What do I do with an old cistern?

Question

I was edging my garden the other day outside of my 1852 home when the ground started slipping away and I discovered an old cistern..I was surprised at the size and was wondering if I should just cover it and forget about it or fill it in..

Answer 1

First you need to punch holes and/or break up the bottom so water will drain out. I would go ahead and fill it up with sand or whatever. Shouldn't be any different strain on the wall than the weight of water or just like dirt on the outside of the wall around the rest of the house. Fill the last 3 foot with dirt. I just filled one this summer. Spend half a day pumping it out. Then dropped an iron bar from the top at 16' a number of times to punch holes in the cement bottom. Then broke up the holes further with the bar by hand at the bottom. Your local health department/sanitation department may have some information. Just about like plugging and capping a well.

Answer 2

Definitely fill in or cover with a permanent cover for safety purposes--I know of several instances where small children and at least one adult have drowned in old cisterns.
An option to consider, if it is away from the house, is to maybe use it (with an appropriate cover) for a water source for your garden- if it holds water and has a decent supply. You could top it with a cover that includes a picher pump, and just hand pump the water out when you need it.

Answer 3

fill it in