'm probably going to buy a shallow well pump/tank combo unit similar to this http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=180104-48284-58217-LWS1&lpage=none
I think a pipe strainer or sediment trap of some sort on the inlet pipe would also be wise, any suggestions for this?
Thanks!