4 Ways to Live Better with a Concrete Water Cistern

When living out in the more rural areas of Vancouver Island, it can be tough to get high-quality water running through the pipes.

With a concrete water cistern, home owners have complete control over the water they use every day. And it's a great thing to have that kind of independence.
Think about it. With well water, your household draws up and uses whatever water is in the ground at the moment. Depending on you and your neighbours' septic setup, that water quality is bound to change.

With a water storage cistern, you decide what kind of water you draw into your house. Having that final say can make all the difference.

The great thing about concrete water cisterns is that they hold water. Imagine that.

More specifically, cisterns like these can hold reserve water. Maybe you find you can't rely on the ground water for one reason or another. Maybe your well runs dry. Once you install a concrete water cistern, you'll always have a fallback plan.

In essence, there's two ways a concrete water cistern proves useful for the environmentally conscious individual.

First, assuming your roof is clean enough, you can collect and store rainwater for everyday usage. It's a simple way to save on water deliveries, and make better use of those rainy, indoor days.

Second, if you own a property that requires irrigation, you can store and utilize your household's greywater. Greywater is household waste water that contains no sewage, which is run-off from your sinks and your dishwashers. It can account for up to 50 to 80% of a household's waste water, and it's safe enough for outdoor greenery. Try using biodegradable soaps to make it even healthier.

If you're concerned about concrete affecting your water quality, drop those concerns right now. A good concrete water cistern is treated with XyPex Admix 500, which turns the concrete into a waterproof barrier. The clean water stays on the inside, while the 'everything else' is kept safely on the outside.

When considering performance, concrete cisterns stand head-and-shoulders above plastic cisterns. The chemicals used to manufacture plastic can leech into your water, if the water spends enough time in the cistern. And plastic cisterns have been known to 'float' on occasion. When ground water levels rise, the light plastic can become buoyant and push upwards, popping out from the ground. Concrete will never float like plastic.

For added durability, concrete cisterns can also be fibre-reinforced during the mixing process.

A safe estimate for one person is about 80-100 gallons of water every day. But, when people live together, some water usage can be shared: cooking, cleaning, and other household tasks. The average four person household goes through about 300 gallons of water every day. 

• Made with XyPex Admix 500 for a safe, waterproof barrier
• Reinforced with FibreMesh filaments
• Vancouver Island local business

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