These holes are safety hazards for people and animals and potential routes for possible groundwater contamination. When these features are no longer used and there is no specific plan for future use or they are not suitable for future use, they should be properly plugged to eliminate the hazard. It is the responsibility of the landowner to provide safety and protection of groundwater through plugging of cisterns, cesspools, septic tanks, and other holes. This bulletin presents the best procedures to eliminate these holes. Historically, homes located where groundwater was not readily available depended heavily on roof runoff collection and cistern storage for household water.
Many cisterns are unused today because homesites are now served by other water supplies.
The cistern may pose environmental and safety hazards in much the same manner as an abandoned well. Although now illegal, wastewater has often been disposed of in a cesspool or dry well. Construction was similar to a shallow dug well lined with bricks or stone. It was often 6 to 10 feet in diameter and 15 to 20 feet deep. Cesspools are a serious potential source of groundwater contamination and a definite safety hazard.