Information AboutCistern |
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A cistern ( Middle English ''cisterne'', from Latin ''cisterna'', from ''cista'', box, from Greek ''kistê'', basket) is a receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Often cisterns are built to catch and store rainwater. They range in capacity from a few litres to thousands of cubic metres (effectively covered Reservoir s). CREATING AND USING CISTERNS Cisterns are built by digging a hole in the ground to form a tank, with a single opening in the top to allow access. The walls of a cistern must be watertight in order to retain moisture. In the early 1900s cisterns were often made with a cement floor and dirt walls that had been coated in plaster. Modern-day cisterns may also be made from above-ground tanks, made of plastic. Cisterns usually have a lid covering their openings to prevent dirt, animals, insects, and other things from getting into the water. Cisterns are commonly used in areas where water is scarce, either because it is rare or because it has been depleted due to heavy use. Early on the water was used for many purposes, including cooking, Irrigation , and washing. Present day cisterns are often only used for irrigation, due to concerns over water quality. Cisterns today can also be outfitted with filters or other purification methods when the water is meant for consumption. Many greenhouses use cisterns to help meet their water needs, especially in the USA. Some countries, such as Bermuda and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have laws that require rainwater harvesting systems to be built alongside any new construction, and cisterns can be used in these cases. Other countries, such as Japan and Germany, also offer financial incentives or tax credit for installing cisterns. THE TOILET The modern Water Closet or Toilet utilises a cistern to reserve and hold the correct amount of water required to flush the toilet bowl. In early times the cistern was located below the ceiling and connected to the toilet bowl by means of a long pipe. It was neccessary to pull a chain connected to a release valve located inside the cistern in order to flush the toilet. Today modern toilets may be referred to as close coupled units because the pipe connecting the cistern and the toilet bowl has been completely eliminated. So has the chain. Concealed cistern toilets are on the market too. RAIN BARREL Rain barrels are containers, now usually plastic 55-gallon food-grade barrels, used to catch rainwater to be used during times of Drought or to reduce water consumption from city water supplies. The rainwater is not usually used for Drinking Water , but for Gardening or Lawn s. MORE HISTORY OF THE WORD The word "cistern" is the translation of the 36:16) Cisterns are frequently mentioned in Scripture. The scarcity of springs in 37:24) was a ''beer'' or dry well. There are numerous remains of ancient cisterns in all parts of Palestine. FAMOUS CISTERNS EXTERNAL LINKS
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