Some of our used water will filter back through the earth to replenish the aquifer, and some will evaporate, and, repurified, fall again on someone else's roof. This is the motivation for the water supply system developed for our house. It is hardly new. This chapter is divided into five sections. Determining need describes how to estimate your household water needs.
Cistern capacity describes what to consider in deciding how large a cistern to build or purchase.
Cistern structure reviews the types of cisterns commonly used. Filtration and purification describes the kinds of filtration systems and purification methods that are available, and considerations for drinking water. And, finally, Emergency needs discusses requirements for fire protection. The first step in sizing a cistern for your home is estimating the total water consumption per day for your family. As should be true for every consumable in a responsible home, the first consideration is conservation.