Collecting Spring Water in West Virginia Photo Gallery by Donna Race at pbase.com

Flower Gardening in West Virginia ~ 2006 | Our Flowering Plants - 2006 ~ Begonias, Fuchsia, and Orchids | Summer Projects 2004...Sunroom and deck addition | Collecting Spring Water in West Virginia | Burn! Clean up time

Collecting Spring Water in West Virginia

We thought our spring had dried out, but our 50+ year old cistern is leaking!
Don't EVER take water for granted!!!!
Project finally completed in September 2004, complete with a siphon connecting the two cisterns...the original into which the spring flows is in the background with new pump shed covering our neighbor's pump. Our water is pumped from the newer cistern in the foreground. They are divided by a small running creek.

Please click on a thumbnail for a larger view

Spring basin built into side of the hill by original owners
Inside the spring basin...close up
Cistern and original pump shed...spring is in upper left
Inside the cistern...after draining, before resealing.

Wider angle view of the hill and cistern
Overflow after rerouting water to our newer cistern via polypipe.
Mineral growth removed from under cistern cover
Cistern sealed...starting the siphon from newer cistern, July 15, 2004

Original cistern filling from siphon and spring water; July 15, 2004
Spring water close-up; July 15, 2004
Shed Construction; July 18, 2004.
Completed construction - pump shed

Diagram of two Spring Water Cisterns with connecting siphon
Old Barn, Original Cistern, Newer Cistern
Old Barn, Cisterns...spring located on middle left side.
Closer view showing terrain (and debris). ;-)

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Donna Race 14-Jul-2004 21:20
A cistern is a large container in which water is stored. Ours are made out of concrete. They are used to collect spring water or rainwater.

Yes they do, but not bones...they were attached to the underside of the cistern cover...hanging down. Most probably calcium or lime deposits hanging like stalactities.

Guest 14-Jul-2004 21:10
What is a cistern? And what is in the last photo? It looks like bones.

click on thumbnails for full image

Spring basin built into side of the hill by original owners	Inside the spring basin...close up	Cistern and original pump shed...spring is in upper left	Inside the cistern...after draining, before resealing.
Wider angle view of the hill and cistern	Overflow after rerouting water to our newer cistern via polypipe.	Mineral growth removed from under cistern cover	Cistern sealed...starting the siphon from newer cistern, July 15, 2004
Original cistern filling from siphon and spring water; July 15, 2004	Spring water close-up; July 15, 2004	Shed Construction; July 18, 2004.	Completed construction - pump shed
Diagram of two Spring Water Cisterns with connecting siphon	Old Barn, Original Cistern, Newer Cistern	Old Barn, Cisterns...spring located on middle left side.	Closer view showing terrain (and debris). ;-)

Type your message and click Add Comment

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help	private comment

Donna Race		14-Jul-2004 21:20
A cistern is a large container in which water is stored. Ours are made out of concrete. They are used to collect spring water or rainwater. Yes they do, but not bones...they were attached to the underside of the cistern cover...hanging down. Most probably calcium or lime deposits hanging like stalactities.

Guest		14-Jul-2004 21:10
What is a cistern? And what is in the last photo? It looks like bones.