Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Corrugated Water Cistern

There's the cistern, standing still open all winter so far. I meant to have it all hooked up and backfilled a long time ago. Last fall when I was busy at work the weather was nice, and about the time I got all done with work the rain came. So I did'nt get around to this task. There is not much space between the trench and the basement trench. I have drove through with the backhoe, but it just fits and it is pretty risky of sliding into the basement and crashing my dreams. lol. So it is time to get this thing backfilled. I took the picture from the main floor of the house. Gives you a bit of an idea how high it is.

The water line here is buried over to the house. I always had it in my mind that I was going to drill a hole in the side of the cistern and hook the water line in via a pitless adapter of some sort. I assumed that one should just drive to town and find the right pitless adapter for a corrugated pipe like this one. I was wrong, it has not been invented yet. So I got phoning around and one guy I talked to who does these things, clued me on how to do this. Just dig the line in underneath the culvert cistern, then pour my concrete around the pipe on the inside. Sounded pretty simple, but man did I ever work myself doing this. That dirt is pretty well frozen. I was a good part of the day yesterday doing this (Feb 27). I was soaked by the time I got it all done. I wanted to dig a little deeper under the cistern wall than I did, but it was just to tough of going. I did bend the lip of the culvert up where the hose goes under, just incase things settle and want to crush or cut the hose. It should be good I think.

I had to cut the line and send it through from the inside of the cistern, otherwise I would have kinked it in alot of different places trying to run it through. I don't really like to have a splice in there, but, what can you do?



I hand shoveled some nice lump free dirt over the hose connection, and packed it a bit. Then I layed a bunch of orange tape over it. If I ever do have to dig that splice up again, I should be able to find it without ripping the whole line out accidentally.


I was in the process of backfilling the cistern, breaking up big chunks of frozen dirt. It was time consuming. Eventually I blew a hydraulic hose on the backhoe. I'll have to get a new hose built in the morning. I did a little more work on the basement for the rest of the day. This backfilling needs to take place in the morning because it has been getting pretty messy out later in the day, but it usually freezes overnight. It is kinda like spring here, and has been like that for quite awhile now. Now with that being said, I can probably expect some -40 stuff soon. lol. I sure hope not. Last year we had alot of that in March if I remember correctly.















10 comments:

  1. Looks really great. We need to put in one, too.

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  2. Hey Mark!!! Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions, but....was that corrugated steel pipe hard to find? Is it sitting on concrete? I'm going to need some sort of "water container" near my garden that I can pump water to. The well is a lonnnnnnnnnng ways away. Soooo, could a person drill into the side of it to hook up a hose system?
    I was going to ask if it was fairly inexpensive but....you being frugal and all...I'm thinking it was a good deal. LOL
    By the way, loved the pictures from your cab in the last post!!! Just beautiful!!!!
    Cath

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  3. Hey Cath, there are no stupid questions. It was'nt real hard to find this culvert. I did splurge a little bit on it, as it has a gasket in the seam. This seam helps from water loss, but it also helps protect from ground water coming in also. It is built for potable water, I guess. About $1700.00(I could have shopped around and probably found something cheaper, but everything is more expensive where I am), and I still need to pour a concrete bottom in it. For the garden, I would think you could use just about any kind of culvert. This one is 8 foot diameter and I was told that it holds 995 gallons for every meter of length. It is 3.5 meters. 3500 gallons. You can drill a hole in the side of it for the water lines and stuff, but you'll have to figure out some way of connecting and sealing it so it dos'nt eventually fail. That's kinda what I was planning on doing, but I changed my mind. Instead, I dug the water line in underneath it, then when I pour the concrete, that hopefully will seal it. I hope this answered your questions.

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  4. Thanks for the info Mark! We've looked at those big plastic containers that are used for maple syrup and they're around 1300 if I remember correctly. But they're....plastic and it makes me nervous.

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  5. Great idea on the concrete floor and to have the drain pipe come up from under it.

    After you cure the concrete I think you'll want to coat the concrete with some sort of waterproof sealer. And caulk the seam where it joins the metal sides. And caulk the seams in the walls (unless its a one piece culvert pipe).

    I'd like to know what you decide to do.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Don, I had a change of plans on the water cistern.

      http://simpleplansimpleplan.blogspot.ca/2012/09/underground-water-tank-installation.html

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  6. Hey Don. Ya, I hope it all works ok. I am planning on using some kind of a sealant on things in there, just not real sure exactly what just yet though. It is a one piece culvert, but it does have a spiral seam. That seam has a gasket I am told. Not all culverts are like that, but some are built for potable water and have a gasket. I'll put it in my blog what I do, but it won't be until sometime in the summer to let everything thaw and settle a bit.

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  7. Thats the same thing im doing now, have you found a sealer and caulking yet?? I would like to know
    thanks

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    Replies
    1. Hello Trevor, thanks for your reply. I had a bit of a plan change on the cistern, just because I so happend to have a spare plastic tank kicking around. I'm sure the original plan would have worked just fine, but I thought the new plan would illiminate pouring concrete and having water seapage either coming in or going out. Here is a link to that project.

      http://simpleplansimpleplan.blogspot.ca/2012/09/underground-water-tank-installation.html

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